ty this
afternoon."

At two-thirty Mr. O'Connor appeared.

"Hello--glad to see you," said Mr. Murch, urbanely. Now that the
matter was coming out with such a comparatively favorable color, he saw
no reason to abandon the amenities. In the first flush of anger they
had suffered somewhat, but that was all over.

"Good-day," returned O'Connor, shortly. He had been out on the Street
for three days, trying to catch the scent of some foreign reinsurance
company ignorant of his impending change, so that his fall might not
seem too humiliatingly flat, when the news should be wired every agent
of the Salamander to cease writing. He had met, however, with no
success, so he cannot be blamed if his response to Mr. Murch was a
trifle lacking in enthusiasm.

"You're prompt," proceeded that gentleman, ignoring his visitor's lack
of cordiality. "I'm glad you're on time, for Mr. Belknap just
telephoned that he was on his way here with the contracts and the
representative of the company that's taking us over."

"Did he say what company it was?" inquired O'Connor, with the first
gleam of interest he had shown.

"I don't believe I asked him. There seems to be a lot of secrecy about
these deals, and I didn't care a hang, myself, anyway. He said it was
a thoroughly responsible company, and our policyholders would be fully
protected. They'll be here in a minute."

"I wonder what company it is," the other man said, reflectively, half
to himself.

"You'll know in a moment, because, unless I'm wrong, the boy is
bringing Belknap's card now."

The boy entered with the card in question.

"Ask them to come in," said Mr. Murch.

O'Connor stood looking out the window. His gaze wandered over the
well-known roofs of the buildings along William Street, and a momentary
pang shot through him to think that under those roofs to-morrow there
would be no place for him, and that his venture was all to begin again.
He no longer felt any sense of grievance, any animosity against Murch.
He was merely wondering vaguely at Fate, and at this latest whim of
hers. So deep was he in his reverie that he scarcely noticed the
entrance of the expected callers until he heard a voice that recalled
him to actualities.

"Mr. Murch, let me make you acquainted with Mr. Smith," Belknap was
saying; and O'Connor turned sharply back from the window.

To Mr. Belknap's courteous greeting he gave little heed, but like a
charmed canary before a cobra his look