on
the judge's overcoat when I came away and did not notice it until I got
to the office? You think I had better wear a long coat and white tie?"

"Of course. I want you to be the best-dressed man there. I don't want
you to look as if you were at a smoker."

Tom wheeled toward his wife, but she was digging in a drawer for his
white tie and may not have meant anything.

"Now don't tell me you have none. Here is one fresh and crisp. You would
not disgrace us by going to a dance dressed that way?" she pleaded.

"I will do whatever you say, dear," Tom answered, with a trace of
suspicion still in his eye.

He put on his long coat and the tie, and when he kissed his wife adieu
she patted him affectionately on the cheek.

"It is good of you to go to this old dance and let me stay at home," she
said, smiling sweetly at him. "Have as good a time as you can and be
sure to see what Mrs. Harris wears."

When Tom got into the street he drew a long breath of fresh air, and
then lighted a cigarette to quiet his nerves.

"I've got to go to that party for a few minutes," he said to himself,
"or I may get caught when I come to take my examination to-morrow
morning. I can't possibly make up a whole lot about dresses. And then
some woman may tell Ruth that I was not there. Let's see," he looked at
his watch, "it's nearly nine. Some people will be there. I can look them
over and then take a few notes about the dressing-room as I come away."

Tom paused but a moment in the dressing-room, where a few oldish men
waited for their fat, rejuvenated wives, and some young stags smoked
cigarettes until the buds could get up to the hall.

The young Mrs. Tad-Wallington received him with a gracious smile and
inquired for Mrs. Porter.

"A blinding headache," said Tom. "She was determined to come until the
last minute, but then had to give it up."

The old Mr. Tad-Wallington took one hand from behind his back to give it
to Tom, and for a moment almost lost that tired, married-to-a-young-woman
look.

"How a' you, Tom?" he said. "Did you find out anything about that
Barnesville business? Can you levy on Harmon's property?"

"I haven't looked any further, but I still think you can."

"Call me up as soon as you find out."

Tom was pushed away by a large wife with a little husband whom the
hostess was presenting to Mr. Tad-Wallington, and this couple was
followed by an extremely tall man who had apparently become
stoop-shouldered talking t