"Tom," she said, "don't you think I'd better find out whether O'Leary writes any letters and, if he does, to whom he writes them?" Loudon stared at her in astonishment. "Huh--how did yuh think o' that?" he blurted out. "I don't know. It came to me last night. It's a good idea, don't you think?" "Shore, it's a good idea. I was thinkin' the same thing myself. But don't yuh bother. I'll find out soon's I'm able to get around." "Don't be silly. You'll be on your back ten days at the least. O'Leary may write several in the meantime, and the sooner we know about it the better. Now I can find out very easily. Mrs. Ragsdale, the prying soul, reads the addresses on every letter coming in or going out. None ever escapes her eagle eye. And she's a great gossip. I've only seen her half-a-dozen times, but nevertheless she's managed to give me detailed histories of the private lives of most of the inhabitants. She enjoys talking to me because I never interrupt, so you see how simple it will be." "But I don't like to use you thisaway," objected Loudon. "Yuh've done enough, too much, as it is." "Nonsense! It will be great fun turning Mrs. Ragsdale's tattlings into useful information. Tattle! Why, she even told me how much you approved of me at the dance. According to her story you came and shouted your opinion into her ear. Did you?" "I knowed it!" groaned Loudon. "I knowed she'd tell! I only said----" "Never mind getting red. I didn't mind a bit. I hoped you did like me. I wanted you to." Here was thin ice. Loudon, pink about the ears, squirmed inwardly. "I--I," he stuttered, then, with a rush, "yo're doin' too much, I tell yuh. I'll see about these letters when I get up." "No, you won't. I want to, and I'm going to. It's settled and you needn't argue. I'll go to the postoffice right away. After dinner I'll tell you all about it." "Wait a minute!" cried Loudon, but Kate was gone. Loudon had little time to reflect on feminine wilfulness, for Mrs. Mace insisted on spending the morning with him. Dorothy helped her spend it. The buzz of their chatter was lulling. Loudon dozed off and slept till Mrs. Mace awakened him at noon. "Nice way to treat two ladies," sniffed Mrs. Mace. "Nice way, I must say. Here we come in to entertain yuh while Kate's away and yuh fall asleep, so yuh do. Bet yuh wouldn't have fell asleep if Kate had been here. No, I guess not. You'd have been chipper enough--grinnin' and smilin' all over yore face. But yuh can't even be polite to Dorothy and me." "Why, ma'am, I----" "Oh, never mind makin' excuses. We understand. It's all right. Say"--Mrs. Mace stooped down and guarded one side of her mouth with her hand--"say, when's the weddin' comin' off?" "Weddin'? What weddin'?"