It was hard to believe, as he looked at them beaming upon him in genuine fondness, that only a few short months before they had been barely speaking to him, or that he had wished The Happy Family had, as the saying is, a single neck that he might wring it.
Above the volley of questions and chatter he heard old Mr. Penrose's querulous voice reproaching him:
"I hope you have the grace to be ashamed of yourself for not telling us, Wallace!"
"If I look sheepish," Wallie replied, smiling, "it may be due to the nature of my new occupation. You see," in reply to their looks of inquiry, "Canby bought me out, to get rid of me, and for a far more munificent sum than I ever expected. I re-invested, and am now," with mock dignity, "a wool-grower—with one Mr. Fripp engaged as foreman." Wallie's eyes twinkled as he added:
"I trust that the percentage of loss will not be so great as in the dude business."
THE END
THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS,
GARDEN CITY, N. Y.