mper once or twice," George
said with a laugh. "I used to wonder, when he produced sardine cans at
supper, but after a while I began to understand."

"Well," continued Taunton, "I didn't intend to have any blamed Percy
trying to turn my girl's head, until I knew what he meant. I'd nobody
to talk it over with--I lost her mother long ago--so I kind of froze
him out, until one day he came dawdling in and asked if he might take
Helen to Jim Haxton's dance.

"'Does she know you have come to me about it?' I said.

"'Can't say,' he told me coolly, with a cigarette hanging out of his
mouth. 'I haven't mentioned the matter yet; I thought I'd ask you
first.'

"'S'pose I object?' I said.

"'Then,' he allowed quite tranquil, 'the thing will have to be
considered. There's not the slightest reason why you should object.'

"I'd a notion I could agree with him--I liked the way he talked--and I
told him Helen could go, but the next time he called he was to walk
right into the office instead of hanging round the counter. I asked
him what he'd done with all the canned truck he'd bought, and he said
he was inclined to think his partner had eaten most of it. Since then
he's been over pretty often, and I figured it was time I gave you a
hint."

"Thanks," responded George. "He was, in a way, placed in my hands, but
I've no real control over him."

"That's so; he's of age. What I felt was this--I've nothing against
West, but my girl's good enough for anybody, and I can't have his
people in England looking down on her and making trouble. If they're
not satisfied, they had better call him back right now. There's to be
no high-toned condescension in this matter."

"I don't think you need be afraid of that," said George. "It would be
altogether uncalled for. It's very likely that I shall be consulted,
and I'll have pleasure in telling his people that I consider him a
lucky man."

"There's another point--has West any means?"

"I believe about five thousand dollars could be raised to put him on a
farm."

Taunton nodded.

"It's not very much, but I don't know that I'm sorry. I'll see they're
fixed right; whatever West gets I'll beat. My girl shan't be indebted
to her husband's folks. But there's not a word to be said about this
yet. West must wait another year before we decide on anything."

George thought the storekeeper's attitude could not be found fault
with, and when he drove home through the soft dusk of the s