y some one speaks to you in
your own native tongue. When Burton--"

"Burton?"

"Didn't I tell you we're engaged?"

"My dear Claudia, you must admit we don't really know anything about
him."

"You have the rest of your life for finding out, Paul."

They went downstairs presently to supper--a meal that promised to be a
good deal more agreeable than dinner had been. For all Paul's expressed
doubts, he had every disposition to make himself pleasant to his future
brother-in-law, and even Lily had felt his charm. Lefferts, the only
person in the dark as to the whole situation, served as an excellent
audience. All four recounted--together and in turn--the whole story,
from the moment when the idea had first occurred to Claudia, at eleven
years of age, that she would like to learn to cook, down to the subtlest
allusion of that evening's dinner-table.

Then suddenly there was a loud peal at the front door-bell. Every one
knew instantly what it was--Reed returning to make one more effort to
save Claudia's reputation.

"Well," said Paul, sinking down in his chair and thrusting his hands
still deeper into his pockets, "I shan't let him in. My future depends
on my getting over the habit of answering bells."

"Same here," said Brindlebury.

"I certainly shan't open the door for the man," said Crane, "and Claudia
shall go only over my dead body."

Again the bell rang.

Lily rose. "I shall let him in," she said, "I think you are all very
unjust to Randolph."

Claudia smiled as her sister left the room.

"There," she said, "that's all right. No one has such a good effect on
Randolph as Lily has. In fifteen minutes he will be perfectly calm and
polite. In half an hour she will have persuaded him he likes things
better the way they are."

"I should think," said Lefferts, glancing at Claudia, "that it might
take her a little longer than that."

It did take her a little longer.

THE END

ZANE GREY'S NOVELS

* * * * *

May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list

* * * * *

THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS

A New York society girl buys a ranch which becomes the
center of frontier warfare. Her loyal superintendent
rescues her when she is captured by bandits. A surprising
climax brings the story to a delightful close.

THE RAINBOW TRAIL

The story of a young clergyman who becomes a wanderer in
t