The newcomer bowed as he entered.
"Mr.Barrett ?" he said inquiringly.
One of the men near the door turned about.

"Yes, sir," he answered, with a stem disfavor of the applicant; a disfavor possibly a perquisite of his office.

"What's wanted ?" "I think I have met you," returned the other.

"My name is Meredith." Mr.Barrett probably did not locate the meeting, but the name proved an open sesame to his geniality, for he melted at once, and saying: "Of course, of course, Mr.Meredith; did you want a talk with me ?" clasped the young man's hand confidentially in his, and, with an appearance of assuring him that whatever the atrocity which had occurred in the Meredith household it should be discreetly handled and hushed up, indicated a disposition to conduct him toward a more appropriate apartment for the rehearsal of scandal.

The young man accepted the hand-clasp with some resignation, but rejected the suggestion of privacy.
"A telegram from Plattville reached me half an hour ago," he said.