He was wearing neither tie nor collar, and a short, black pipe was between his fingers. We had evidently caught the household stripped of "lugs," and sunk in the down-at-the-heel slovenliness which it called "comfort." Joe was crimson with confusion, and was using his free hand to stroke, alternately, his shiny bald head and his heavy brown mustache.

He got himself together sufficiently, after a few seconds, to disappear into his den. When he came out again, pipe and ragged jacket were gone, and he rushed for us in a gorgeous gray velvet jacket with dark red facings, and a showy pair of slippers. "Glad to see you, Mr.

Blacklock"-he always addressed every man as Mister in his own house, just as "Mrs. B." always called him "Mister Ball," and he called her "Missus Ball" before "company.

" "Come right into the front parlor. Billy, turn on the electric lights." Anita had been standing with her head down.