3BQ?td*ruolc and unconeidfcj-ed tljrure In J# ii*w Uo"?*" ai cU? itieriduiia. H* wary v. rtn?s toOKiigf Jt Wu? from ? ?u (uiu?r bouse aort door. ?,'3'.6PTKn rv-Tlw Virtnewt old town nunily anu -mpovcrlirfced, ct?li on the < " - "^ty-ricJ.. cud At??rw.i:.l d.i. Hi l:>. Mary pn'j into v. en wepnfit^ UihqiJut 4 ??It .*"Mry .ir^uii1 dan b -aticuuon, * tad* lit A? xbi ftUerf v he Is to lfr. Jnmcs Shcrldah ball been anx loualy waltlug for the dazzling visitor to .'fget through with old Roscoe" and glre a bachelor a chance. "Old Ro? eoa" was the younger, but* ho had al ways been the steady wheel-horse of the Jam#?. Aa their father habitually boasted, both brothers were "capable, hard- working young business men." Pbyslcally neither waa of the height. . breadth or depth of the father. Both wore young business men's mustaches, and either could have cat for the tailor shaptlthographsof young business men wearing "rich suitings la dark mix tures." Jim. approving warmly of his neigh bor's- profile, perceived her access of color, which Increased his approba tion. "What's that old Roecoe saying to you. Miss Vertrees?" be asked. "These young married men are mighty forward nowadays, but you muan't let ?em make von blush." "Am I blushing?" she said. "Are you Surer' And with that abe gave him ample opportunity to make sure, repeating with Interest the look wasted upon Roecoe. "I think you must bo mistaken." she continued. "I think it's your brother who Is blush ing. Pre thrown him Into cou fusion." "JEIowT" 8be laughed, and then, leaning to him a Utile, said In a tone as confidential aa she could mako It, under cover of the tlproar, "By trying to begin with him a courtship I meant for you!" This might well be a stylo nejv to JUn; and It was. ae- supposed It a 1 nonsensical form of badinage, and yet It took hla breath. lie realized that be wished what she said to be the liters] truth, and he waa Instantly snared b> that realization. "By George r he said. "I guess you're the kind of girl that can say anything? yes, and get away with It, tool" She laughed again? In her way, so that he could not tell whether she was laughing at him or at herself or st tho i nomense she wss talking; and abe aald:~ I "But you see I don't care whether I get away trlth It or not I wish you'd tell mo fraukly if you think I've got s chance to get away with your' "More like If you're got a chance to get away from me!" Jim was lusplred to reply. "Wet one In the world, espe cially arftcr beginning -by making fun of me like that" "I mightn't be so much In fun ss you thluk/' *he said, regarding Mm witlfr #nd*tcn gravity. "Well," aali Jim. in simple honesty, ^you're a funny girl!" Her gravity continued an instant longer. "I 'may not turn out to be funny for y oil" "Sojong a a you torn out to be any thing at all for me, I expect I can manage to be satiated.'" And with that, to his own surprise, It was his torn to blush, w Hereupon ahe laughed agaln.c.^^>'. "Tea," be said. plaintively, no*, wholly lacking Intuition, "I can see you're the sort of girl that would laugh the minute yon see a man. really means anything!" "'Laugh'!" ahe cried, gayly. "Why, It might be a matter of life and deathl But If yon want tragedy, I'd better put the question at once, considering the Baistake I made with yonr brother." Jim was daeed. She seemed to be playing a little gamo of mockery and nonsense wlib him, bat he had glimpses of a flashing danger la it: he was but too sensible of being oat classed, and had somewhere a con soIousiicjs that he could never quite know tills giddy snd Alluring lady, nO matter how long It pleased her to piny with him. But be mightily wanted b*r to keep on playing with him. "Put wbst question 1" he said, breath lessly. "As you are a new neighbor of mine and of my family," ?be returned, speaking slowly