smiling eyes. Jim, look. That gal's real happy--now. Jim, there ain't
much happiness in this world. We're all chasing it. You and me,
too--and we don't often find it. Say, boy, you don't grudge her her
bit, do you? You'd rather see her happy, if it ain't with you,
wouldn't you? Ah, look at those eyes. She's seen us, you and me.
That's me being such a lumbering feller. And she's coming over to us;
Will, too." His grip on the man's arm tightened, and his voice dropped
to a low whisper. "Jim, you can't go, now. You've got to speak to her.
You're a man, a real live man; get a grip on that--and don't forget."

Then he released his hold, and Eve and Will came up. Eve's radiant
eyes smiled on him, but passed at once to Jim. And she left Will's arm
to move nearer to him. Peter's eyes were on the darkening brows of
her husband, and the moment Eve's hand slipped from his arm, he gave
the latter no choice but to speak to him. He began at once, and with
all his resource held him talking, while Eve demanded Jim's
congratulations.

"Jim," she said, "I haven't seen you since--since----"

"No, Eve." Then the man cleared his throat. It was parching, and he
felt that words were impossible. What trick was this Peter had played
on him? He longed to flee, yet in the face of all that crowd he could
not. He knew he must smile, and with all the power of his body he set
himself to the task.

"You see we've been up to our necks in work. I--I just snatched the
morning to see you--you married."

"And no congratulations? Oh, Jim! And I've always looked on you and
Peter as--as my best friends."

Every word she uttered struck home through the worn armor of his
restraint. He longed madly to seize this woman in his arms and tear
her from the side of his rival. The madness of his love cried out to
him, and sent the blood surging to his brain. But he fought--fought
himself with almost demoniac fury, and won.

"Eve," he said, with an intensity that must have struck her had she
not been so exalted by her own emotions, "I wish you the greatest
happiness that ever fell to a woman's lot. I hope, from the bottom of
my heart, this world'll give you everything you most wish for. And,
further, you are right to reckon Peter and me your best friends. As a
favor, I ask you that whenever our friendship can be of service to you
you'll call upon it. Good-bye and--bless you."

He had his reward, if reward it could be called. Eve thrust out one
white-gloved han