king news and been revived after it. "Fancy! Mrs. Conroth's
own niece!"

"It's going to put us in just _right_ with the best of the crowd at The
Beaches," Prue announced. "We've only been tolerated so far."

"Oh, Prudence!" admonished Mrs. Tapp.

"That's the truth," her second daughter repeated bluntly. "We might as
well admit it. Now, if Fordy only puts this over with this Miss
Grayling, they'll _have_ to take us up; for it's plain to be seen they
won't drop Miss Grayling, no matter whom she marries."

"If Fordy doesn't miss the chance," muttered Cecile.

"He can't!"

"He mustn't!"

"He wouldn't be mean enough to drop her just to spite us!" wailed
Marian.

"No," said Prue. "He won't do that. Ford isn't a butterfly. You must
admit that he's as steadfast as a rock in his likes and dislikes. Once
he gets a thing in that head of his------Well! I'm sure he's fond of
Miss Grayling."

"But that big actor?" suggested Cecile.

"Surely," gasped Mrs. Tapp, "the girl cannot fancy such a person as
_that_?"

"My! you should just see Judson Bane," sighed Cecile.

"He's the matinee girl's delight," drawled Marian. "Ford has the
advantage, however, if he will take it. He's too modest."

Mrs. Tapp's face suddenly paled and she clasped a plump hand to her
bosom. "Oh, girls!" she gasped.

"_Now_ what, mother?" begged Prue.

"What will I. Tapp say?"

"Oh, bother father!" scoffed L'Enfant Terrible.

"He doesn't care what Ford does," Prue said.

"Does he ever really care what any of us does?" observed Marian, yet
looking doubtfully at her mother.

"You don't understand, girls!" wailed Mrs. Tapp, wringing her hands.
"You know he made me write and invite that Johnson girl here."

"Oh, Dot Johnson!" said Prue. "Well, she is harmless."

"She's _not_ harmless," declared Mrs. Tapp. "I. Tapp ordered me to get
her here because, he wants Ford to marry her."

"Marry Dot Johnson?" gasped Prue.

"Oh, bluey!" ejaculated the slangy Cecile.

"But of course Ford won't do it," drawled Marian.

"Then he means to disinherit poor Ford! Oh, yes, he will!" sobbed the
lady. "They've had words about it already. You know very well that
when once I. Tapp makes up his mind to do a thing, he does it." And
there she broke down utterly, with the girls looking at each other in
silent horror.

CHAPTER XXIII

BETWEEN THE FIRES

The discovery of Louise's identity was but a mild shock to Lawford
after all. His p