and with a cross-ex ?miner's severity. "I think it would bs well for me to know at. once whether i yoo are already walking out with any i young lady or not. Mr. Hherldan, think , w?Ui Ar* xqu ?goken_ for? _ .J ("Not yet." be gasped. "Arm you V "Nor* she cried, and with that tbey both laughed again; and thp pastime proceeded, Increasing both In Its gnyety and in its gravity. ? erring its continuance. Mr. Rob ert La inborn. opposite, turned from ft lively conversation With Edith aud re marked covertly to Sibyl that Mitt Ver iree* Tv^- "startlus rather ploturesnue lf with Jim.- And be added, languid ly, "I)o you suppose Bhe would?" Tor tho tr-oment .'fbyt >Tnve iw 5<t?> of Imvuy* ho..ni him, bufrrteo;n'ot^ hilcr estcd.la the clasp* of.n ions "rep;/ of pearls, a loop of \vhlrh ?hu was nljfcw Itis to r^'UjjS from Jj&r ntt?on>. rest ing i*r elbow npoh-thc inir. ? \rd fo'? Towinjr with ber eyes the txvlnUlo of diapiond* jin<L the clasp at the eon or uio *.oojp, Z'ac vr ore maby Jewels. She was pretty, but bera was not the kind of prettlnesH to lie loaded with too sumptuous accessories, and jeweled head-dresses are dangeroun ? they may emphasize the wrongness of [ the wrong wearer. "t said Miss Vertrees seems to be starting pretty Strong with Jim," re peated Mr. Lamborn. WI beard you." There was a latent discontent always somewhere In ber eyes, no matter what she threw upon the surface to cover It. and Just now she did not care to cover It; she looked sullen. "Starting any stronger than you did with Edith ?I--ahe inquired. "Oh, keep the peace!" he said, cross ly. "That's off, of course." Too .haven't been making her see It (his evening? precisely," said >61byl. looking at him steadily. "You've tAlked to her for ? " ~ "For heaven's sake," he began, "keep the peace r "Well, what "Jj|nre- you Just been do ing?" - " Shr he said. "Listen to your fa ther-lii-law." Sheridan was booming and braying louder than ever, the orchestra having begun to play "The Rosary," to his 7aat content. T * I "I count tbem over, la-la-tum-tee- 1 dum," he roared, bcutlujr the measures 1 ? with his fork. "Each hoar a pearl, I each pearl tee-duni-tum-dum ? What's the matter of all you. folks? Why'n't you slug? Miss VerlreoH, I bet a thou sand dollars ybu slug! Why'n't ? " "Mf. Sheridan," she aald, turning ] cheerfully from the ardent Jim, "you \ don't know what you interrupted!' Your son isn't used to my rough ways, 1 ! and my soldier's wooing frightens him, . | bat I think be was about to say sorae : thing Importaht." "I'll say something Important to him If be doesn't!" the father threatened, i more delighted with ber than ever. "By gosh! If I was his age ? Gr a widower right now?" I -Ob, wait!" cried Mary. "If the^d. only make leu nolael 1 want Mrs. Sheridan to bear." "She'd say the same," be shouted. "She'd tell me I was mighty alow If I couldn't get ahead o' Jim. Why, when I was his age ? " "You must listen to your father," Mary Interrupted, turning to Jim, who bail grown red again. "He's going to | tell u4 bow, when he was your nge, he made those"! wo blades of gran* grow oat of a teacup ? you could see for yourself be get Ussa out si his ?lecvel" , i At that Sheridan pounded the tal?le till It Jumped. "Look here, young lady!" he roared. "Some o" these days I'm either join' to alap yot?