young fellow has been
half-back on a football team.'"

Champney laughed. There was no withstanding this man's voice and the
veiled humor of his introductory remarks.

"Did I hit hard? I didn't think for a moment that you would recognize
me; but I knew you as soon as mother introduced us. I see by your face,
mother, that you need enlightening. It was only that I met Father
Honore"--he brought that out with no hesitation--"at the entrance to one
of the New York theatres over a year ago, and in the crowd nearly ran
him down. No wonder, sir, you sized me up by the pressure as a football
fiend. That's rich!" His merry laugh reassured his mother; she turned to
Father Honore.

"I don't know whether all my son's acquaintances are made at the theatre
or not, but it is a coincidence that the other day he happened to
mention the fact that the first time he saw Mr. Van Ostend he saw him
there."

"It's my strong impression, Mrs. Googe, that Mr. Googe saw us both at
the same place, at the same time. Mr. Van Ostend spoke to me of your son
just a few days before I left New York."

"Did he?" Champney's eager blue eyes sought the priest's. "Do you know
him well?"

"As we all know him through his place in the world of affairs.
Personally I have met him only a few times. You may know, perhaps, that
he was instrumental in placing little Aileen Armagh, the orphan
child,--you know whom I mean?--at Mrs. Champney's, your aunt, Mrs. Googe
tells me."

"I was just going to ask you if you would be willing to tell us
something about her," said Mrs. Googe. "I've not seen her, but from all
I hear she is a most unusual child, most interesting--"

"Interesting, mother!" Champney interrupted her rather explosively;
"she's unique, the only and ever Aileen Armagh." He turned again to
Father Honore. "Do tell us about her; I've been so blockheaded I
couldn't put two and two together, but I'm beginning to see daylight at
last. I made her acquaintance this afternoon. That's why I was a little
late, mother."

How we tell, even the best of us, with reserves! Father Honore told of
his interest being roused, as well as his suspicions, by the wording of
the poster, and of his determination to see for himself to what extent
the child was being exploited. But of the thought-lever, the "Little
Trout", that raised that interest, he made no mention; nor, indeed, was
it necessary.

"You see there is a class of foreigners on the East side that receive
commi