th the people
seems quite as sure. We must offset a loss in stocks by this mighty
profit in politics.

"Changing the subject," continued Senator Hanway, "young Storms seems to
be the accepted lover of Dorothy. I'm gratified by it; he has no money,
but Mr. Gwynn will act the generous part. What surprises me is the
submission of Barbara; she was decidedly tragic in her objections one
evening."

"Yes," said Mr. Harley, soberly exultant, his conquest of Mrs.
Hanway-Harley in the matter of that matrimony being the only battle he
had ever won from his domestic Boadicea, "yes, Barbara did object; put
it on the ground that Storms was a beggar. Thereupon I expounded her own
bankruptcy to her, showed her how it was the pot calling the kettle
black, and Barbara, feeling that she hadn't a leg to stand on,
surrendered."

Mr. Harley said nothing of that Storri secret between Dorothy and
himself.

"When will you appoint the wedding?" asked Senator Hanway.

"Dorothy will attend to that, I take it. Should she come for my advice,
I shall vote for expedition. Marriage is so much like shooting a rifle
that one ought not to hang too long on one's aim."

Richard received a wire from Mr. Bayard calling him to New York. The
next day he was closeted with the ticker-King at Thirty, Broad.

"We have never," said Mr. Bayard, "declared our respective shares in the
corner in Northern Consolidated."

Richard insisted on leaving the naming of interests to Mr. Bayard.

"I should say even interests then--half and half," returned Mr. Bayard.

Richard acquiesced.

"Then," said Mr. Bayard, "I must tell you that I'm offered seven
millions for the seven members of the pool as it now exists. You
remember your friend Storri perished on the first call for margins; we
have already taken a half-million from him."

"You won't mind," said Richard diffidently, "if I make an amended
proposition?"

"Let me hear it," returned Mr. Bayard, mildly curious; "I'm quite sure I
shall prefer your proposal to my own."

"As preliminary then," said Richard, "permit me to give you an informal
invitation to my wedding with Miss Harley; it is set for June first."

"I shall be present," said Mr. Bayard, smilingly elevating his brows.
"And Miss Harley: who is she?"

"She's Mr. Harley's daughter, and Senator Hanway's niece. Between us, I
hardly feel like reducing my sweetheart's family to bankruptcy on the
eve of our nuptials."

"I've known it done, however," ret