"I had an idea I should have to see Mr.
Wellington."

"By no means," asserted the secretary. "Wait a moment, please."

In a few minutes the young woman returned and nodded.

"Will you come with me, please?"

She led the way up a winding pair of stairs and down a long hall with
heavy crimson carpet, turning into a room near the rear of the house.
Mrs. Wellington was at her desk looking over a menu which the
housekeeper had just submitted. She glanced up as the two entered, her
face unchanging in expression.

"This is Mr. McCall," said the secretary, who without further words
went to her desk and unlimbered the typewriter.

As Mrs. Wellington brought Armitage under her scrutiny, which was long,
silent, and searching, he felt as he did upon his first interview with
the Secretary of the Navy. However, no one had ever accused him of
lack of nerve.

"You apply for the position of physical instructor to my sons," she
said at length. "How did you know we wanted one?"

Armitage, caught for the instant off his guard, stammered.

"I--at least Miss--I mean I read it in one of the papers."

"Hum," replied Mrs. Wellington, "a rather misleading medium. Correct
in this instance, though."

"I believe it was an advertisement," said Armitage.

"What qualifications have you?"

Armitage smiled easily.

"I have taught boxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu in Southern athletic
clubs," he said, "and I trained the 19-- navy team at Annapolis."

He submitted Thornton's eloquent testimonial. Mrs. Wellington laid it
aside after a glance.

"Where is your home?"

"Louisville, Kentucky, ma'm."

"What have you been doing in Newport? I remember having seen you at
church yesterday morning."

"I came up to see Winthrop of the Harvard Graduate Advisory Committee
on Athletics about getting the job as trainer for the football team
next month. He is away."

"Were you ever in college?" asked Mrs. Wellington.

Armitage assumed a look of embarrassment.

"Yes," he said, "but unless you insist I had rather not say where or
why I left."

Mrs. Wellington sniffed.

"I thought so," she observed drily. "What would you do for my sons?"

Armitage was on his favorite topic now.

"I 'd try to convince them that it pays to be strong and clean in mind
and body--" he began earnestly, when a rustle of skirts and the click
of footsteps at the threshold caused him to turn. Anne Wellington, in
an embroidered white linen frock, stood fram