-^or I'm goln* to klua yon!" Edith looked aghast; she was afraid this was indeed "too awful," but Mary Vertrees burst Into ringing laughter. "Both!" she cried. "Both! The one to make me forget the other!" "Bot which?" he begun, and then suddenly gave forth such stentorian trumpeting* of mirth that for once the whole Uhle stopped to listen. "Jim," he roared, "If you don't propose to that girl tonight I'll send you back ttf" the ii in chine shop with Bibbs!" | And Bibb* ? down among the retain ers by the sogar pump works, and wntchlng Mary Vertrees aa a ragged ; boy In the atreet might watch a rich little girl in a garden ? Bibbs heard. He heard ? aud be kfeew what his fa I titer's plans were now. CHAPTCR VI. Ifrs. Vertrees "sst up" for her daugh ter, Mr. Vertrees baring retired after a NMtlesR evening, not much soothed by the society of his Landaeers. Bat Mrs. Vettrees had a long vigil of it. She sat through the slow night hours in a stiff little chair under the gaallght tn her own room, which wns directly orer the "front hall." There, book in >snd, the employed the time in her own remlnlNceaces, though It was her belief that she was reeding Msdsme de Remusst'S. Her thoughts west backwsrd Into Utt m aud imo hex husban^i; ajtf Uitoklne forw.rd Oite trail ventured took lb* (arm of bop* wtolch neither at them have borue to !mw* put in word', yet ititT uaj Liked It over, du ett* day. from the rery bonr when i they heart! Sheridan vu to build hlij new Louie ue:;? door. For? so quick- ; Ijr does auy l.!ehl.?f hiuatui behavior become nu antique ? their youth vaa of the Innocent tfld so deud! of "broevituj" nud "gentility,** and no eraft hnd hetn mor% strattly tnilnei upon tbetn Hun tlnit of talking nboot thiols without mentioning them. Hero in nop marked the most vital differ- j Voce between Mr. qnd Mrs. Yertrees ?n-l their big new neighbor. Sheridan. ] though his youth was of the name epoch, knew nothing of such ma He bad been chopplns wood for the | morning Bre In the country grocery f while they were still dam-lug. It wu tifter one o'clock when, Mr? Vertrees heard steps and the delicate cliukiug or the key In the lock, and 1 then, with thp opening of the door. | Mary's luugh rind, "Yes? if you aren't I of nth! ? torjorrow!'^ p*v Tli* ?*?* jr clo^eJ, ard rho rusfcdrt Trp L^tiirs, bringing with HV a brnatb <fci l^ld and bracing olr Jnto.hjr In-' I r room< "Yes,1' she said. liefcro Mrs. ? Yerireci coiild epi-'.il;. "he brought mc homo J*-' \ ' * K'Ue let bor cloafc fall upon the bed. mid, ;1r :,v!r.?<uV old ix.i-v. chair forward, yat be* He her indthcr |ftf?er giving her a i_..i pat upon tli* shoulder and a hearty kiss upon tl/s chcek. "Mamma P Mary exclnlmcd-, when | Mm Vertrees had expressed a hope | ! "Why Don't You Aik Mo 7** ; that she bad enjoyed the evening and I had not caught cold. "Why don't yon ask met" . N Tlila Inquiry obviously made her ! mother uncomfortable. "Ijlon't ? " she faltered. "Ask you what, "Mary ?** ! "flow I got a^ong and what he's like." "Oh, It Isn't distressing!** Bald Mary. "And I got along so fast ? '* She broke off to laugh; continuing then. "But that's the way I went at It, of course. We are In a hurry, wrcn't we?" "My dear; I don't know what to?" | "What to make of anything!" Mary j finished for her. "So that's all right! I Now I'll tell you all about It. It was 1 gorgeous and deafening and teetotal. We could have lived a year on It. I think the orchids alone would have lasted us a couple of months. There tbey^ were, before me, but I couldn't steal 'em and sell 'em. and so ? well, so i I did whnt I could!" * She leaned back and laughed reas suringly to ber troubled mother. "It seemed to be a success ? what I could," she said, clasping her hands behind her neck and stirring the rocker to mo tion as a rhythmic accompaniment to ber narrative. "The girl Edith and her. slster-ln-law, Mrs. Roecoe Sheridan.) were too anxious about the effect of things on me. The father's worth a bushel of both of them. If be knew It He's what be is. I like film." She paused reflectively, continuing, "Edith's 'Interested' In that Lamhorn boy; he's good-looking and not sttipld, but I think he's?" She Interrupted herself with a cheery outcry: "Oh. I mustn't be calling him names! If he's trylnjc to mtoke Edith like him I ought to respect blm as a colleague." "I