Mr. Addis did not make a very pertinent response to this. “You’re a queer little customer,” he said. “That’s what I call favorable criticism put into plain words. I thank you.” She added: “I want to be friends with you if you’ll let me because I think we can’t have the right kind of heart interest around here unless you--unless you take a more prominent part.” Mr. Addis nodded. “That’s my idea, too. That’s why I called. If you’ll tell Mrs. Baron I’m here, I’ll see if I can’t get her to agree with us.” Bonnie May did not stir. “Please not just yet,” she begged. “Couldn’t we talk things over first? If I could find out what’s wrong....” She looked at him with pretty embarrassment. “What, for instance, would you like to know?” She pulled herself farther back into her chair and reflected a moment. “Would you mind,” she asked, “telling me how you got acquainted with Miss Flora?” “Not at all. She’s been coming to my store--to order things--ever since she was a little girl.” “Oh! your store. Well, go on.” “And occasionally I’ve dropped into the church she goes to. You know who I am, I suppose?” She beamed upon him. “I may not have all the details. Suppose you make a complete confession.” He shot a dubious glance at her; then he smiled. Bonnie May thought his teeth were quite wonderful. “I’m the head of the Addis Stores Company.” Bonnie May looked slightly dismayed. “A business man,” added Mr. Addis firmly. “I’ve admired Miss Flora a very long time. I had chances just to be nice and polite to her. I haven’t taken any pains to hide from her, for a year or so----” “I understand,” Bonnie May finished for him. “Well, then. But the trouble is that Mrs. Baron----” “She can only see you with a pencil behind your ear,” supplemented Bonnie May. Mr. Addis laughed. “Now you have it!” he agreed. Bonnie May pondered. “You know you’re _not_ a regular-looking Romeo,” she conceded. “I know that very well. But at the same time----” She gave him time to finish; then, as he seemed to lack words, she came to his aid again: “If you undertook to pay a lady’s travelling expenses, it would take a pretty smooth Iago to make you do anything nasty.” “That’s it!” agreed Mr. Addis with emphasis. “Have you tried the--the little, unimportant things?” “As for example?” “Well, just as a suggestion: you know you weren’t carrying a stick when you came in to-night.” “Oh, that sort of thing. You see, that’s not in my line at all. I wouldn’t know how to carry a stick, or where to put it. I don’t see any use in ’em except to beat off dogs, maybe--and all the dogs like me!” Bonnie May nodded. “After all, I believe you’re right in not taking up that sort of thing. Anyway, I wasn’t criticising. What I was saying was just--just confederate stuff, you know.” “Yes, I understand.” “Would you.... Would you mind telling me what you think about mostly? When you’re not thinking about Miss Flora?”