ere claimed in the catalogues to be genuine antiques,
were clever imitations. In fact, a refectory table said to be of genuine
Jacobean period, was manufactured in the man's factory on the East Side.
Even the worm-holes had been drilled in the wood and the worn slab of
wood of the top was done by the plane. To keep himself out of Court, the
clever fellow had to give back the buyer's money and send up to
Morristown and get the articles of 'newly-made antique' furniture."

"I'm glad of that!" exclaimed Polly.

"But those buyers should have prosecuted the cheat!" declared Eleanor,
impatiently.

"That's exactly what I said, but one of them wrote me she was going away
for the winter; she could not postpone her trip to try the case at Court.
Thus she took the easiest way out." Mrs. Courtney's determined expression
showed what she would have done had she been the dupe of such a clever
dealer.

The subject was abruptly changed when Mrs. Courtney added: "Now we must
talk business, young ladies. I am sure you cannot spare your valuable
time in gossip."

Polly and Eleanor glanced at each other and smiled at the idea of their
"valuable time," but Mrs. Courtney launched at once into the cause of her
call that morning.

"I never felt at peace with the atrocious decorations in my boudoir,
although one of the highest-priced firms in New York did the room for me.
I know it was a case of making me take the costliest materials without
regard to harmony or temperament. Now I wish to have you girls see what
_you_ would do with the suite. While I am here, I thought you might show
me several suites exhibited on the floor and tell me which you would
prefer for a woman of my age."

Polly immediately signified that she was ready to escort Mrs. Courtney to
the elevator, thence to the exhibition rooms where every conceivable
period and price of boudoir furnishings were to be seen and examined.

The three stepped from the elevator, and Polly was leading the way to the
boudoir suites; Mrs. Courtney watched with deep interest as she spoke in
a low voice, to Eleanor.

"Jack Baxter called on me, one evening before he went West; he told me
that your remarkable young friend had everything in life to make a young
girl want to have a good time, yet she chose a profession for herself in
place of gayety and beaux."

Eleanor smiled and nodded affirmatively but said nothing.

"That is one of the reasons I wanted to meet you young ladies again. It