"Who was she?" persisted Mary Johnson.
"Why—can't you guess, after all the hints I've made?"
"No, I'm still in the dark."
"He meant you, of course, and he seemed so familiar. Knew precisely what you wanted, and aired himself importantly," growled the big fellow.
"But what had that to do with you, I wonder? You left the matter in my hands."
"Quite so, my dear, and that's what makes me jealous. The fellow talked so much about you I feared there must be a strong attachment, or——"
"Now that will be quite enough!" said Mary Johnson, as if offended. "I think it's time to——"
"No, Mary don't do that. I'm in real deadly earnest about—you know what I mean—now don't you?" appealed the big fellow.
"It begins to dawn on me. After this long conversation I feel that I have been unusually dense. Your moonlight ride all by yourself must have gone to your head," giggled the secretary.
"Nevertheless I mean every word I have said, Mary. I want you—I must have you, Mary," said Updyke, a note of strong appeal in his voice. "I've known it a long time but I could not make myself believe that I had a chance. You are so young and pretty, and I am so old and ugly, and——"