s long as that without speaking of it, would
you? But let me tell you I have them all guessing down at the office. I
can see it every day. Of course, I'm keeping my eye on things as much as
ever, but I'm not making so much noise about it. You see this is
something I have, so I can afford to treat it lightly. Now I have
something to measure myself by, and it helps a lot.--But don't let us
spend all the time talking about me; what have you been doing with
yourself?"

"Drifting, as usual," Huntington replied, regretting that the
conversation turned on him; "wishing I might take twenty years off my
life and begin over again."

"Why, Monty! You say that so seriously I really believe you mean it!
What's happened? It isn't like you."

"Nothing, dear boy, nothing at all," Huntington disclaimed quickly,
trying to throw off the mood which had so promptly attracted his
friend's attention. "I've seen quite a bit of Billy and his friend Phil
Thatcher since I came home, and--I envy them their youth."

Cosden looked at him long and searchingly before he spoke. "You're in a
curious mood to-night," he said at length. "During the years I've known
you I've never before seen you other than a philosopher, taking life day
by day as you found it, and getting all there was out of it."

"What is philosophy unless one can find the stone?" Huntington exclaimed
with feeling. "It is the philosopher's stone I want to-night, and I
can't get it. I'm feeling my age, Connie, and the sensation isn't
agreeable."

"Your age!" Cosden determined to overpower the surprising obsession.
"The idea of talking age at forty-five! Out with it, man! Tell me what
has taken hold of you. I've left you too much by yourself lately, and it
hasn't been a good thing for you."

"That's it, Connie," Huntington smiled weakly. "You mustn't do it again.
First you take the heart out of me by declaring that you are going to
get married, then you cheer me up by becoming normal again, and lastly
you neglect me just as if you had taken the fatal step after all."

"That's better," Cosden said, rising from his dessert and putting his
arm around his friend's shoulders. "Come on up-stairs and we'll gossip
over our cigars like two old cats. It won't be long before we can get
out on the links again, and then you'll forget that you have any age at
all. Age! the idea! Why, Monty, you and I have only just begun to live!"

Arm in arm they walked slowly to the library in silence, but e