your campaign pretty carefully with Merry. She is
a girl with definite ideas of her own, and she might not be influenced
by the fact that you always get what you go after."

Cosden looked at her suspiciously.

"Yes; I think I could help you," she added quickly.

"I'd be mighty grateful if you would," Cosden said with obvious relief.

"Now, let me see--" Edith proceeded carefully, but the way was clearing
before her. "I think you will need to take quite a course of training,"
she laughed. "Are you prepared to do that?"

"When I place myself in my doctor's hands I usually take his medicines."

"All right; then we'll start in at once. I must ask you a lot of
questions. Are you fond of athletics?"

"Next to my business, it's my longest suit."

"There is the first point of common interest. You are making a good
start.--Are you fond of reading?

"I like a good detective story."

"How about Stevenson and Ibsen and Lafcadio Hearn?"

"Not in mine, except 'Treasure Island' and 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.'"

Edith pursed her lips. "Not so good on the second test, Mr. Cosden. How
about opera?"

"My favorites are 'Lohengrin' and the 'Merry Widow.'"

"Horrors! That you must keep sacredly hidden from the dear girl. I've
known her to go to the opera eight times in one week, and sigh for more.
Of course you adore orchestral music?"

"You'll have to score zeros against me on music, but perhaps I can come
back strong in some other branches."

She held up a finger chidingly. "You from Boston, and don't rave over
your Symphony Orchestra! That is a real blow! I supposed every one in
Boston went to the Symphony concerts just for the prestige, even though
he couldn't tell whether the orchestra was playing or only tuning up."

"You see I'm not trying to sail under false colors."

"Well, now I come to the supreme test of all: do you dance?"

Cosden threw up his hands in real despair. "You are making me look
ridiculous," he said. "I knew the old dances, but I've never put myself
up against the new ones. I suppose I could learn."

"Well, well, well!" ejaculated the fair inquisitor. "All I can say is
that you showed real business judgment in coming to me first. Merry
would have made short work of you; she's crazy about dancing. Oh, don't
look so serious; the case may not be so hopeless as it seems."

"I don't see how it could be much worse." Cosden was genuinely
chagrined.

"It isn't every one who finds a fairy godmother wa