"I beg your pardon," Allen stopped her; "the patient in the operating-chair is not allowed to suppose. Here is a little piece of paper and an easy-flowing fountain-pen. This is where you place your name and address for the delivery of the volumes." "But that is a contract blank, Allen," remarked Mrs. Gorham. "I know it is, but you have no right even to think such a thing. Alice mustn't sign it right off or it won't be any practice. What do the directions say?" Mrs. Gorham turned again to the paper in her hand. "'If the prospective customer should hesitate, withdraw the order form for a moment and proceed.'" "Please go on--that's as far as I've learned." "'In the _Home Travellers' Volumes_ you have the opportunity to gain that broader view of things which a knowledge of the world alone can give you. Here you have all the pleasures and benefits of travel with the trouble left out. Now I am sure you agree with me upon the great value of travel--and agreeing on this point, you must agree with me on the value of this great work.' Here offer the order form again and say, 'Just put your name and address down here, and in a few days you will be off on one of these delightful journeys, and every member of your family can enjoy it with you.'" "There!" exclaimed Allen, proudly. "Did you ever see a surer thing than that?" "Are the books really valuable?" Mrs. Gorham asked. "That really hasn't a thing to do with the proposition," replied Allen; "it's the talk you buy, and the books are thrown in." "But you're not going to take this up, are you, Allen?" Alice inquired, anxiously. "Don't you want me to? You know they say Fortune is bald on the back of her head, and if you let her once slip past you there's nothing left to grab hold of." "It isn't what I want, Allen; but what could it lead to?" "To the Consolidated Companies," he whispered, furtively. "I am bound and determined to show your father that I am good enough to be annexed, and to do that I've got to have some experience. Can you think of anything which would be apt to give a fellow more experience?" "May I make a suggestion?" Mrs. Gorham asked. "I think it is a very good idea for Allen to undertake this, now that he has considered it seriously. He wants to follow your advice, Alice, and do something. Here is the first opportunity which offers, and I think he ought to embrace it. I should be glad, however, if he would promise us to try his first experiment on Mr. Gorham." "Gee!" ejaculated Allen. Alice divined Eleanor's real thought instantly. "Splendid!" she cried. "That shall be the condition. If father falls a victim, your later success is certain." "And what if he doesn't?" Allen asked. "Perhaps you'll go out on three legs," she suggested, mischievously. X