u have here, uncle."

There was the proper amount of confidence in the big athlete's manner,
and his voice had that subtle shade of authority which carried the
remark in its proper groove. For these ancient servitors are to be
approached in only one way if results are to be had.

"Yas, suh," replied the black man at the gate, "yas, suh! It is a nice
ol' street, suh. Not whut it was yeahs ago when I fust come here, no
suh. But nice and quiet. And 'spectable."

"Of course," said Bat "Sure enough, entirely respectable!" He watched
and saw that the two did not reappear at the street corner; a feeling of
doubt was in his mind; he had no means of knowing if his conjectures as
to their movements were true. However, if they had gone, very well! If
they had not--well, he would be there and would know. "Yes," he went on,
"a fine old block. Not many like it left."

"No, suh. Dey's mos' all gone. Lots o' po' folks f'om fur-off places
crowdin' in, suh. An' dey jes' natch'ly push into de ol' streets. Ol'
houses am like ol' families, suh. Dey's mighty scarce. Indeed dey is!"

Apparently Bat had chanced upon a favorite topic; like many of the old
families, of whom he spoke so regretfully, the ancient man-servant
cherished the days of the past. This Bat felt to be rather fortunate; it
would provide a subject for conversation while he stood waiting in the
shadow of the trees which ran along in front of the houses.

"A new section will grow up," he suggested. "And new families will
proceed to grow old in them, and make them, also, respectable."

But the old darkey refused to consider this.

"No, suh, 'tain't possible. Dey'll never be like de ol' folks--not jes'
like 'em. Yo' can't make quality, boss, no, suh."

Bat was still engaged in talk with the ancient darkey a quarter of an
hour later when he saw the door of Nora Cavanaugh's house open, and a
woman emerge. Though she was enveloped in a long coat and furs, there
was no mistaking the air, the free, splendid carriage. It was Nora.

With a glance up and down the street, she descended the steps and made
her way north. As she passed the corner, Scanlon's eyes were fixed upon
the one opposite her; with a tingling of the blood he saw the two men
bob out with furtive eagerness; and, in a few moments, they were
following her. He at once said good-night to the old servant and fell in
their wake.

Nora walked rapidly; within ten minutes, from the fixedness of her
direction, Bat gues