One of the teachers was working from pupil to pupil up the aisle toward him. His back was turned to her, but he knew, from the sound of her voice, that she was young. In a few moments she was, as Larry afterward expressed it, “givin’ points to the guy right back o’ me.” It was not until then that he recognized the voice; and a panic immediately possessed him. “Gee!” he mentally exclaimed, “what did I drift into this joint for, anyhow; I might a-knowed she’d be here.” He looked longingly toward the door. “If I t’ought nobody was next, I’d take a chance, and fly the coop!” But he delayed until too late; in another moment Maggie had sat down beside him, inquiring: “How are you getting on with--?” then in great astonishment. “Why, Larry Murphy!” He began to stammer a confused explanation; but she knew of his shortcomings and realized the situation like a flash. “I didn’t t’ink I’d see youse here,” he finished awkwardly. Maggie knew this; she also knew that if he had dreamed of her presence wild horses could not have dragged him there. Her tact soon put him more at his ease, and, finally her manner of putting things, awoke an interest in the lessons that almost made him forget his situation. When the class was dismissed she had called him aside. “You will return to-morrow night?” she asked. “Yes,” he answered hesitatingly; “I guess so.” “Will you promise?” “Yes; I promise.” He kept his word, finished the term and mastered the studies in hand. But after that it was the same as before; she could only feel sorry for him, he thought; and when he chanced to meet her on the street his manner was formal, and for her pride’s sake her own could not be otherwise. And this, perhaps, is why Maggie wept so bitterly. Chapter IX “_Reform: A t’ing what the wise guys gits busy at--when the other push is holdin’ the jobs._” CHIP NOLAN’S DEFINITION. OLD Mrs. Coogan, who was distantly related to Mary, opened the door for her and Mason. Mrs. Coogan had been there since the old man’s death, as a sort of chaperon and housekeeper, and vastly pleased was she with the arrangement. Larry in his shirt sleeves came out of the sitting room as they entered: “Hello, back so soon!” exclaimed he. Then, seeing Mason, he added surprisedly: “Mr. Mason, how are youse?” “Mr. Dwyer advised me to come to see you,” said Mason, shaking hands; “but I had not the slightest notion that I should meet an old acquaintance.” Mary left them to themselves; and Mason plunged at once into the matter in hand. He explained in detail the nature of the scheme on foot and then continued: “Now the local reform organization has resolved to fight this thing, and wants to enlist as many men acquainted with practical politics as possible.” “Sure,” said Larry. “That’s the first crack out o’ the box every time youse hear from ’em. Say, I’ll give it to youse straight: reform’s all to the good, but the reformers give me a pain.”