s from marsh products?"

"Yes," Sam assured him. "Made from marsh-grown material by our new
process, which is much cheaper than the wood-pulp process. Do you know
Mr. Creamer of the Eureka Paper Mills?"

"Not very well. I've met him once or twice at dinners, but I'm not
intimately acquainted with him. I hear, however, that he is an
authority."

"Here's a letter from him, and some samples made by him under our
process," said Sam with secret satisfaction. "I just received them
this morning." From the same pocket he took the letter without its
envelope, and with it handed over the two other small samples.

"That's a fine showing," Stevens commented when he had examined
document and samples and brought them back, and he sat down, edging
about so that he and Sam sat side by side but facing each other, as in
a tete-a-tete chair. "Now tell me all about it."

On and on went the music in the ball-room, on went the shuffling of
feet, the swish of garments, the gay talk and laughter of the young
people; and on and on talked Mr. Stevens and Mr. Turner, until one
familiar strain of music penetrated into Sam's inner consciousness; the
_Home Sweet Home_ waltz!

"By George!" he exclaimed, jumping up. "That can't be the last."

"Sounds like it," commented Mr. Stevens, also rising. "It is the last
if they make up programs as they did in my young days. I don't
remember of many dances where the _Home Sweet Home_ waltz didn't end it
up. It's late enough anyhow. It's eleven-thirty."

"Then I have done it again!" said Sam ruefully. "I had the number ten
dance with your daughter."

Mr. Stevens closed his eyes to laugh.

"You certainly have put your foot in it," he admitted. "Oh, well, Jo's
sensible," he added with a father's fond ignorance. "She'll
understand."

"That's what I'm afraid of," replied Mr. Turner ruefully. "You'll have
to intercede for me. Explain to her about it and soften the case as
much as you can. Frankly, Mr. Stevens, I'd be tremendously cut up to
be on the outs with Miss Josephine."

"There are shoals of young men who feel that way about it, Sam," said
Mr. Stevens with large and commendable pride. "However, I am glad that
you have added yourself to the list," and he gazed after Sam with
considerable approbation, as that young man hurried away to display his
abjectness to the young lady in question.

Three times, on the arm of Princeman, she whirled past the open doorway
where Sam stood, b