t.
You knew he never got it, I expect."

"Yes," she said, in a low voice.

He sighed. "I'm glad he didn't. Not," he added, quickly--"not but what
you did just right to send it. You did. You couldn't acted any other way
when it came right down TO it. There ain't any blame comin' to you--you
were above-board all through."

Mary said, "Thank you," almost in a whisper, and with her head bowed
low.

"You'll have to excuse me for readin' it. I had to take charge of all
his mail and everything; I didn't know the handwritin', and I read it
all--once I got started."

"I'm glad you did."

"Well"--he leaned forward as if to rise--"I guess that's about all. I
just thought you ought to have it."

"Thank you for bringing it."

He looked at her hopefully, as if he thought and wished that she might
have something more to say. But she seemed not to be aware of this
glance, and sat with her eyes fixed sorrowfully upon the floor.

"Well, I expect I better be gettin' back to the office," he said, rising
desperately. "I told--I told my partner I'd be back at two o'clock,
and I guess he'll think I'm a poor business man if he catches me behind
time. I got to walk the chalk a mighty straight line these days--with
THAT fellow keepin' tabs on me!"

Mary rose with him. "I've always heard YOU were the hard driver."

He guffawed derisively. "Me? I'm nothin' to that partner o' mine. You
couldn't guess to save your life how he keeps after me to hold up my end
o' the job. I shouldn't be surprised he'd give me the grand bounce some
day, and run the whole circus by himself. You know how he is--once he
goes AT a thing!"

"No," she smiled. "I didn't know you had a partner. I'd always heard--"

He laughed, looking away from her. "It's just my way o' speakin' o' that
boy o' mine, Bibbs."

He stood then, expectant, staring out into the hall with an air of
careless geniality. He felt that she certainly must at least say, "How
IS Bibbs?" but she said nothing at all, though he waited until the
silence became embarrassing.

"Well, I guess I better be gettin' down there," he said, at last. "He
might worry."

"Good-by--and thank you," said Mary.

"For what?"

"For the letter."

"Oh," he said, blankly. "You're welcome. Good-by."

Mary put out her hand. "Good-by."

"You'll have to excuse my left hand," he said. "I had a little accident
to the other one."

She gave a pitying cry as she saw. "Oh, poor Mr. Sheridan!"

"Nothin' at all! D