"Well, look _here_, Mr. Appleby; if you are going to be around, couldn't you and the madam come to dinner, as I was so bold as to suggest awhile ago? That would give us a chance to discuss things. Aside from any future business dicker between you and me personally, I'd like to show you just why Lipsittsville is going to be a bigger town than Freiburg or Taormina or Hongkong or Bryan or any of the other towns in the county, let 'em say what they like! Or couldn't you come to supper to-night? Then we could let the ladies gossip, and I'll have Doc Schergan come in, and maybe him and me between us could persuade you to think of taking a partnership with me--wouldn't cost you a cent of capital, neither. Why, the doc was saying, just this morning, when we was speaking of having read about you in the paper--he was saying that you were the kind of man we need for president of our country club, instead of some dude like that sissified Buck Simpson. Buck is as punk an athlete as he is a shoeman, and, believe me, Mr. Appleby, we've got the makings of a fine country club. We expect to have a club-house and tennis-courts and golluf-links and all them things before long. We got a croquet-ground right now! And every Fourthajuly we all go for a picnic. Now can't the madam come? Make it supper this evening. But, say, I want to warn you that if we ever did talk business, I don't see how I could very well offer you more than a forty-per-cent. interest, in any case." "No," growled Father, "wouldn't take over a third interest. Don't believe in demanding too much. Live and let live, that's my motto." "Yes, sir, and a fine motto it is, too," admired the shoeman. "What time is supper?" * * * * * "... and before I get through with it I'll own a chain of shoe-stores from here to Indianapolis," said Father. "I'll be good for twenty years' more business, and I'll wake this town up." "I do believe you will, Father. But I just can't believe yet that you've actually signed the contract and are a partner," Mother yearned. "Why, it ain't possible." "Guess it is possible, though, judging by this hundred dollar advance," Father chuckled. "Nice fellow, that shoeman--or he will be when he gets over thinking I'm a tin god and sits down and plays crib like I was an ordinary human being.... We ought to have larger show-windows. We'll keep Peter on--don't want to make the boy lose his job on account of me. Give him another chance.... I'm just wambling, Mother, but I'm so excited at having a job again--" With tiny pats of her arm, he stalked the street, conscious of the admiring gaze of the villagers, among whom ran the news that the famous explorer was going to remain with them.