"Mallery," Mr. Stephens had said to him one morning when they were quite alone in the private office, "have you any special interest in the Hastings' place?" Theodore hesitated a little, and then answered frankly enough: "Yes, sir, I certainly have. There are many associations connected with that house that will always endear it to me." "Then you may be interested to know that I have become the purchaser of it; and if at any time, for any reason, you should wish to make special disposition of it, it shall always be in a state to await your orders. Real estate is valuable property, and as good a way as any in which to dispose of surplus funds." Theodore came out from behind the screen to try to offer some word of thanks, but Mr. Stephens had pushed open the green baize door and vanished. CHAPTER XXIX. SOME MORE BABIES. Mrs. Jenkins' Tommy stood on the sidewalk in front of the store, in a nicely fitting new suit, white vest and kid gloves. It was not yet the middle of the afternoon, but the great store was closed and shuttered and barred. A gentleman came briskly down the street and halted before the young man, with a surprised look on his face as he questioned: "How now, Tommy, what's to pay? It isn't possible your firm has failed and foreclosed? What are you all bolted and barred at this time of day for?" Tommy arched his eyebrows. "Have you been out of town, sir?" he asked, in a tone which plainly said, "It isn't possible that you've been _in_ town and not heard the cause of this closed store?" "Just so," answered the good-natured gentleman. "I've been West, and I want to see Messrs. Stephens and Mallery in a twinkling." "Can't do it," said Tommy, promptly, and with the air of a policeman. "They are otherwise engaged, both of them--all three of them, I may say. Mr. Hastings is in it, too. There's been a double wedding. Haven't you heard of it, sir?" "Not a word," answered his listener, with commendable gravity. "They've been as whist as mice. Tell us all about it." "Well, sir, it was to-day at twelve o'clock, in the First Church--Dr. Birge's, you know. He married 'em. Splendid ceremony, too! and they looked--well, they all looked just grand, I tell you!" "Don't doubt it in the least, Tommy, but who the mischief were they?" "Why, Mr. Mallery and Miss Hastings, and Mr. Hastings and Miss Winny McPherson, and they're both of our firm, you know; at least Mr. Hastings he's our confidential clerk now, and we all say that he'll be partner one of these days, as sure as guns. We all went to the wedding, every one of us, cash boys and all; then we all went to Mr. Stephens', and had just the grandest kind of a dinner with the brides and grooms. And Dr. Birge and Mr. Ryan they toasted them." "Wine or brandy?" interposed the gentleman, slily.