"Thank you very much, sir." Duncan accompanied Blinky to the door. "I've already had the pleasure of meeting your daughter, sir. She's a charming girl." "I'm real glad you think so," said Blinky, intensely gratified. "She seems to've taken a great shine to you, too. Come round and get 'quainted with the hull family. You're the sort of young feller I'd like her to know." He paused and looked Nat up and down captiously, as one might appraise the points of a horse of quality put up for sale. "Good-day," said he, with the most significant of winks. "Oh, that's all right," Nat hastened to reassure him. "I won't say a word about it." Blinky, on the point of leaving, started to question this (to him) cryptic utterance, but luckily had the current of his thoughts diverted by the entrance of Roland Barnette, in company with his friend Mr. Burnham. Roland's consternation at this unexpected encounter was, in the mildest term, extreme. At sight of his employer he pulled up as if slapped. "Oh!" he faltered, "I didn't know you was here, sir." "No," said Blinky with keen relish, "I guess you didn't." "I--ah--come over to see Sam about that note," stammered Roland. "Wal, don't you bother your head 'bout what ain't your business, Roly. Come on back to the bank." "All right, sir." Roland grasped frantically at the opportunity to emphasise his importance. "Excuse me, Mr. Lockwood, but I'd like to interdoos you to a friend of mine, Mr. Burnham from Noo York." Amused, Burnham stepped into the breach. "How are you?" he said with the proper nuance of cordiality, offering his hand. Lockwood shook it unemotionally. "How de do?" he said, perfunctory. "I brought Mr. Burnham in to see Sam----" "Yes," Burnham interrupted Roland quickly; "Barnette's been kind enough to show me round town a bit." "Here on business?" inquired Lockwood pointedly. "No, not exactly," returned Burnham with practised ease, "just looking round." "Only lookin', eh?" Blinky's countenance underwent one of its erratic quakes as he examined Burnham with his habitual intentness. The New Yorker caught the wink and lost breath. "Ah--yes--that's all," he assented uneasily. And as he spoke another wink dumbfounded him. "Why?" he asked, with a distinct loss of assurance. "Don't you believe it." "Don't see no reason why I shouldn't," grunted Blinky. "Hope you'll like what you see. Good day." "So long ... Mr. Lockwood," returned Burnham uncertainly. Lockwood paused outside the door. "Come 'long, Roland." "Yes, sir; right away; just a minute." Roland was lingering unwillingly, detained by Burnham's imperative hand. "What d'you want? I got to hurry." "What was he winking at me for?" demanded Burnham heatedly. "Have you----?" "Oh!" Roland laughed. "He wasn't winking. He can't help doing that. It's a twitchin' he's got in his eye. That's why they call him Blinky."