"To Pitkins's friend, the banker. He's wild about it. Says he's been looking for something of yours ever since the night he was here, and only knew you had a picture on exhibition when he read Cook's abuse of it in yesterday's paper. And that isn't all! No sooner had the 'Sold' card been slipped into the frame than Mr. Blodgett came in; swore he had been intending to buy the 'East River' for his gallery ever since the show opened; offered an advance of five hundred dollars to the banker, who laughed at him; and then in despair bought your other picture, 'The Storm,' hung on the top line. Both sold, O most masterful painter! All together now, gentlemen-- "'Should auld acquaintance be forgot--'" and Boggs's voice rang out in the tune he knew Mac loved best. Mac dropped into his chair. The news thrilled him in more ways than one. Certain vague, hopeless plans could now, perhaps, be carried out; plans he had driven from his mind as soon as they had taken shape: Holland for one, which seemed nearer of realization now than ever. So did some others. "Millionaires have their uses, Mac, after all," laughed Marny. "Yes, but this fellow was an exception. He filled my mug and----" "--And your pocket," added Boggs; "don't forget that, you ingrate. Again--all together, gentlemen-- "'Should auld acquaintance be forgot----'" This time Boggs sang the couplet to the end, Mac and all of us joining in. * * * * * When all the others had gone I still kept my chair. There was one thing more I wanted to know. Mac was on his feet, restlessly pacing the room, a quickness in his step, a buoyant tone in his voice that I had not noticed all winter. "Sit down here, old man, and let me ask you a question." "No," answered Mac, "fire it at me here. I'm too happy to sit down. What is it?" "Was that human girl you spoke of, who lives abroad, the one in the steamer chair with the red roses in her lap?" Mac stopped and laid his hand on my shoulder. "Yes; I got a letter from her this morning." "And you are going over?" "By the first steamer, old man." THE END BOOKS BY F. HOPKINSON SMITH THE ARM-CHAIR AT THE INN "It would be hard to find a more entertaining, piquant, and sweet-spirited companion in book-form."--_Chicago Record-Herald._ KENNEDY SQUARE "All that was best in the banished life of the old South has been touched into life and love, into humor and pathos, in this fine and memorable American novel."--_Chicago Record-Herald._ PETER "It is an old-fashioned love story."--_The Outlook._ "Old Peter Grayson is a charming character, with his old-fashioned virtues, his warm sympathies, and his readiness to lend a hand."--_Springfield Republican._ THE TIDES OF BARNEGAT "The story is one of strong dramatic power. Its style is direct and incisive, revealing a series of strongly drawn pictures."--_Philadelphia Record._ FORTY MINUTES LATE AND OTHER STORIES