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arious　parts　in　the　composition　of　the　next　great　Sunday　edition。　In　a　few　brisk　sentences　he　set　a　complex　machine　in　proper　motion。　His　men　no　longer　thrilled　with　　admiration　at　the　precision　with　which　he　grasped　each　obligation　of　the　campaign　toward　a　successful　edition。　They　had　grown　to　accept　it　as　they　accepted　his　hat　or　his　London　clothes。　At　this　time　his　face　was　lit　with　something　of　the　self…contained　enthusiasm　of　a　general。　Immediately　afterward　he　arose　and　reached　for　his　coat　and　hat。

The　office　boy；　coming　circuitously　forward；　presented　him　with　some　cards　and　also　with　a　scrap　of　paper　upon　which　was　scrawled　a　long　and　semicoherent　word。　〃　What　are　these　？　〃　grumbled　Coleman。

〃They　are　waiting　outside；〃　answered　the　boy；　with　trepidation。　It　was　part　of　the　law　that　the　lion　of　the　ante…room　should　cringe　like　a　cold　monkey；　more　or　less；　as　soon　as　he　was　out　of　his　private　jungle。　〃Oh；　Tallerman；〃　cried　the　Sunday　editor；　〃here's　this　Arctic　man　come　to　arrange　about　his　illustration。　I　wish　you'd　go　and　talk　it　over　with　him。〃　By　chance　he　picked　up　the　scrap　of　paper　with　its　cryptic　word。　〃　Oh；〃　he　said；　scowling　at　the　office　boy。　〃Pity　you　can't　remember　that　fellow。　If　you　can't　remember　faces　any　better　than　that　you　should　be　a　detective。　Get　out　now　and　tell　him　to　go　to　the　devil。〃　The　wilted　slave　turned　at　once；　but　Coleman　hailed　him。　〃　Hold　on。　Come　to　think　of　it；　I　will　see　this　idiot。　Send　him　in；〃　he　commanded；　grimly。

Coleman　lapsed　into　a　dream　over　the　sheet　of　grey　note　paper。　Presently；　a　middle…aged　man；　a　palpable　German；　came　hesitatingly　into　the　room　and　bunted　among　the　desks　as　unmanageably　as　a　tempest…tossed　scow。　Finally　he　was　impatiently　towed　in　the　right　direction。　He　came　and　stood　at　Coleman's　elbow　and　waited　nervously　for　the　engrossed　man　to　raise　his　eyes。　It　was　plain　that　this　interview　meant　important　things　to　him。　Somehow　on　his　commonplace　countenance　was　to　be　found　the　expression　of　a　dreamer；　a　fashioner　of　great　and　absurd　projects；　a　fine；　tender　fool。　He　cast　hopeful　and　reverent　glances　at　the　man　who　was　deeply　contemplative　of　the　grey　note。　He　evidently　believed　himself　on　the　threshold　of　a　triumph　of　some　kind；　and　he　awaited　his　fruition　with　a　joy　that　was　only　made　sharper　by　the　usual　human　suspicion　of　coming　events。

Coleman　glanced　up　at　last　and　saw　his　visitor。

〃　Oh；　it's　you；　is　it　？　〃　he　remarked　icily；　bending　upon　the　German　the　stare　of　a　tyrant。　〃So　you've　come　again；　have　you？　〃　He　wheeled　in　his　chair　until　he　could　fully　display　a　　contemptuous；　merciless　smile。　〃Now；　Mr。　What's…your…name；　you've　called　here　to　see　me　about　twenty　times　already　and　at　last　I　am　going　to　say　something　definite　about　your　invention。〃　His　listener's　face；　which　had　worn　for　a　moment　a　look　of　fright　and　bewilderment；　gladdened　swiftly　to　a　gratitude　that　seemed　the　edge　of　an　outburst　of　tears。　〃　Yes；〃　continued　Coleman；　〃　I　am　going　to　say　something　definite。　I　am　going　to　say　that　it　is　the　most　imbecile　bit　of　nonsense　that　has　come　within　the　range　of　my　large　newspaper　experience。　It　is　simply　the　aberration　of　a　rather　remarkable　lunatic。　It　is　no　good；　　it　is　not　worth　the　price　of　a　cheese　sandwich。　I　understand　that　its　one　feat　has　been　to　break　your　leg；　if　it　ever　goes　off　again；　persuade　it　to　break　your　neck。　And　now　I　want　you　to　take　this　nursery　rhyme　of　yours　and　get　out。　And　don't　ever　come　here　again。　Do　You　understand　？　You　understand；　do　you　？〃　He　arose　and　bowed　in　courteous　dismissal。

