Produced by Al Haines. [Illustration: Cover] [Illustration: "’HERE YOU ARE--YOU DON’T HALF LET ME HELP YOU’"] _ROUND THE CORNER IN GAY STREET_ _By_ GRACE S. RICHMOND AUTHOR OF "With Juliet in England," "The Indifference of Juliet," etc. ILLUSTRATED BY MAUD THURSTON AND CHARLES M. RELYEA _A. L. BURT COMPANY_ _Publishers -- New York_ COPYRIGHT, 1907, 1908, BY PERRY MASON COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & COMPANY PUBLISHED, AUGUST, 1908 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, INCLUDING THAT OF TRANSLATION INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES, INCLUDING THE SCANDINAVIAN PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS, GARDEN CITY, N.Y. TO MARJORIE, GUERNSEY AND JEAN CONTENTS BOOK I. GAY STREET CHAPTER I. An Introduction by Telephone II. Gay Street Settles Down III. Peter Sees a Light IV. Forrest Plays a Trick V. Without Gloves VI. Weeds and Flowers VII. Jane Puts a Question VIII. Murray Gives an Answer IX. Snap Shots X. Hide and Seek XI. In the Garden BOOK II. WORTHINGTON SQUARE I. Jane Wears Pearls II. Shirley Has Grown Up III. Luncheon for Twelve IV. Pot-hooks V. Black Care VI. A Breakdown VII. Christmas Greens VIII. Peter Reads Rhymes IX. A Red Glare X. Peter Prefers the Porch BOOK I. GAY STREET CHAPTER I AN INTRODUCTION BY TELEPHONE The hour for breakfast at the home of Mr. Harrison Townsend, in Worthington Square, was supposed to be eight o’clock. In point of fact, however, breakfast was usually served from that hour on, until the last laggard had appeared. The head of the house himself was always promptly on hand at eight. On the morning of April second he had, as usual, nearly finished his breakfast before the door opened to admit a second member of the family. Mr. Townsend raised his eyes as a tall and slender figure limped slowly across the floor. "Morning, Murray!" he said, and dropped his eyes again to his paper. "Good morning, sir!" responded his son, and glanced indifferently over the table as he sat down. "Bring me grapefruit and a cup of coffee," he said to the maid. "No, nothing else. Be sure the grapefruit is fixed as I like it."