"Question him yourself.

You know you and he always get along best without me." In another moment Barker had burst into the room, and in his first tempestuous greeting of Demorest the latter saw little change in his younger partner as he held him at arm's length to look at him.

"Why, Barker boy, you haven't got a bit older since the day when--you remember--you went over to Boomville to cash your bonds, and then came back and burst upon us like this to tell us you were a beggar." "Yes," laughed Barker, "and all the while you fellows were holding four aces up your sleeve in the shape of the big strike." "And you, Georgy, old boy," returned Demorest, swinging Barker's two hands backwards and forwards, "were holding a royal flush up yours in the shape of your engagement to Kitty." The fresh color died out of Barker's cheek even while the frank laugh was still on his mouth.

He turned his face for a moment towards the window, and a swift and almost involuntary glance passed between the others.

But he almost as quickly turned his glistening eyes back to Demorest again, and said eagerly, "Yes, dear Kitty! You shall see her and the baby to-morrow." Then they fell upon the supper with the appetites of the Past, and for some moments they all talked eagerly and even noisily together, all at the same time, with even the spirits of the Past.