Calvin Gray. All in
all they were a goodly family, just such a family as is to be found
beneath many a fortunate roof; yet a family with an individuality all
its own and a richness of life such as is less common than it ought to
be.

CHAPTER II

RICHARD CHANGES HIS PLANS

The next time Richard Kendrick went to the Gray home was a fortnight
later, when old Matthew Kendrick was sending some material for which
Judge Gray had written to ask him--books and pamphlets, and a set of
maps. This time he would have sent a servant, but his grandson Richard
heard him giving directions and came into the affair with a careless
suggestion that he was driving that way and might as well take the stuff
if Mr. Kendrick wished it. The old man glanced curiously at him across
the table where the two sat at luncheon.

"Glad to have you, of course," he commented, "but you made so many
objections when I asked you before I thought I wouldn't interfere with
your time again. Did you meet any of the family when you went?"

"Only Judge Gray and two of his nephews," responded Richard, truthfully
enough.

So he went with the big package. This time, it being a fine, sunny,
summerlike day almost as warm as September, he went clad in careful
dress with only a light motoring coat on over all to preserve the
integrity of his attire. He left this in the car when he leaped out of
it, and appeared upon the doorstep looking not at all like his own
chauffeur, but quite his comely self.

The door-lock was in full working order now, and he was admitted by the
same little maid whom he remembered seeing before. Upon his inquiry for
Judge Gray he was told that that gentleman was receiving another caller
and had asked to be undisturbed for a short time, but if he could wait--

Now there was no reason in the world for his waiting, since the package
of books, pamphlets, and maps was under his arm and he had only to
bestow it upon the maid and give her the accompanying directions. But,
at this precise moment, Richard caught sight of a figure running down
the staircase; concluded in one glance, as he had concluded in one
glance before, that if a personality could be expressed by a speaking
voice, a laugh, and a rose-hued scarf, this must be the one they
expressed; and decided in the twinkling of an eye to wait. The maid
conducted him toward the room on the right of the hall and he followed
her, passing as he did so the person who had reached the foot of