pleasant things about you," she observed. 

 "Your cousin Polly?" he inquired, perplexed. 

 "Yes; we're cousins now," announced Polly happily. "It's the first time I ever had any relations, and I'm tickled stiff!" 

 "So am I!" agreed Johnny heartily, figuring vaguely that somebody or other must have married. 

 "You are just in the nick of time, Gamble," Gresham quietly stated with a deliberate intention of humiliating this child of no one. "Miss Polly has a subscription list which she wants you to complete." 

 "He's too late," replied Polly with a flash of her eyes in Gresham's direction. "Mr. Loring just closed up that list," and she winked vigorously at Loring. 

 "Loring's my friend," Gamble said with a cheerful laugh. "I have check-writer's cramp. Who's to get the loving cup?" 

 "The loving cup's a bottle," Polly returned. "This is a baby's benefit. It's Constance's pet scheme and I'm crazy about it. We've found a big, hundred-room summer hotel, with two hundred acres of ground, on a high bluff overlooking the ocean; and we're going to turn it into a free hotel for sickly babies and their mothers. Isn't that some scheme?" 

 "I'm so strong for it I ache!" announced Mr. Gamble with fervor. "Put me down for—" He checked himself ruefully. "I forgot I was broke!" Gresham shrugged his shoulders in satisfaction. 

 "You'll take something for that," Polly confidently comforted her friend Gamble. "There's G. W. Mason & Company, Johnny. Take me over to him and watch me fool him when he says he has no check-book with him. I have check blanks on every bank in town. Bring along my hand-bag and my subscription list, Sammy." 

 When they had gone, with the feebly pleased Sammy dutifully bringing up the rear, Gresham looked after them with relief. 

 "Handicap day brings out some queer people," he observed. 

 "If you mean Mr. Gamble I think him delightful," Constance quickly advised him. "I'm inclined to agree with Polly that he is very much a gentleman." 

 "He would be quite likely to appeal to Polly," remarked Aunt Pattie as she arose for a visit to a near-by box. 

 "You mean Cousin Polly," corrected Constance sweetly. 

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