ching the Holtons she had not thought of Fred at all;
nor did it occur to her now that he was in any way concerned with the
Sycamore difficulties.

"Miss Kirkwood--"

"Well, Mr. Holton, if you will be real nice, I'll let you call me Phil.
I met you before I grew up--that night I danced in the cornfield. The
moon introduced and chaperoned us, after a fashion, so we'll consider
that you belong to the earlier period of what might be called my life.
That was my last fling. When I came home that night I was a grown-up.
How do you like that, Fred?"

"More than I care to say!" And his face lighted.

He realized perfectly that knowing his diffidence she was trying to make
things easier for him, just as she had at her party. Phil was wondering
whether she dared ask him to go to the Bartletts' with her for luncheon.

"It's lonesome, Phil, not having anybody to talk to about your troubles.
There are times when we've got to lean up against advice."

"They say I never do much leaning," Phil replied. "My aunts say it.
There ought to be a place like a post-office where you could poke in a
question and get the answer right back; but there isn't."

"Our folks are in a lot of trouble, according to the papers," said Fred.
"That's what I wanted to see your father about."

"Oh!"

"I felt that I ought to see him as soon as possible."

"I wouldn't trouble about what's in the papers. That's what my father
came back for to-day--to head off the home papers about the traction
company."

"Just how do you mean?" he asked, clearly puzzled. "I thought he was on
the other side of the case."

"Well, the 'Star' this evening will say that everything will be all
right, and for people not to get excited. I don't see why you should
bother. You're a farmer and not mixed up in the traction business."

He seemed not to notice when they reached and passed the Bartletts',
though she had told him she was going there for luncheon.

"They say Charlie didn't play straight in settling father's estate; that
it's going to be opened up and that we've got to give back what we got
from it. The 'Advertiser' had all that this morning. Perry brought me
his paper and we talked it over before I came in. He said it wasn't any
of my business; but I think it is. We owe it to father--all of us--if
there's anything wrong, to show our willingness to open up the estate. I
thought I'd like to tell your father that."

"We've got to turn back here. I understand how you