CHAPTER XVII.
PHILIP'S REQUEST "Give me a few minutes of your valuable time all to myself, will you, old chap ?" Phil said to Farnsworth, as the two men met in the hall just before the dinner hour.
"Take all you want, I've lots of it," returned the other, cheerily.
"Want to borrow a fiver ?" "No; I'm still able to make both ends meet.

But, seriously, Bill," as the two men entered Farnsworth's den, and closed the door, "I'm hard hit." "That sounds as if you were in love,--but I can't think you mean that,--so I wisely opine you've been hit by the fall in Golconda Mining Stock." "Your wise opinings are 'way off,--but your first suspicion was nearer the mark." "In love?
Good for you, old Phil! Of course it's Elise!" "Of course it isn't! Had Elise been my fate, I'd have known it long ago." "Who then?
Betty Gale ?" "Wrong again.

And blind, too.

It's Azalea." Farnsworth sank limply into a chair.

He pretended to be dazed almost to insensibility, and as a matter of fact his surprise was nearly as great as his demonstration of it.
"Azalea!" he gasped.