"Ye-e-es'm," says I. "What are those objects on the wall?" says she, shiftin' sudden. "Boxin' gloves, Ma'am," says I. "That's the pair of mitts that won me the championship, back in----" "Has Mr. Steele become a pugilist, too?" she asks. "Not so you'd notice it," says I. "Hm-m-m-m!" says she, tappin' the toe of one of her pumps and gazin' around critical. Not that she takes any notice of me. Honest, if I'd been a yellow pup tied in the corner, she couldn't have been more offhand. I was gettin' warm in the neck by the minute too, and in three more shakes I'd been cuttin' loose with the acid remarks, when the door opens and in blows J. Bayard Steele. I sighs relieved when I sees him too. "Oh!" says he, gettin' a back view of her. "I beg pardon. I--er----" Then she turns and faces him. "Alice!" he gasps. "My dear Bayard!" she protests. "Please let's not have any scene. It was all so long ago, and I'm sure you must have gotten over that." "But how--why--er----" he goes on. "You wrote to Mrs. Lee Hollister, didn't you?" she demands. "I am Mrs. Hollister." Another gasp from Steele. "You?" says he. "Then you--you----" "To be sure I married," says she. "And Professor Hollister was one of the truest, noblest Southern gentlemen who ever lived. I have mourned his loss for nearly ten years, and---- But don't stand there twiddling your hat in that absurd fashion! You may sit, if you like. Get Mr. Steele a chair, will you?" I'd jumped and done it too, before I had time to think. "Now what is this about Mr. Gordon's will?" says she. Well, between us, whenever she'd let us get in a word, we managed to sketch out the idea. "You see," says Steele, "Pyramid Gordon wished to make what reparation he could for any injustice he might have done during the course of his business career. He left a list of names, among them being this, 'the widow of Professor Lee Hollister.' Now possibly Gordon, in some way----" "He did," breaks in Mrs. Hollister. "My husband had issued an elaborate and exhaustive geological report on a certain district. It had attracted wide attention. He was to have been appointed State Geologist, when suddenly this Mr. Gordon appeared and began his unwarranted campaign of abuse and opposition. Something about some coal and iron deposits, I believe it was, on land which he was trying to sell to an English syndicate. Professor Hollister's report failed to mention any such deposits. As a matter of fact they did not exist. But Mr. Gordon summoned experts of his own, who attacked my husband's statements. The professor declined to enter into a public controversy. His dignity would not permit him. Underhanded influence was brought to bear on the Governor, and the appointment was given to another. But time has shown. Discredited and beaten though he seemed to be, my husband was right. The Gordon lands proved valueless. Those in which Professor Hollister invested his savings were rich in minerals."