“There is a boy out in the hall looking for you, Miss Marlowe,” she said, pleasantly, “and I should judge by his looks that he had some important news. Oh, no, not bad news, I am sure!” she added, as she saw the change in Dollie’s face. “He was grinning and showing every tooth in his head. A mighty nice-looking boy, too; perhaps he is your sweetheart.” “My sweetheart is not a boy, Miss Dixon,” said Dollie, proudly. “He is twenty years old and is a bookkeeper at a good salary. This must be Bert Jackson, one of my old neighbors in the country.” She rose from her machine and hurried out into the hall. Sure enough, there stood Bert, very impatient, but still grinning. “I just dropped in to tell you the good news,” said Bert, as quick as he saw her. “I’ve been adopted by a rich man, and I’m to have my choice of a future profession.” “Oh, Bert, how lovely!” cried Dollie, enthusiastically. She could hardly believe that such good fortune had befallen him. “His name is Captain Hobart, and he’s a millionaire, I am told,” went on Bert. “I used to always wait on him at the store where I worked, and he tells me he took a fancy to me because of my good manners. How Matt Jenkins, the keeper of the Poor Farm, would swear if he could hear that,” he said, roaring. “That’s doing pretty well for an orphan boy to be adopted by a millionaire, isn’t it, Dollie?” “Oh, it’s just beautiful!” cried Dollie, in genuine delight. “Oh, I just wish all of the boys from the Poor Farm could have such a chance! Marion will be overjoyed to hear of it, Bert. I shall write to her this evening and tell her about it.” “I’ve done that already,” was Bert’s prompt reply. “You didn’t suppose I’d let her hear it second-hand, did you? And, by the way, Dollie, I’ve got a secret for your ears. It has just come to me lately, and I’m as happy as a lark. I’m going straight ahead to make love to Marion. She’s the dearest girl I know, and I’m going to ask her to marry me.” “Oh, Bert!” This was all that Dollie could say. She was quite overcome with astonishment at this matter-of-fact announcement. “Well, why shouldn’t I,” asked Bert, in an injured tone. “Of course I don’t expect her to marry me now, but as soon as I am educated and have plenty of ‘dough’ I don’t see any reason why she shouldn’t like me.” Dollie Marlowe burst out laughing, in spite of Bert’s seriousness. “But don’t you know that Marion has two lovers already?” she asked, gayly. “Why, she’ll have time to marry both of them before you are old enough to ask her.” “I’m as old as she is, and I’ll take chances on that,” said Bert, coolly; “but I say, Dollie, who the mischief is this bald-headed old duffer?” “Hush!” whispered the girl in horror, as she saw who was coming. “That is Mr. Atherton, my honorable employer.”