or fellows, but I know it will,
and when it does I must be there to see it.

"You see, the boys think this is the best thing I have done,
and I can't afford to fail on it at the end, though I'd like
to have it all done by Christmas, and it may not sleet
before January, or even then. But I'm not going to worry
over it,--think about it, I mean,--for, as I said, I
wouldn't really want it to be very cold and sleet at all,
if I could help it, only I know I can't.

"How good and noble you are, Dorry! When I think about your
not having gone away this summer on my account, it makes me
ashamed of myself, for really we have had a jolly time here
in town. Van says that even if we never get anything else
out of the paper, we have had a million dollars' worth of
fun, and it's about so. I am sorry I have ever seemed
discouraged or out of patience with things, for it made you
have a lot of sympathy with me, and though I liked it, of
course, and wanted it, I knew I didn't deserve it at all.

"I am glad, though, that the struggle will be over now in a
few days. Our first advertising--the 'cash for names'--comes
out on the 15th, and the rest--the premium offers--about the
25th. Also in our own sample copies. So you see, before the
1st of October the wheels will be turning very fast. Of
course, we may not have quite the great rush we expect, but
even if only half it will be enough.

"Good-by, sweetheart. I wish we might be together these
beautiful September days. The parks are fine now in the
early morning. Next year we will get up and walk out in them
together.

"With all my heart,

"TRUE."

XV

FINAL STRAWS

One morning when the busy writer and two artists who lived and toiled
together in apartments near Union Square--now the offices of the "Whole
Family"--returned to them after a light and wholesome breakfast, they
found their stairway full of girls--girls of almost every age and
apparently of almost every station in life. There were tall girls, short
girls, slender girls, stout girls, girls of every complexion and every
manner of dress. Also, more girls were constantly coming and pressing
their way into the hall. The friends stood aghast.

Van Dorn swore under his breath.

"What is it?" whispered Livingstone, fearfully. "What have we done
now?"

A flicker of light