miser'ble, low-lived--'
and so forth and so on. All the way to the front gate I see Effie
leanin' out, lookin' and listenin' and smilin'.

"Then the machine buzzed off in a typhoon of dust and I went back to
Jonadab, who was a livin' catechism of questions which neither one of us
could answer."

"So THAT'S the end!" exclaimed Captain Bailey. "Well--"

"No, it ain't the end--not even yet. Maybe it ought to be, but it ain't.
There's a little more of it.

"A fortni't later I took a couple of days off and went up to Wapatomac
to visit the Van Wedderburns, same as I'd promised. Their 'cottage' was
pretty nigh big enough for a hotel, and was so grand that I, even if I
did have on my Sunday frills, was 'most ashamed to ring the doorbell.

"But I did ring it, and the feller that opened the door was big and
solemn and fine lookin' and had side whiskers. Only this time he wore a
tail coat with brass buttons on it.

"How do you do, Mr. Wingate?' says he. Step right in, sir, if you
please. Mr. and Mrs. Van Wedderburn are out in the auto, but they'll be
back shortly, and very glad to see you, sir, I'm sure. Let me take
your grip and hat. Step right into the reception room and wait, if you
please, sir. Perhaps,' he says, and there was a twinkle in his port eye,
though the rest of his face was sober as the front door of a church,
'perhaps,' says he, 'you might wish to speak with my wife a moment. I'll
take the liberty of sendin' her to you, sir.'

"So, as I sat on the gunwale of a blue and gold chair, tryin' to settle
whether I was really crazy or only just dreamin', in bounces Effie,
rigged up in a servant's cap and apron. She looked polite and demure,
but I could see she was just bubblin' with the joy of the whole
bus'ness.

"'Effie,' says I, 'Effie, what--what in the world--?'

"She giggled. 'Yup,' she says, 'I'm chambermaid here and they treat me
fine. Thank you very much for gettin' me the situation.'

"'But--but them doin's the other day? That automobile--and them silks
and satins--and--?'

"'Mr. Van Wedderburn lent 'em to me,' she said, 'him an' his wife. And
he lent us the auto and the shofer, too. I told him about my troubles
at the Old Home House and he thought 'twould be a great joke for me
to travel back there like a lady. He's awful fond of a joke--Mr. Van
Wedderburn is.'

"'But that man?' I gasps. 'Your husband? That's what you said he was.'

"'Yes,' says she, 'he is. We've been married 'most six months n