received Harrison's report.

This done, he telephoned Miss Drew. She was not insensible to the
significance of his inquiry if she would be in that afternoon. She had
observed in him of late a condition of uneasiness, supplemented by
moroseness and occasional periods of irascibility. Every girl whose
occupation in life is the study of men recognizes these symptoms and
knows how to treat them. Barbara had dealt with many men afflicted in
this manner, and the flutter of anticipation that came with his urgent
plea to see her was tempered by experience. It had something of joy in
it, for she cared enough for Montgomery Brewster to have made her
anxiously uncertain of his state of mind. She cared, indeed, much more
than she intended to confess at the outset.

It was nearly half-past five when he came, and for once the
philosophical Miss Drew felt a little irritation. So certain was she of
his object in coming that his tardiness was a trifle ruffling. He
apologized for being late, and succeeded in banishing the pique that
possessed her. It was naturally impossible for him to share all his
secrets with her, that is why he did not tell her that Grant & Ripley
had called him up to report the receipt of a telegram from Swearengen
Jones, in which the gentleman laconically said he could feed the whole
State of Montana for less than six thousand dollars. Beyond that there
was no comment. Brewster, in dire trepidation, hastened to the office
of the attorneys. They smiled when he burst in upon them.

"Good heavens!" he exclaimed, "does the miserly old hayseed expect me
to spend a million for newspapers, cigarettes and Boston terriers? I
thought he would be reasonable!"

"He evidently has seen the newspaper accounts of your dinner, and this
is merely his comment," said Mr. Ripley.

"It's either a warning, or else he's ambiguous in his compliments,"
growled Brewster, disgustedly.

"I don't believe he disapproved, Mr. Brewster. In the west the old
gentleman is widely known as a wit."

"A wit, eh? Then he'll appreciate an answer from me. Have you a
telegraph blank, Mr. Grant?"

Two minutes later the following telegram to Swearengen Jones was
awaiting the arrival of a messenger-boy, and Brewster was blandly
assuring Messrs. Grant & Ripley that he did not "care a rap for the
consequences":

NEW YORK, October 23, 1--

SWEARENGEN JONES,

Butte, Mont.

No doubt you could do it for less than six thousand. Montana is
regarded