"Whatever my opinion may have been of you, Mr. Brockton, before you arrived, now I have seen you--and I'm a man who forms his conclusions right off the bat--I don't mind saying you've agreeably surprised me. That's just a first impression, but they run kind o' strong with me." Brockton carelessly flecked the ash from his cigar as he answered in the same tone: "Well, young man, I size up a fellow in pretty short order, and all things being equal, I think you'll do." Laura, radiant at this totally unexpected result of the encounter, looked from one man to the other in delighted amazement. She was afraid they would fly at each other's throats, and here they were, apparently, the best of friends. Making a move towards the house she said: "Shall I get the tea?" "Tea?" exclaimed Madison in mock dismay. The girl shook her finger in his face. "Yes, tea. You know it must be tea--nothing stronger." Madison looked comically at the broker: "How strong are you for that tea, Mr. Brockton?" "I'll pass," rejoined the broker, entering into the spirit of the fun, "it's your deal, Mr. Madison." "Mine?" echoed the Westerner, laughing. "No, deal me out this hand." Putting on her favorite little pout, Laura pretended to be angry. "I don't think you're at all pleasant, but I'll tell you one thing--it's tea this deal or no game." Throwing herself into a seat, she picked up a magazine, and made a pretense of becoming interested in the illustrations. Brockton moved towards the entrance to the house. "No game then," he said laughingly. "I'm going in to help Mrs. Williams. Maybe she's lost seven dollars by this time. I may be able to get it back for her." He disappeared in the house. Directly he was gone Laura sprang from her seat, and running up to Madison, flung her arms unrestrainedly about his neck. "John!" she exclaimed. "Well, dear?" "Are you going to be cross with me?" "Why?" "Because he came?" "Because who came?" he demanded, "Brockton?" "Yes." "You didn't know, did you?" "Yes, I did." "That he was coming?" "He wired me when he reached Kansas City." "Does he know?" "About us?" "Yes." "I've told him." "When?" "To-day." "Here?" "Yes." Madison looked at her closely for a moment. Then slowly, he asked: "What was the result?" "I think it hurt him." "Naturally." Thoughtfully, almost pensively, she added: "More than I had any idea it would." Madison shrugged his big, square shoulders, and sinking into a chair, said laconically: "I'm sorry." "He cautioned me to be very careful, and to be sure I knew my way." "That's right," nodded Madison approvingly. Laura took a couple of cushions from a sofa near one of the windows, and returning to where he was sitting, threw them on the ground near his chair. From the interior of the house floated the soulful strains of a Chopin nocturne. Sitting down quietly at his feet, she said softly: "John." "What, dear?" "We've been very happy all summer." "Very."