until things get fairly started!"

"That'll be Fourth of July," Sidney said thoughtfully, turning back
to her exchanges, "I'll begin my clubhouse crusade on the fifth!"
she added firmly.

For a long time there was silence in the office, except for the
rustling of paper and the scratch of pens. From the sunny world out-
of-doors came a pleasant blending of many noises, passing wagons,
the low talk of chickens, the slamming of gates, and now and then
the not unmusical note of a fish-horn. Footsteps and laughing voices
went by, and died into silence. The clock from Town Hall Square
struck eleven slowly.

"This is darned pleasant," said Barry presently, over his work.

"Isn't it?" said the editor of the "Women's Page," and again there
was silence.

After a while Barry said "Finished!" with a great breath, and,
leaning back in his chair, wheeled about to find the lady quietly
watching him.

"Barry, are you working too hard?" said she, quite unembarrassed.

"Am I? Lord, not I wish the days were twice as long. I"--Barry
rumpled his thick hair with a gesture that was familiar to Sidney
now--"I guess work agrees with me. By George, I hate to eat, and I
hate to sleep; I want to be down here all the time, or else rustling
up subscriptions and 'ads.',"