at this
meeting be adjourned, subject to an early call."

Litchfield, puzzled, as were the others, by Gorham's flat denial in the
face of the overwhelming evidence, put the motion for adjournment which
the president requested.

XXVII

The bachelor apartment-house which Allen Sanford called his home in New
York, though constantly referred to by him as his "two by twice hall
bedroom," was considerably more pretentious and expensive than a young
man receiving his modest income would ordinarily have selected; yet when
he decided upon it, the chief point in question was whether or not it
suited his tastes. The fact that the rent alone exceeded the salary
assured him by his position in the Consolidated Companies did not strike
him as of any particular significance. He had sold his motor before
leaving Washington, and with this nest-egg and what remained of his last
allowance to draw upon, the necessity of economy had not occurred to
him. "I've eaten up the tires, and now I'm beginning on the chassis," he
had once remarked in conversation; but with characteristic confidence in
the future, he made no provision for the time when he should have
thoroughly fletcherized the entire machine.

Now that he had joined the army of the unemployed, and had decided to
return to Pittsburgh, it was incumbent upon him to pack up his
belongings. This was a project which failed to appeal to him. He had
formally terminated his connection with the Consolidated Companies on
the day before, and this Sunday morning had been set apart by him for
his tremendous undertaking. His trunks were in the middle of the floor,
and his clothes deposited in various stages of disorder upon every chair
in the room, preparatory to making the start toward packing which
appalled him. The empty drawers of the dresser and the chiffonnier, and
the bare hooks of the closet bore silent tribute to the thoroughness of
his work thus far.

He was sitting upon the edge of a trunk, regarding in dismay the
confusion around him and wondering where to make a start, when the bell
rang vigorously. He opened the door in surprise, and was relieved to
find no more formidable a visitor than the elevator boy.

"A young lady down-stairs to see you, sir."

"A--what?" demanded Allen.

"She wouldn't give her name, sir."

"I'll be right down," he cried, slamming the door unceremoniously in the
boy's face, and rushing into his coat and waistcoat. Could it be that
Alice had re