their neighborhood ornament and fill it with high-toned niggers!" 

 Mrs. Slosher smiled. She was a beautiful young woman. To youth belongs much. 

 Johnny Gamble, caught amidships, as it were, snorted. 

 "Well, I don't live out there," he said. 

 Mr. Slosher smiled. 

 "That is all, I believe," he announced as he assisted Mrs. Slosher to her feet with that punctilious gallantry which defies a younger man to do it better. 

 At four o'clock Jim Guff called Mr. Gamble on the telephone. 

 "Hello, Gamble!" he hailed in an entirely new voice. "You're a robber!" 

 "You flatter me," returned Johnny quite comfortably. "Is there anything I can do for you in that line?" 

 "A whole lot," replied Guff. "I'll accept the price you gave Mrs. Guff on that river-view site." 

 "Too late," answered Johnny cheerfully. "I withdrew that offer before Mrs. Guff left the office. Mr. and Mrs. Slosher have been in since then." 

 Jim Guff's voice cracked as he hastily said: 

 "I'll meet any offer he makes you and tack a five-thousand-dollar bonus to it." 

 Johnny called up the De Luxe Apartments. Company and secured the ear of Mr. Chase. 

 "I withdraw my offer of two hundred and seventy-five thousand for that river-view property," he stated. "What is the best bid you will make me above that figure?" 

 "I'm not inclined to scramble for it," immediately claimed Mr. Chase, who was aware at the time that he was telling a point-blank lie. 

 "Very well, then," said Johnny, wondering how he was to get a definite figure without committing himself. "I'll have to drop you out of my calculations." 

 "When must you know?" 

 "To-morrow morning." 

 Prev. P 68/152 next