don't understand a thing you're talking about." Mrs. Vertrees com plained. i "All tbe better 1 Well, he's a bad lot. that Lamhorn boy; everybody's always known that, but the Sberldans don't know the everybodles that know. He sat between Edith and v Mrs. Roseoe Sheridan. She's like those people you wondered about at the theater the last time we went-? dressed In ballgowns: bound to show their clothes and Jewels somewhere I She flatters tbe father, and so did I, for that matte*? but not that way. I treated him outrageously I" "Alary P* "That's what flattered blm. After dinner be msde the whole regiment of ns follow him all over tfie house, while be lectured like a guide on the Pala tine. He gave dlmenaions and coats, Irt tbe ?rhQj? bW ?t >9 p>t?a?i ?? [it they thought fie WwdeT to make' tbem a pranit of the boost. What be WSS p>ocdest of vag the plumbing and that Bay of Naples panorama in the hall. Ha made m look at all the (plumbing ? bathrooms and everywhere aJMV-aod than ha made oa look at tha I Bay of Naples. He aatd It was a bun drafaud eleven feet ton*, but I think | llfa more. And ha led as all Into the fctedy-mnde library to see a poem Edith bad taken a prize frith at st-booi. They'd had It prl&N In g ?d letters an J framed in mother-of-pearl. Rut the pieru-Mself was rnlher simple and ?' .! and n'.ce-? be read it to us. though Edith tried to stop him. She wa* modest about It, and saUl ?Ihm1 never written anything etoe. Au.l then, after a while, Mrs. Itoscoe Sheridan asked me to come across (lie street to her house with them ? her husband and Edith aud Mr. Lauihoru nud Jim Sheri dan?" Mrs. Vertreee was shocked. "Jim!" she exclaimed. "Mary, please?" "Of course," aald Mart. "I'll make | it as easy for you as 1 can, mamma. Mr. James SherJdnt,_Jr. We went over there, and Mrs. Monroe explalut'd that the men we're dying for a driu'e.' though 1 noticed that Mr. Laudurn was the only one near death's door on that account. Edith and Mr*. lto>-.<ne 1 said tliey U:iew I'd been bored at d!n,nr. jt-y were objectionably >!v I g?*il c it. a?;d they eeenn l i ?> I raitok now v. a were going to have <*. ?pooil {?-.-? t> male? -up for It. Put 3 lia.'ji : 2 ? i i : lioreA at the d!??i.\-. I'sll I been 1; and Dm Vwd ; .;t I Mrs. Kos.\?y's was horribly, borri'jly Stupid," '?But, Mary." her mother be-jan. "Is ? Is ? " And she seemed uuable u complete the question. "Never mind, mamma, I'll sny it. Is Mr. James Sb. .Man, Jr., stupid? I'm ; sure he's not at ull stupid about busl- 1 ness. Otherwise ? Oh, what right have I to be calling people 'stupid' be cause they're not exactly my kind? On the big dinner table they had enor mous Icing modeln of the Sheridan Building?" "Oh no!" Mrs. Vertreee cried. "Sure ly not!" , -Yes. and two other things of that klud ? 1 don't know what. But.- after all, I wondered If they were so bad. Well, then, mamma, I managed not to feel superior to Mr. James Sheridan, Jr., because he didn't sec anything out of place In the Sheridan bulldiug in sugar." | Mm. Vertrees* expression bad lost i none of Its anxiety and she shook her bead gravely. "My dear, dear cliild," j she said. "It seems to me ? It looks ? I'm afraid ? " "Say us much of It as you can, mamma," said Mary, eucouraglujrly. "I can get it, If you'll just give me one keyword." "Everything you say," Mrs. Ver trees be?nn, timidly, "seeqis to have i the air of ? It is us if you were seek- 1 ing to? to make yourself ? " "Oh, I see! You mean I sound as If | I were trying to force myself to like ? him." "Not exactly. Mary. That wasn't quite what 1 meant," said Mrs. Ver trecs, speaking direct untruth with per fect unconsciousness. "But you sal<] that ? that you fouud the latter part of the eveidng at young Mrs. Sheri dan's Qnentcrtalning ? " "And as Mr. James Sheridan was I there, fend I saw mere of