im
upon her, and there was something tender and delightful in the sense of
being claimed by such a man.

"I must have a fair chance to win that monopoly," he repeated. "How
did it happen that Conward was present?"

"I don't know. It just happened. A little after you telephoned me he
called up and asked for mother, and the next I knew she said he was
coming up to spend the evening. And then I said you were coming."

"And what did she say?"

Irene hesitated. "Please don't make me tell you," she whispered at
length.

"Don't hesitate from any fear of hurting me," he said, with a laugh.
"I know I have failed to make a hit with your mother. On your account
I could wish I had been more successful, but perhaps she will be fairer
when she knows me better. What did she say?"

"She just said, 'That cow _puncher_.' And I just told her that you
were the man who put the punch in the Conward & Elden firm--you see I
am learning your slang--and that everybody says so, and a few more
things I told her, too."

But Dave had dropped into a sudden reverie. It was not so remarkable
as it seemed that Conward should have telephoned Mrs. Hardy almost
immediately after he had used the line. Conward's telephone and Dave's
were on the same circuit; it was a simple matter for Conward, if he had
happened to lift the receiver during Dave's conversation with Irene, to
overhear all that was said. That might happen accidentally; at least,
it might begin innocently enough. The fact that Conward had acted upon
the information indicated two things; first, that he had no very
troublesome sense of honour--which Dave had long suspected--and second,
that he had deliberately planned a confliction with Dave's visit to the
Hardy home. This indicated a policy of some kind; a scheme deeper than
Dave was as yet able to fathom. He would at least guard against any
further eavesdropping on his telephone.

He took a card from his pocket, and made some figures on it. "If you
should have occasion to call me at the office at any time, please use
that number, and ask for me," he said. "It is the accountant's number.
'There's a reason.'"

It flattered his masculine authority that she put the card in her purse
without comment. She did not ask him to explain. Dave knew that when
a woman no longer asks for explanations she pays man her highest
compliment.

The cups were empty; the sandwiches and cake were gone, but they
lingered on.

"I have bee