m,
literally."

"My God!" exclaimed Dennis. "What a situation!"

"Wasn't it?" exclaimed the widow. "It almost equals the story on the
dickeys."

"Equals!" exclaimed Dennis with profound conviction. "I don't know that
I care to read the balance of the story after this. Do you know the
guilty party?"

"I think so," answered the widow; "but you can judge for yourself as I
proceed.

"Now follow me closely."

There was no need of this advice, for Dennis would not have missed a
word for the world, and gazed upon the sweet-faced narrator with a sort
of superstitious admiration as she continued:

"Since his death the patronage is larger than ever.

"I now find myself confronted with what is equivalent to an
embarrassment of riches on the one hand, and a famine of intelligent
help on the other."

At this statement Dennis attempted not to appear too deeply interested.

"I employ a manager, the one we have always had, who desires to become
a partner in the business; but his proposition is handicapped by the
character of the consideration he is willing to offer for such an
interest.

"In other words, he considers that a proposal of marriage is an
equivalent for any financial objection I may suggest."

Despite his efforts, Dennis looked troubled.

The lady smiled and continued:

"I received this proposition two months since. Its suddenness surprised
a plan which I have been perfecting for a long time.

"In order to avoid any interruption to my purposes, I permitted the
manager to believe that I was impressed with his offer, but desired a
little time for consideration."

"An' true, now," asked Dennis with genuine Irish impulse, "an' true,
now, were you?"

The lady smiled again. "Wait," she urged, "you shall see.

"I have never trusted this man. He is not only personally obnoxious to
me, but I fear that I cannot rely upon his business integrity.

"Little by little, I have gathered together the threads of the business,
and I now have a strong legal grip upon the situation, which enables me
to decline this alliance with no possible jeopardy to the property.

"But one consideration restrains me: I need a man of enterprise and
address to succeed him. And now," she added with a simple, business-like
directness, "I have a suggestion to offer:

"You ransack Baxter Street to-morrow for Dickey Series C, and come with
it to this address," and she placed a small card in his hand.

"We can reach the end of the story,