him than at I | dinner, and had a horribly stupid time In spite of that, you -think I ? " And! , then it was Mary who left the deduc- ' tion unfinished. ! Mrs. Vertrecs nodded; and though [ both the mother aud the daughter un- 1 derstood. Mary felt It better to make ! the understanding definite. | "Well," she asked, gravely, "is there j .anything else I can do? You and p.ipa don't want me to do anything that dis- I tresses me, and so. as this Is the only thing to be done, it seems it's up to mo not to let It distress me. That's all there is n>out If, Isn't it?" "But nothing must distress your the mother cried. i "That's what I say!" sfld Mary, cheerfully. "And so It doesn't It's all right." She rose and took her cloak over her arm, as If to go to her own room. But on the wny to the door she stopped, and stood leaning sgaiust tho ' foot of the bed, contemplating a thread- ' bnre rug at her feet. "Mother, you've told me a thousand times that It doesn't j really matter whom a girl marries." "No, no!" Mrs. Vertrees protested. "I never said such a ? " "No, not In words; t mean wbst you meant. It's true, Isn't it, that marriage j really is 'not a bed of roses, but a field of battle'? To get right down to It, a ' girl could flgbt it out with anybody, couldn't she? One man as well as an other?" "Mary, I can't bear for yon to talk like that." And Mrs. Vertrees lifted pleading eyes to her daughter ? eyes that begged to -be spared. "It sounds ? almost reckless!" I Mary caught the appeal, came to her, and kissed her gayly. "Never fret, dear! I'm not likely to do anything I don't want to^-l've always been too thoroughgoing a little pig." She gave her mother n flnnl kiss and went gayly ail the way to the door this time, pausing for her postscript with her hnnd on the knob.^'Ob, the one that cnugfif me looking In the window, mamma, the youngest one ? " "Old he spfak of Itr Mrs. Vertrees asked, apprehensively. "No. lie didn't speak st all. that I saw, to anyone. ' I didn't meet him. But he Isn't insane. I'm sure: or If he IS, he has long lut^rvals when he's not. Mr. James Sheridan mentioned that he lived st boms when he was 'well enough'; and It msy be he's only sn lu y took*, to fi la pleasant tjtm. and ft struck m* that If? If one wera In the Stereo f.mlly"? ?h? laughed a little roefally ? "be might bs Interesting to talk t? sometimes, trben ti^re war too nraeb stock* and bond*. I didn't see blm aft er dinner." -Hwn must be something wrons with him." *ald Mr*. Vertrees. "Thfy'd, have introduced blm If there weren't" **l don't knot*-, ills father spoke of sending htm back to ? inn rb! tie shop of some sort; * glanced at blm ust then nnrt he was pathetlc-lootiNg euougb before that, but the most tntf? change come over him. lie seamed | just to die. rUbt there at tbe table! ' | "Mr. Sheridan JlUTt be very unfeel ing.'* I "No." *nld llnry. thoughtfully, "J don't think he Is; but he might be un I comprehending. and certainly he's the j kind of man to do uuytbiiig he once I sets ont to do. Hut I wish I hadn't been J looking at that poor boy. Juat then! I'm afraid I'll keep remembering?" ' ' "I wouldn't'' Mrs. Vertrees smiled faintly, nnd lu her xmlle there wan the( remotest ghost of u genteel roguish- , ness. "I'd keep my mind on pleasanter . things. Mary.** Mary Inushed nnd nodded. "Yes. In deed! Plenty plcatmut enough. and j probably. If all were Uu??\rn, too goyd ? | evcu for sue!" j And \?b.*;i slie hs?d pone Mr*. Ver j trciy I-' .v lout? hr--.t:!i, "!r*? if a brr 1 ?1"0 were o:.' ti??r i-;':i?i. and. si.ir.lijry, l.cjjati to i'i reverie. CHAprcs VII. Edit!), glancing casually Into "rendy-ma.le" llbrrry. shipped abrupt* | ly. seeing Rlbbs !Le:v alone. l!e was | standing before the pearl-f rawed and gold-tottere.1 poem, musingly inspect* lrfg,Jt. lie read It; ? FL'GITIVK. : I will forjrct the thirds thai atlng: The lashing look, the barbel word. | I know the very hands that lUng / I The stones at me had never stirred To unger but for their own scars. They've suffered eo, that'* why they ' utrlke. I'll keep my heart among the stars Where note shall hunt It. Oh. like These wounferd oneg I must not be, For. wount!