papers will be a trial to Miss Vale for the next few
days."

"Well, don't neglect the morning issues, if you are going to mention
any. In to-morrow's _Star_ there will be a portrait of Edyth four
columns wide and eight inches high. I'll expect such expressions as
'beautiful society girl,' 'a recent debutante,' 'heiress to the vast
fortune of the late structural steel king,' 'charming manner and
brilliant mind.' And at those odd times when they are not praising
her gowns, her wealth or her good looks, they'll be rather worse than
insinuating that she knows all about the crime--if she didn't commit
it herself!"

He paced up and down the floor, his huge motoring coat flapping
distressfully about his legs. His face was flushed.

"If I had Morris here," he threatened, "I'd show him a few things, the
pup!" Then suddenly he stopped his tramping and faced his friend. "But
now that it is as it is," he demanded, "what are we going to do about
it?"

"There are quite a number of very sensible things for us to do,"
replied Ashton-Kirk, good-humoredly. "And the first of them is to keep
our tempers--the second to keep cool."

"All right," sulked Pendleton. "I know well enough that I need to do
both. But what next?"

"Is your car still outside?"

"Yes."

"Good. We'll have a little use for it to-day, if you're not otherwise
engaged."

"Kirk," said Pendleton, earnestly, "until this matter is settled,
don't hesitate to command me. I know that I'm not generally credited
with much serious purpose; but even the lightweight feels
things--sometimes."

Within half an hour, Ashton-Kirk, in a perfectly fitting, carefully
pressed suit of gray, tan shoes and a light colored knock-about cap,
led the way down to the car. As they got in, he said:

"We'd better go to Bernstine's first. It's the nearest and on our way
to the station."

A twenty minute's run through a baffling maze of vehicles brought them
to the curb before a store with a very conspicuous modern front of
plate glass and metal. Inside they inquired for one of the Messrs.
Bernstine; and upon one of the gentlemen presenting himself,
Ashton-Kirk handed him his card. Mr. Bernstine was stout, bald and
affable.

"I have heard of you, sir," said he, "and I am delighted to be of
service!"

"Within the last few weeks," said Ashton-Kirk, "you have had a sale of
rifles and other things condemned by the military authorities of
Bolivia."

Mr. Bernstine wrinkled his smooth for