are some nice girls here--they
have heard so much of you, but they say they've never met you. Don't
you want----"

Jeff groaned, fumbling blindly at the bridle. "No, I wish I'd never seen
a girl!"

"Why-y! That's not very polite, is it?----Are--are you--mad to me?" said
Ellinor in a meek little voice.

"Mad? No," said Jeff bitterly. "I'm just coming to my senses. I've been
dreaming. Now I've woke up!"

"Angry, I mean, of course. I just say it that way--'are you mad to
me'--sometimes--to be--to be--nice, Mr. Bransford!"

"You needn't bother! Good-by!"

"But I'll see you again----"

"_Never!_"

"----when you're not so--cross?"

Jeff reached for his stirrup.

"Oh, well! If you're going to be huffy! Never it is, then, by all means!
No--wait! I must give you back your present."

"I have never given you a present. Some other man, doubtless. You should
keep a list!" said Jeff, with bitter and cutting scorn.

The girl turned half away from him and hid her face with trembling
hands; her shoulders shook with emotion.

"Look the other way, sir! Turn your head! You shall have your present
back and then if you're so anxious to go--Go!"

"Miss Hoffman, I never gave you a present in my life," Jeff protested.

"You did!" sobbed Ellinor. She turned upon him, stamping her foot. "You
said, when you gave it to me, that you hoped it would bring me good
luck. And you've forgotten! _You'd_ better keep a list! Turn your head
away, I tell you!" She sank down on the bench.

Confused, mazed, bewildered, Jeff obeyed her.

She sprang to her feet. She was laughing, blushing, glowing. In her hand
was the little gold chain.

"Now, you may look. Hold out your hand, sir!"

Jeff's mind was whirling; he held out his hand. She laid a little gold
locket in his palm. It was warm, that little locket.

"I have never seen this locket before in my life!" gasped Jeff.

"Open it!"

He opened it. The little eohippus glared up at him.

"Ellinor!--_Charley Gibson!_"

"Tobe! Jeff!--_Jamie!_"

The little eohippus stared unwinking from the grass.

THE BEGINNING

_"The Books You Like to Read
at the Price You Like to Pay"_

_There Are Two Sides to Everything--_

--including the wrapper which covers every Grosset & Dunlap book. When
you feel in the mood for a good romance, refer to the carefully selected
list of modern fiction comprising most of the successes by prominent
writers of the day which is