< I might strike In turn! S?. ivi)ne shall hurt mo. Far and free Whers my heart flics no one shall learn "Bibbs!" Edith's voice was angry, and her color deepened suddenly sh she came Into the room, preceded by 11 scent of violets much more powerful than that warranted by the actual buuch of them upon the lapel of her coat Bibbs did not tiirn his head, but wagged It solemnly, seeming depressed by the poem. "Pretty ^aung isn't It? ' he sald."%u-l,ttST^IBii have been some thing about jour iWkH that got the pri'e, Edith; I can't believe the poem | did It." | She glanced hurriedly over her Bboul der and spoke sharply, but lu a low I voice: "I don't think it's very nice of you to bring lt'up at -II. .Bibbs. I didn't I i want them to frame it, and I wish to, goodness papa'd quit talking about it;! but here, that night, after W* dinner, didn't ImT" go and read It aloud to the , whole crowd of 'em! I thought I'd die I of shame!" j Bibbs looked grieved. "The poem Isn t that bad, Edith. You see, you were only seventeen wheu you wrote I "4t*" ? "Oh, hush upl" she snapped. "I wish ? it bad burnt my lingers the first time I I touched It. Then I might have had sense enough to leave It where it was. I I had na business to take it, and I've ! been ashamed ? " "No, no." he sold comfortingly. "It was the very most flattering thing ever happened to me, It was almost mj last flight berore I went to the marhln? fhop. aud it's pleasant to thiuk some body liked It enough to " "But I don't lirtO It!" she exclaimed "I don't even understand It? and pop:: made so much fuHs over Its getting the prine, I Juki hate B! The truth Is 1 never dreamed It 'd got the prize." "You have to live it down, Edith. Perhaps Abroad and under another name you might find ? " "Oh, hush up! I'll J; Ire someone to steal It and burn It the first chance I get." SH;? turned away petulantly moving lo the door. "I'd like to tlilnli I could hope to hear the Inst of it be fore I die!" "Edl:h!" he called, as she went Into (he hull. "What's the matter?" "I want to ask you: Do I renlly look better, or have you Just got used to nae?" "What on earth do yon mean?" she said, coming back as far as the thresh old. "When I first came yon couldn't look at me," Blbhs explained. In h!s Imper sonal way. "But I've noticed you look at me lately. I wondered If I'd?" "It's because you look so much bet ter." she told him, cheerfully. "This month you've been here's done you 110 end of good. Anybody could look at yon now. Bibbs, and not ? not get ? " "Slckr* "Well? Til most thatr she lsnghed. "And you're Retting a better color every day. Bibbs; yon really are. You're really grttlng along SDlcndldly.*? "I ? I'm afraid so," he said, ruefully. "Afraid so! Well. If you aren't the queerest! I suppose you mean father might send you back to the machine ?hop if you get well enough. I brard him ssy something about It the nlglft of the?" The Jingle of a distant bell in*i ten-opted her. and she glanced at her watch. "Bobby Ijui.horn! I'm going to motor him out to look at h place In the eonntry. Afternoon, Bibbs!" When she had gore, nibtui mooned pessimistically from sbelf to shelf, his eye wandering among the titles of the V*>ks. The library consisted almost entirely of handsome "uuifot?n ? po**.- TMr mad? an ?ff? ctfea dor* ration far tb? room, all tbeae bt*. ex , I "otat with ? iftowy bltrflrj bare -nd there twtnklla# a reflection ef the flame? that crackled In the ? plfndtd Gothic lire place: but Btbha had au Iro p region that the bookaWler *bo footed them co???ldeted ttwm a relief, and that ivbJ to- sr ket c?oald??n?d f tt?