tte of pretty girls, who smilingly nodded their appreciation of his
speech.

"Isn't he a perfect angel?" asked Mabel, sidling up to him and slipping
within the circle of his arm. "I don't see how I ever had the heart to
go to college and leave him."

"She has no compunction about rushing off to work on a newspaper, day
after day, and leaving me daughterless," complained Mr. Ashe lightly.
Yet a shadow so slight as to be hardly noticeable crossed his face,
which no one save the lynx-eyed Elfreda saw, who made mental note of it.
"He doesn't want her to work," was her shrewd conclusion.

"But I am here to-night," protested Mabel, catching his hand in hers
almost appealingly, "and I'm going to be at home for a whole day and
evening. Will you forswear business and help me entertain the girls
to-morrow?"

"I promise to devote myself heart and soul to their cause," said Mr.
Ashe solemnly, raising his hand. "Only you must allow me to go down to
the office for a little while in the morning."

"Very well. Remember, all telegrams and telephone messages are to be
tabooed after you leave there."

"Granted. What about all newspaper assignments?"

"Turn about is fair play," returned Mabel, flushing. "They can keep the
telephone messages and telegrams company."

CHAPTER XV

A FIRELIGHT COUNCIL

It was well after midnight when the theatre party returned to Mabel's
home, rather sleepy, but delighted with their glimpse of pleasure-loving
New York by night. After the theatre they were invited to be Mr. Ashe's
guests at supper, and were promptly whisked away in their motor car to
one of New York's particularly exclusive hotels, where a delicious
little supper was served to them in one of the hotel's private dining
rooms.

Half-past eight o'clock Thanksgiving morning found the six girls
downstairs and seated at the breakfast table. Mr. Ashe, who made it an
ironclad rule always to be in his office at half-past eight o'clock,
even on holidays, had time for only a hasty good morning all around
before his man announced that his car was at the door.

"Remember, Mab, you are to bring the girls down to my office after
Thanksgiving services this morning," he called back as he paused on the
threshold of the dining room.

"I'll remember, General," called Mabel, with a military salute.

"Oh, are we going to church this morning?" asked Elfreda quickly.

"Yes. There is to be a short but beautiful service in the church Father
an