Jewel Weed

Dick started and glanced consciously at Norris, who grinned back.

"Of course that puts another light on it," Mr. Percival said after a

decent pause, and trying to compose his face to a judicial expression.

"I'd hate to put a stumbling-block in the way of a girl like that.

Ah-um--I'll speak to my mother about it, Miss Huntress, and I dare say

I can persuade her to allow it."

"That's very good of you," Miss Huntress answered,--with sad

comprehension that a complexion like Lena's was a great aid to a

literary career. "You couldn't manage to let Miss Quincy go up this

afternoon, could you?" she went on with characteristic energy in pushing

an advantage. "It would be a good thing if she could get her first stuff

ready for the Saturday-night issue."

"My mother, I suppose, is driving this afternoon," Dick said

hesitatingly. He went through a hasty calculation and saw reasons for

cutting out certain of his own engagements. "See here, Miss Huntress, if

you're in such a hurry, I don't mind taking Miss Quincy up and telling

her what I know about old editions and rare folios. I'll make it right

with mother afterward."

Miss Huntress' face cleared perceptibly.

"You're awfully good, Mr. Percival. Won't you come down to my office

now, and I'll introduce you to Miss Quincy? This is a real favor." Dick

shot a glance of triumph at Ellery, believing himself a skilled sly dog

of a manipulator, and not knowing that he was the manipulated. Norris

spoke in scorn.

"I suppose righteousness and reform can wait now."

"You can bet they will. I'll call on you to-morrow afternoon, Norris."

"That's the usual fate of reform. Don't be a fool, Dick." But Dick was

already disappearing down the corridor in pursuit of the able woman

editor.

The girl waiting in the disordered office looked more than ever like a

bridesmaid rose, pink and ruffled and out of its proper setting, as she

saw Mr. Percival coming.

"Miss Quincy," said Dick, "I have a motor down stairs, and I'll take you

up to the house right away, if you don't mind."

If she didn't mind!

When youth starts out to revolutionize the world, it meets with many

distractions. Even in the hour that Dick spent in the quiet old library

with Miss Quincy, he met with distractions. He tried to keep her mind on

missals and Aldine editions, but she persisted in poring over old copies

of Godey's Lady's Book, which she found tucked away in a forgotten

corner. Nobody but Lena could have scented them out.

"The fashions are so funny, Mr. Percival!" she insisted. "Do look at

these preposterous hoop-skirts and the little short waists. Did you say

that no one knows how that gold leaf was put on that ugly old book? How

absurd! I must put that down. I suppose that is the kind of thing I have

to write up."