"How good and noble you are, Dorry! When I think about your not having gone away this summer on my account, it makes me ashamed of myself, for really we have had a jolly time here in town. Van says that even if we never get anything else out of the paper, we have had a million dollars' worth of fun, and it's about so. I am sorry I have ever seemed discouraged or out of patience with things, for it made you have a lot of sympathy with me, and though I liked it, of course, and wanted it, I knew I didn't deserve it at all. "I am glad, though, that the struggle will be over now in a few days. Our first advertising--the 'cash for names'--comes out on the 15th, and the rest--the premium offers--about the 25th. Also in our own sample copies. So you see, before the 1st of October the wheels will be turning very fast. Of course, we may not have quite the great rush we expect, but even if only half it will be enough. "Good-by, sweetheart. I wish we might be together these beautiful September days. The parks are fine now in the early morning. Next year we will get up and walk out in them together. "With all my heart, "TRUE." XV FINAL STRAWS One morning when the busy writer and two artists who lived and toiled together in apartments near Union Square--now the offices of the "Whole Family"--returned to them after a light and wholesome breakfast, they found their stairway full of girls--girls of almost every age and apparently of almost every station in life. There were tall girls, short girls, slender girls, stout girls, girls of every complexion and every manner of dress. Also, more girls were constantly coming and pressing their way into the hall. The friends stood aghast. Van Dorn swore under his breath. "What is it?" whispered Livingstone, fearfully. "What have we done now?" A flicker of light flitted across Perner's face. "I guess the Colonel did it," he said. "He put a line in one of the papers last night for a few girls to help him. I suppose this is the result." "Do you call this a few?" gasped Livingstone. "Well, of course we couldn't tell just how many would come. That paper must have a good many readers. We don't have to take 'em all, you know." Livingstone stared at the gathering of the clans helplessly. "No," he commented; "I should think not." Then a moment later he added thoughtfully: "I suppose all these girls have to work to live. Let's take all of them we can, fellows." And Van Dorn asked hopelessly: "How are we going to get up-stairs?"