*cs> a burilt*(i of dust. nod that iiuIpnIv oi*a con*Mi*r*??; thein at all. Uiui&clf. Uo n?T>tn?. There cvnue ?? rhlrre of ho'U f?v*i a clnrk In an thej>?virt of the !?'???.?. n?d ti 'ilto-Jncket api.c.ire-l Imuh .>i iv- n tin; duo.-w.iy, U^riUtf far*. \w-.* v. ! Mist' {tilth*," tc amv?im< "It'a Bibbs Taking Hi? Constitutional.* inn any wrap up wawm f you* thte an' she calu' go with you toduy. au* n '1 f*git go ace you" pa at fo' 'clock. Aw ready, iuh." _ I He equipped Blbba for tbe daitj drive Doctor Gurney bad commauded. and In the manner of master of cere monle* unctuously led the way. In the ball tbey passed tbe Moor, and lill>l<* paused before It while white-Jacket opened the door with a flourish and waved condescendingly to the chauf feur In the car which stood waltlag la the driveway. "It neerns to me I asked you what you thought about this statue' wheu I first came home. George." said It.bhs, thoughtfully. "What did you tell nic':" "Yeaauh!" Gecrge chuckled, per fectly understanding that for some nn? known reason Bibb* enjoyed bearing hlin repeat his oplulon of the Moor. "You list me when you firs' coiuc l:.i:ne, an' you a?t me nex' day. an' iu.?lry uear ev'y day all time you been here: an' las' Sunday you ust lue twlect." lie shook his head nolemuly. "Look to me muu" be somep'in mighty la uj Ida I 'bunt 'at statue!" "Mighty what?" "Mighty la midair' Georgp hurst laughing. "What do "at word mean Mist' Bibbs?" : "It's exactly tHe word for the J statue." ?aU Bibbs, with conviction, ?? | he elliuhed into the cur. "It's a hinil dal statue." "Hlyir* George exulted. "Man! M.ui: I.f'tcii! Well, suli. she mlglity I.?im I I t^UHue. but lumidal statue heap u' tum ble to dus'!" ??I expcct she l?!" said Bibbs, as ?'?? engine lietan to ?h?:rn; and a mouieu: later lie was from sight. Georce turned to Mist' J:n k??n. who bad l?eei? listening benevolently In :!>.? hallway. "Same he aw-ways s-iy, Mist" Jackson ? *1 expee' she Is!' K? 'y d. * 'ie try t' git me talk 'bout 'at larnid.il Jafuc. an' aw ways. Inn" thing he say. 'I e.vpcc" she is!' You know. Mi?t* ?Juckson. If he Kit well, 'at young n: : r? go* be pride o' the family. Mist' Jack *on. Yes suh, right now I pick 'lm fo' firs' money!" "Look out with all 'at money. George!" Jackson warned the eutlnisl aat. "White folks 'n 'Is house know 'Ira heap longer 'n you. You tbe on'y man bettln' on "Im!" "I, risk It!" cried George, merrily. "I put her all on now? ev'y cent! 'At boy's go' be flower o' the flock!' This singular prophecy, founded somewhat recklessly upon grnrltude for the meaning of "lamldal." differed radically from another prediction con cerning Bibbs, set forth for the benefit of a fair auditor some twenty minutes lator. Jim Sherldsn. skirting the edge* of the town with Mr.ry Vertrees beside hint. In his Awn swift mnrhlnc. encoun tered the Invalid upon the highroad The two cars were going In opposite ili rectlons. and the occupants of Jim e had only a awnylng glimpse of Bibbs sitting alone on the bsck seat ? his white face atartllnjrly white asaintt cap and colla^ of black fur ? but hr flashed Into recognition as Mary bov/cd to him. 'Jim waved his left hand carelessly "It'a Bibbs, taking bla constitutional.' he explained. "Yea. I know." acid Mary. "I Itowc' to blm. too. though I've never mot bin* In fact, I've only seen him once ? no t-vlc*. I hope he won't think I'm very bold, hewing to him." "I doubt If be noticed It," said bon est Jim. "Oh, oh!" she cried. "What'a the trouble?" "I'm almost ante people noMce I' when I bow to thcni." "Oh, I aeer sahl Jim. "Of cenrr tbey would ordinarily, but Blbba >? . funny." (CONTINUED NHXT WEEK.)

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