atisfied his curiosity as to the ceiling, he
announced his complete acquiescence in the idea of inviting the William
Holtons. "No objection whatever," he declared, "to asking Bill and his
wife. Is that all of 'em you want?"

"Well, there are Ethel and Charlie. They've just closed their house here
and mean to live in Indianapolis, but of course they still belong here.
Charlie is doing very well, they say--quite a brilliant young man; and
Ethel is very sweet and well-bred. She went to Miss Waring's school in
Indianapolis and knows some of the nicest young people in the city. I
think it would be nice to ask them; it always looks well to have some
out-of-town guests."

"That Sam's children you're talking about? What's the matter with the
other boy?"

"Fred? I think the less we say about him the better. He's been down in
Mexico on one of Sam's schemes and I guess he didn't do well. He's on
the old farm next your place. I guess Ethel and Charlie can represent
that branch of the family. If you think--" began Mrs. Fosdick, anxious
that Amzi should be fully satisfied.

"Thunder! I don't think. You fix it up to suit yourselves."

They began to adjust their wraps, fairly well satisfied with the results
of the visit. Amzi eyed their autumnal splendors with the mild wonder a
woman's raiment always aroused in him.

"Tom marry again, you say," he observed pensively. "What's put that idea
in your head?"

"Why, you know as well as we do, Amzi, that he and Rose Bartlett are
very sympathetic," exclaimed Mrs. Hastings, veiling a sharp glance at
him. The three women, feigning inattention, were alert for their
brother's reply. It came promptly.

"Rose is a fine woman," he said with cordial emphasis. "A fine woman.
And," he immediately added, "so's Nan!"

Then he thrust his hands into his coat pockets and filled his cheeks and
glared.

They were grieved by the mention of Nan. The bluff heartiness with which
he had expressed his admiration for Rose had been gratifying and
satisfying; but by speaking with equal fervor of Nan he had sent them
adrift again.

CHAPTER VII

GHOSTS SEE THE LIGHT AGAIN

Kirkwood plunged into work with an ardor that was not lost upon Phil. He
rose early and kept office hours with a new faithfulness, and he
frequently carried books and papers home for study. Something was
impending, Phil surmised, in the affairs of the Sycamore Traction
Company, for he had been to Indianapolis to confer with th