Parker Hotel and held
up the street corners downtown, took many farewell drinks, then, slowly,
by ones and twos, they left for the packing houses, freight depots, and
gents' furnishing stores from whence they came.

October came in with a blaze of sumac and oak leaves. Ivy stayed home and
learned to make veal loaf and apple pies. The worry lines around Pa
Keller's face began to deepen. Ivy said that she didn't believe that she
cared to go back to Miss Shont's select school for young ladies.

October thirty-first came.

"We'll take the eight-fifteen to-morrow," said her father to Ivy.

"All right," said Ivy.

"Do you know where he works?" asked he.

"No," answered Ivy.

"That'll be all right. I took the trouble to look him up last August."

The short November afternoon was drawing to its close (as our best talent
would put it) when Ivy and her father walked along the streets of
Slatersville. (I can't tell you what streets, because I don't know.) Pa
Keller brought up before a narrow little shoe shop.

"Here we are," he said, and ushered Ivy in. A short, stout, proprietary
figure approached them smiling a mercantile smile.

"What can I do for you?" he inquired.

Ivy's eyes searched the shop for a tall, golden-haired form in a soiled
baseball suit.

"We'd like to see a gentleman named Schlachweiler--Rudolph
Schlachweiler," said Pa Keller.

"Anything very special?" inquired the proprietor. "He's--rather busy
just now. Wouldn't anybody else do? Of course, if----"

"No," growled Keller.

The boss turned. "Hi! Schlachweiler!" he bawled toward the rear of the
dim little shop.

"Yessir," answered a muffled voice.

"Front!" yelled the boss, and withdrew to a safe listening distance.

A vaguely troubled look lurked in the depths of Ivy's eyes. From behind
the partition of the rear of the shop emerged a tall figure. It was none
other than our hero. He was in his shirt-sleeves, and he struggled into
his coat as he came forward, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand,
hurriedly, and swallowing.

I have said that the shop was dim. Ivy and her father stood at one side,
their backs to the light. Rudie came forward, rubbing his hands together
in the manner of clerks.

"Something in shoes?" he politely inquired. Then he saw.

"Ivy!--ah--Miss Keller!" he exclaimed. Then, awkwardly: "Well, how-do,
Mr. Keller. I certainly am glad to see you both. How's the old town?
What are you doing in Sla