ry throng. I'll go down
ahead of you and test the social atmosphere a little."

When Archie reached the parlors half an hour later he found the Governor
engaged in lively conversation with a gentleman he introduced
immediately as Mr. Seebrook.

"And Mr. Walters, Mr. Comly, and--"

"Mr. Saulsbury and Mr. Comly, my daughter, Miss Seebrook."

The girl had just joined her father and his friend. She acknowledged the
introduction with an inclusive smile and nod. Archie's spirits, which
drooped whenever he was deprived of the Governor's enlivening presence
for a few minutes, were revived by this fresh demonstration of the
rascal's daring effrontery. Seebrook and Walters were apparently
accepting him at face value in the fashion of socially inclined
travelers who meet in inns. To Archie's consternation the Governor began
describing Hoky's funeral, which he did without neglecting any of its
poignant features or neglecting to mention the few remarks he had
offered to relieve the bleakness of the burglar's obsequies.

"That was pretty fine, wasn't it?" Miss Seebrook remarked to Archie.
"Any one would know that Mr. Saulsbury is just the kind of man who would
do that."

"There's no limit to his kindness and generosity," Archie replied with
unfeigned sincerity.

"You are motoring?" asked the girl. "We drove through here last fall to
see the foliage,--it's perfectly wonderful, but I didn't know it could
be so sweet at this season. I adore summer; don't you adore summer, Mr.
Comly?"

Miss Seebrook was the most obvious of sentimentalists and Archie thought
instantly how different she was from Isabel. But being thrown in the
company of any girl made possible the concrete comparison of Isabel with
the rest of womankind very greatly to Isabel's advantage. Miss Seebrook
was about Isabel's age, but she spoke in a languid purring voice that
was wholly unlike Isabel's crisp, direct manner of speech. Her father
had come up on some tiresome business matter, bringing Mr. Walters, who,
it seemed, was his attorney, and she confessed that they talked business
a great deal, which bored her immensely.

"I judge, Mr. Comly, that you are one of those fortunate men who can
throw business to the winds and have a good time without being bothered
with telegrams from a hateful office."

Her assumption flattered Archie. As his immediate concern was to escape
the consequences of his folly in shooting a fellow mortal, he assured
her that he was alw