or after three months in which she had not seen him, the
attraction he exercised upon her had not noticeably lessened. She
oddly felt that it would have been more considerate in Smith had he
reappeared a little weaker and less vivid than her remembrance of him.

Nevertheless she was distinctly glad to see him again. That was a fact
to be faced, and when, at parting, he inquired whether Boston would be
scandalized if he were to call again the following evening, since he
would probably have to leave on the next day, she found herself
impelled to yield so ready an assent that she felt swift need to
disguise it. Yet she gave him the answer he wished.

Next morning Smith's first visit was to Mr. Gunterson's discoveries.
Only one of the partners, Mr. Bloom, had reached the office at the time
the representative of the Guardian was announced, and it became
necessary to wait until Mr. Sternberg and Mr. McCoy arrived. This they
presently did, and a brief meeting took place in the same room in
which, three months before, this precious trio had signed a Guardian
contract with Samuel Gunterson. But the present interview was far less
meandering and much more to the point than its predecessor.

"Gentlemen," said Smith, "the jig is up. I've come here to close your
agency for the Guardian."

The three partners looked at him. Sternberg was first to recover the
power of speech.

"Why, Mr. Smith," he said unctuously, "you're acting very hasty! Do
you think this is fair and just to us? We haven't had enough of a
tryout to really count."

"And I bet you we're giving you fifty per cent more business than
Osgood did," Jake Bloom broke in. "Just because we've been a little
unfortunate right on the go-off on a few losses is no reason for
closing us up. You're making a mistake to leave us. Give us a year at
least--we'll make good for you."

"The losses you've got through this office is on business any company
would be glad to write," interposed McCoy. "Any company would take it
right over again."

"I'm sorry," responded the New Yorker; "but in accordance with the
conditions of our contract, either party can terminate it at any time,
and I consider it best to take this action for my company. I regret
that it is necessary, but there is no alternative. If it's a mistake,
we all have to make mistakes now and then, and I guess I'll choose this
for mine."

Sternberg, Bloom, and McCoy regarded him in hostile silence.

"Furthe