nt he was speechless. It seemed to
him that all his chickens had come home to roost.

"Granger? Judge Granger--that inflated, stiff-necked, egotistical bag of
conceit! And--and--you thought I was Granger!"

There was reproach in his voice as well as words.

"Yes," she admitted, "I thought you were Judge Granger. But--please wait
a moment--I thought that you were different when away from your
judicial position, admired your reticence concerning your profession,
and--and I thought that I knew the real man better than anyone else. And
I liked the change."

She uttered the last almost defiantly.

"I can at least thank you for that preference," his said, lowering his
eyes. "I've come to dislike myself since I met him. He's bothered me a
lot. Maybe I've bothered him. I played a joke on him one time and--he
hasn't ever forgiven me, although I've tried to patch it up. I think
he's about the most stupid, unforgiving, inhuman bounder that--"

"Please!" she objected, and Jimmy saw that she had turned toward the
window, and so paused whilst she walked toward it, and stared out before
again facing him. He wished that the light from without were less
glaring, for it rendered her face and expression indistinct.

"It's not quite fair for me to listen to anything disparaging Judge
Granger," she said. "That wouldn't be playing the game. Judge Granger is
the man to whom I am betrothed."

He was incredibly shocked. Mary Allen betrothed to Granger! It was like
the last blow--his ultimate humiliation. Had it been anyone but Granger
it might have been less unendurable.

"I apologize," he said, mechanically. "I didn't understand the
situation. Judge Granger is--is a very prominent man."

"Quite so," she assented. "A man who is distinguished, and I think will
be more so."

"I expect he'll be a governor, and then a senator, and--maybe a
president," said Jimmy, helplessly, and feeling his own insignificance.
"But--but does Judge Granger know that you knew me? I ask this because
I'm afraid that if he does, he might object to our--our
acquaintanceship. He doesn't exactly approve of me."

Somewhat to Jimmy's surprise she laughed as if amused.

"No," she said, "I don't think he does know that we are friends. Indeed,
I'm rather certain of it. But--just the same, if you are such
enemies--it's not fair for me to show friendship under existing
circumstances, is it? See here, Mr. Gollop--that's a terrible name!--You
could scarcely respect