“Or keeping out of it altogether,” added Joan. The discussion was brief. “Then I’ll send your agent the contract to-morrow,” Joan overheard him say a minute later.!

The discussion was brief. “Then I’ll send your agent the contract to-morrow,” Joan overheard him say a minute later. “What do you mean by the whole hog?” requested Joan, assuming dignity.

Flossie appeared, towing a white-haired, distinguished-looking man, a Mr. Folk. She introduced him and immediately disappeared. Joan wished she had been left alone a little longer. She would like to have heard more. Especially was she curious concerning Abner, the lady’s third. Would the higher moral law compel him, likewise, to leave the poor lady saddled with another couple of children? Or would she, on this occasion, get in—or rather, get off, first? Her own fancy was to back Abner. She did catch just one sentence before Miss Tolley, having obtained more food for reflection than perhaps she wanted, signalled to her secretary that the note-book might be closed. “I was afraid you had forgotten how to do it,” she laughed, when at last he released her. “Do you know, you haven’t hugged me, Dad, since I was five years old. That’s nineteen years ago. You do love me, don’t you?” “Abner is your second?” suggested Miss Tolley.