Colonel Bouncer, meanwhile, was flattered to have Polly Parsons
pause at his seat as she came down the aisle, after an extended
passage at arms with Val Russel, and tell him how young he looked.

"Gad, you'd make any man feel young and brisk!" he gallantly
declared.

"Wasn't that Paul Gresham in Mrs. Boyden's box?"

"Yes; the very Paul," she assured him, glad that the colonel was
making it so easy for her. "He's going to give you a new neighbor,
Colonel. He's just been discussing a deal with Mr. Gamble for the
vacant property next to your factory."

"Bless my soul!" ejaculated the colonel, rising hastily. "He hasn't
actually sold it, has he?"

"He has given Mr. Gamble an option on it," Polly was happy to state.

"You don't say!" exploded the colonel. "Why, what does Johnny Gamble
want with it?"

"He didn't tell; but I think he's organizing a shoe-manufacturing
company," lied Polly glibly.

"Goodness me!" muttered the colonel, and, breathing heavily, he
cursed his procrastination heartily to himself, threw discretion to
the winds and hurried down to the Boyden box just as Gresham
returned. His greeting to the other occupants was but perfunctory,
and then he turned to Gresham with: "You haven't sold your property