h me indirectly by
eying the new book jealously, and hinting in a subtle, womanly way that
Grolier needed new shoes, or that Richard was sadly in need of a new
cap. Presently, encouraged by my lamb-like reticence, Alice began to
complain gently of what she termed my extravagance, and finally she
fell into the pernicious practice of berating me roundly for neglecting
my family for the selfish--yes, the cruel--gratification of a foolish
fad, and then she would weep and gather up the two boys and wonder how
soon we should all be in the poorhouse.

I have spoken of my bachelor friend, Kinzie; there was a philosopher
for you, and his philosophy was all the sweeter because it had never
been embittered by marital experience. I had confidence in Kinzie, and
I told him all about the dilemma I was in. He pitied me and condoled
with me, for he was a sympathetic man, and he was, too, as consistent a
bibliomaniac as I ever met with. "Be of good cheer," said he, "we
shall find a way out of all this trouble." And he suggested a way. I
seized upon it as the proverbial drowning man is supposed to clutch at
the proverbial straw.

The next time I took a bundle of books home I marched into the house
boldly with them. Alice fetched a deep sigh. "Ah, been buying more
books, have you?" she asked in a despairing tone.

"No, indeed," I answered triumphantly, "they were given to me,--a
present from judge Trask. I'm in great luck, ain't I?"

Alice was almost as pleased as I was. The interest with which she
inspected the lovely volumes was not feigned. "But who is Judge
Trask?" she asked, as she read the autographic lines upon a flyleaf in
each book. I explained glibly that the judge was a wealthy and
cultured citizen who felt somewhat under obligation to me for certain
little services I had rendered him one time and another. I was not to
be trapped or cornered. I had learned my sinful lesson perfectly.
Alice never so much as suspected me of evil.

The scheme worked so well that I pursued it with more or less
diligence. I should say that about twice a week on an average a bundle
of books came to the house "with the compliments" of either Judge Trask
or Colonel Flail or Mr. Bisland. You can understand that I could not
hope to play the Trask deception exclusively and successfully. I
invented Colonel Flail and Mr. Bisland, and I contrived to render them
quite as liberal in their patronage as the mythical Judge Trask
himself. O