The　German　was　regarding　him　　with　the　surprise　and　horror　of　a　youth　shot　mortally。　He　could　not　find　his　tongue　for　a　moment。　Ultimately　he　gasped　：　〃But；　Mister　Editor　〃Coleman　interrupted　him　tigerishly。　〃　You　heard　what　I　said？　Get　out。〃　The　man　bowed　his　head　and　went　slowly　toward　the　door。

Coleman　placed　the　little　grey　note　in　his　breast　pocket。　He　took　his　hat　and　top　coat；　and　evading　the　dismal　band　by　a　shameless　manoeuvre；　passed　through　the　halls　to　the　entrance　to　the　elevator　shaft。　He　heard　a　movement　behind　him　and　saw　that　the　German　was　also　waiting　for　the　elevator。　Standing　in　the　gloom　of　the　corridor；　Coleman　felt　the　mournful　owlish　eyes　of　the　German　resting　upon　him。　He　took　a　case　from　his　pocket　and　elaborately　lit　a　cigarette。　Suddenly　there　was　a　flash　of　light　and　a　cage　of　bronze；　gilt　and　steel　dropped；　magically　from　above。　Coleman　yelled：　〃　Down！〃　A　door　flew　open。　Coleman；　followed　by　the　German；　stepped　upon　the　elevator。　〃　Well；　Johnnie；〃　he　said　cheerfully　to　the　lad　who　operated　this　machine；　〃is　business　good？〃　〃Yes；　sir；　pretty　good；〃　answered　the　boy；　grinning。　The　little　cage　sank　swiftly；　floor　after　floor　seemed　to　be　rising　with　marvellous　speed；　the　whole　building　was　winging　straight　into　the　sky。　There　were　soaring　lights；　figures　and　the　opalescent　glow　of　ground　glass　doors　marked　with　black　inscriptions。　Other　lifts　were　springing　heavenward。　All　the　lofty　corridors　rang　with　cries。　〃　Up！　〃　Down！　〃　〃　Down！　〃　〃　Up！　〃　The　boy's　hand　grasped　a　lever　and　his　machine　obeyed　his　lightest　movement　with　sometimes　an　unbalancing　swiftness。

Coleman　discoursed　briskly　to　the　youthful　attendant。　Once　he　turned　and　regarded　with　a　quick　stare　of　insolent　annoyance　the　despairing　countenance　of　the　German　whose　eyes　had　never　left　him。　When　the　elevator　arrived　at　the　ground　floor；　Coleman　departed　with　the　outraged　air　of　a　man　who　for　a　time　had　been　compelled　to　occupy　a　cell　in　company　with　a　harmless　spectre。

He　walked　quickly　away。　Opposite　a　corner　of　the　City　Hall　he　was　impelled　to　look　behind　him。　Through　the　hordes　of　people　with　cable　cars　marching　like　panoplied　elephants；　he　was　able　to　distinguish　the　German；　motionless　and　gazing　after　him。　Coleman　laughed。　〃　That's　a　comic　old　boy；〃　he　said；　to　himself。

In　the　grill…room　of　a　Broadway　hotel　he　was　obliged　to　wait　some　minutes　for　the　fulfillment　of　his　orders　and　he　spent　the　time　in　reading　and　studying　the　little　grey　note。　When　his　luncheon　was　served　he　ate　with　an　expression　of　morose　dignity。



