that bout of ours a couple of years ago. Billy
drove me away, then.''

``Billy!--er--Mrs. Henshaw?''

``Yes. I thought I told you. She turned down
my tenth-dozen proposal so emphatically that I
lost all interest in Boston and took to the tall
timber again. But I've come back. A friend of
my father's wrote me to come on and consider a
good opening there was in his law office. I came
on a month ago, and considered. Then I went
back to pack up. Now I've come for good, and
here I am. You have my history to date. Now
tell me of yourself. You're looking as fit as a
penny from the mint, even though you have
discarded that `lovely' brown beard. Was that
a concession to--er--_Mary Jane_?''

Arkwright lifted a quick hand of protest.

`` `Michael Jeremiah,' please. There is no
`Mary Jane,' now,'' he said a bit stiffly.

The other stared a little. Then he gave a low
chuckle.

`` `Michael Jeremiah,' '' he repeated musingly,
eyeing the glowing tip of his cigar. ``And to
think how that mysterious `M. J.' used to