, the glittering Array of Pickle-Jars, and a well-
defined Rumor that most of the imported Ushers had been Stewed, gave
the agitated Hamlet something to blat about for many and many a day.

The Bachelor of Arts grabbed off by the daughter of Jennie and the
Grand-daughter of Susan was the owner of Real Estate in the congested
Business District of a Town which came into Public Attention later on
through the efforts of Frank Chance.

His front name was Willoughby, but Frances always called him "Dear," no
matter what she happened to be thinking of at the time.

Part of State Street had been wished on to Willoughby. He was afraid
to sell, not knowing how to reinvest.

So he sat back and played safe. With growing Delight he watched the
Unearned Increment piling up on every Corner. He began to see that he
would be fairly busy all his life, jacking up Rents.

The Red-Brick Fortress to which he conducted Frances had Stone Steps in
front and a secret Entrance for lowly Tradespeople at the rear.

Willoughby and his wife had the high courage of Youth and the Financial
Support of all the Money Spenders along State Street, so they started
in on Period Decoration. Each Room in the House was supposed to stand
for a Period. Some of them stood for a great deal.

A few of the Periods looked like Exclamation Points.

The young couple disregarded the Toll-Gate Period and the Log-Cabin
Period, but they worked in every one of the Louies until the Gilt
Furniture gave out.

The delighted Caller at the House beside the Lake would pass from an
East Indian Corridor through an Early Colonial American Room into a
Japanese Boudoir and, after resting his Hat, would be escorted into
the Italian Renaissance Drawing-Room to meet the Hostess. From this
exquisite Apartment, which ate up one year's Rent of a popular Buffet
near Van Buren Street, there could be obtained a ravishing glimpse of
the Turkish Cozy Corner beyond, including the Battle-Axes and the Red
Lamp.

Frances soon began to hob-nob with the most delicatessen Circles,
including Families that dated back to the Fire of 1871.

She was not at all Dizzy, even when she looked down from the Mountain
Peak at her happy Birthplace, 15,000 feet below.

Willoughby turned out to be a satisfactory Housemate. His Voltage was
not high, but he always ate Peas with a Fork and never pulled at the
Leash when taken to a Musicale.

In front of each Ear he carried a neat Area of Human Ivy, so t