traveling
representative of Messrs. Bernstein, Goldberg and Baun, of Providence,
wholesale dealers in stationery, cards and novelties. The time was
August, but Mr. Kron, the drummer, was already booking orders for the
Christmas season. His samples were displayed upon the counter and he and
Mary-'Gusta were deep in conversation.

"That's what you ought to have," declared Mr. Kron, with enthusiasm.
"Believe me, there's goin' to be some call for that line of stuff this
year. The house can't turn 'em out fast enough."

"But what is it?" asked Mary-'Gusta. "What's it for?"

"It's a combination calendar and beauty-box," explained Mr. Kron. "Hang
it on the wall by your bureau--see? In the mornin' you can't remember
what day it is. All right, there's the calendar. Then you want to doll
yourself up for--well, for the party you're goin' to--"

"The same morning?" interrupted Mary-'Gusta.

Mr. Kron grinned. He was a young man and this was his first trip in that
section. His clothes were neither modest nor retiring and he, himself,
did not suffer from these failings. Also he prided himself on having a
way with the ladies, especially the younger ladies. And Mary-'Gusta was
distinctly the most attractive young person he had met on this trip.

He laughed in appreciation of the joke.

"Say," he observed, admiringly, "you're up to the minute, ain't you!
You're some kidder, all right. Are there many more in this burg like
you? If there are I'm goin' to move in and settle down. What?"

Mary-'Gusta did not laugh, nor did she answer. Instead, she turned to
the gentleman who had entered the store.

"Good morning, Mr. Keith," she said. "Was there anything you wanted?"

Keith smiled. "No hurry," he said. "I've got a little time to kill and
if you don't mind I'll kill it here. I'll sit down and wait, if I may.
That boatman of mine will be along pretty soon."

He took the chair by the door. Mr. Kron continued his exploitation of
the combination calendar and beauty-box.

"You are goin' to a party," he went on, "either that night or that
afternoon or sometime. Sure you are! Girls like you ain't handed the
go-by on many parties in this neck of the woods--am I right? Well, then,
when the time comes, you pull down the flap. There's your beauty-box,
lookin'-glass, powder puff and powder, all complete. Now a novelty like
that will sell--"

"We couldn't use it," interrupted Mary-'Gusta. "Show me something else."

Mr. Kron, disappointed b