large upholstered armchair, and remarked to his unconsciously
brilliant son:

"You are a great protector of women-oppressed man, aren't you, Harold.
Your chief virtue along this line is your ability to get the
philosophical high spots of every-day gossip. But don't stop there, my
able young advocate. Do you realize that your father has had no dinner
and that this exacting bevy of girls is going to force me to suffer
the pangs of hunger until I have told my story?"

"I just told Mary (the head maid) to get your dinner ready," Mrs.
Stanlock interposed smilingly. "You won't need to go hungry more than
fifteen minutes longer."

"I see that you don't appreciate an eager and attentive audience,"
Marion remarked, affecting to be deeply offended in behalf of her
guests. "Very well, we'll wait until after you have satisfied a mere
man's appetite, and then we'll condescend to listen."

"Oh, I can tell it in fifteen minutes while Mary is warming over the
meat and potatoes. Now, get ready, all you young ladies, for the first
shock. I was really and truly held up."

"Held up!" exclaimed several of the girls in chorus.

"Yes, held up, with guns pointed at the chauffeur's head by two masked
men on a lonely highway."

"You're joking," said Marion, dubiously.