CHAPTER　IV。

MARJORY　paused　again　at　her　father's　door。　After　hesitating　in　the　original　way　she　entered　the　library。　Her　father　almost　represented　an　emblematic　figure；　seated　upon　a　column　of　books。　〃　Well；〃　he　cried。　Then；　seeing　it　was　Marjory；　he　changed　his　tone。　〃　Ah；　under　the　circumstances；　my　dear；　I　admit　your　privilege　of　interrupting　me　at　any　hour　of　the　day。　You　have　important　business　with　me。〃　His　manner　was　satanically　indulgent。

The　girl　fingered　a　book。　She　turned　the　leaves　in　absolute　semblance　of　a　person　reading。　〃Rufus　Coleman　called。〃

〃Indeed；〃　said　the　professor。

〃And　I've　come　to　you；　father；　before　seeing　him。〃

The　professor　was　silent　for　a　time。　〃　Well；　Marjory；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃what　do　you　want　me　to　say？〃　He　spoke　very　deliberately。　〃　I　am　sure　this　is　a　singular　situation。　Here　appears　the　man　I　formally　forbid　you　to　marry。　I　am　sure　I　do　not　know　what　I　am　to　say。〃

〃　I　wish　to　see　him；〃　said　the　girl。

〃You　wish　to　see　him？〃　enquired　the　professor。　〃You　wish　to　see　him　〃　Marjory；　I　may　as　well　tell　you　now　that　with　　all　the　books　and　plays　I've　read；　I　really　don't　know　how　the　obdurate　father　should　conduct　himself。　He　is　always　pictured　as　an　exceedingly　dense　gentleman　with　white　whiskers；　who　does　all　the　unintelligent　things　in　the　plot。　You　and　I　are　going　to　play　no　drama；　are　we；　Marjory？　I　admit　that　I　have　white　whiskers；　and　I　am　an　obdurate　father。　I　am；　as　you　well　may　say；　a　very　obdurate　father。　You　are　not　to　marry　Rufus　Coleman。　You　understand　the　rest　of　the　matter。　He　is　here　；　you　want　to　see　him。　What　will　you　say　to　him　when　you　see　him？　〃

〃　I　will　say　that　you　refuse　to　let　me　marry　him；　father　and…〃　She　hesitated　a　moment　before　she　lifted　her　eyes　fully　and　formidably　to　her　father's　face。　〃　And　that　I　shall　marry　him　anyhow。〃

The　professor　did　not　cavort　when　this　statement　came　from　his　daughter。　He　nodded　and　then　passed　into　a　period　of　reflection。　Finally　he　asked：　〃But　when？　That　is　the　point。　When？〃

The　girl　made　a　sad　gesture。　　〃I　don't　know。　I　don't　know。　Perhaps　when　you　come　to　know　Rufus　better…〃

〃　Know　him　better。　Know　that　rapscallion　better？　Why；　I　know　him　much　better　than　he　knows　himself。　I　know　him　too　well。　Do　you　think　I　am　talking　offhand　about　this　affair？　Do　you　think　I　am　talking　without　proper　information？〃

Marjory　made　no　reply。

〃Well；〃　said　the　professor；　〃you　may　see　Coleman　on　condition　that　you　inform　him　at　once　that　I　forbid　your　marriage　to　him。　I　don't　understand　at　all　how　to　manage　these　situations。　I　don't　know　what　to　do。　I　suppose　I　should　go　myself　and…No；　you　can't　see　him；　Majory。〃

Still　the　girl　made　no　reply。　Her　head　sank　forward　and　she　breathed　a　trifle　heavily。　〃Marjory；〃　cried　the　professor；　it　is　impossible　that　you　should　think　so　much　of　this　man。〃　He　arose　and　went　to　his　daughter。　〃　Marjory；　many　wise　children　have　been　guided　by　foolish　fathers；　but　we　both　suspect　that　no　foolish　child　has　ever　been　guided　by　a　wise　father。　Let　us　change　it。　I　present　myself　to　you　as　a　wise　father。　Follow　my　wishes　in　this　affair　and　you　will　be　at　least　happier　than　if　y