atly astonished.

"Why--why," she stammered, "don't you think there is such a thing as
real love?"

"Certainly I do," he laughed, amused at her ingenuousness. "But I
don't think it's what the sentimental schoolgirl feels for the college
football player. As for love at first sight, I consider that simply
absurd. To my way of thinking, love isn't a spontaneous combustion.
It's a slow, steady growth and the soil in which it grows best
is--respect."

"Perhaps you are right," she said hesitatingly.

"I know that I am," he replied positively.

There was a short silence, when suddenly Stafford said:

"Who is this man that your sister is marrying?"

Virginia laid down her cup of tea and burst out laughing.

"Oh, he's so funny! I'm sure he would amuse you. Such an original! His
name is James Gillie."

He liked to encourage her to speak of herself and her family. It
seemed to bring them closer together. Pleasantly he asked:

"What does he do, this Mr. Gillie--doctor--lawyer--business man?"

Amused at his curiosity, Virginia shook her head. Laughingly she said:

"Nothing so substantial, I assure you. He's only a shipping
clerk--getting about $14 a week--"

Stafford stared in amazement. With an incredulous smile, he exclaimed:

"Only earning $14 a week and he has the impudence to ask your sister
to marry him?"

Virginia nodded.

"Oh, but you don't know Mr. Gillie," she went on. "He's sure he's
worth far more than that, and he has won sister over to the same
opinion. I have some doubts myself, but they are both quite convinced
that before long he will be a multi-millionaire. You see, he has
ideas. He invents things. He told us about one of his inventions the
other day. It was something that would help the railroads, and make
them and him fabulously rich--"

"An inventor, eh?" exclaimed Stafford, his business instinct quickly
aroused at the mention of railroads.

An idea suddenly occurred to him. Here, perhaps, was the opportunity
he had been seeking, the excuse he had been looking for. Under
pretence of wishing to meet the inventor, he might be able to induce
her to bring her prospective brother-in-law to the house, and since
Mr. Gillie could hardly accept the invitation alone, she would, of
course, be compelled to accompany him. He said nothing for a moment,
and then, turning and looking at his companion intently, said with
great earnestness:

"Miss Blaine, I wonder if you would do me a great favor."

Sur