ago gave up trying to sell him. The colonel is crazy to buy it now,
but he's afraid to let Gresham know he must have it, for fear Saint
Paul will run up the price on him. In consequence, he trails the man
round like a love-sick boy after an actress. When he finds Gresham
he only looks at him--and goes away. That's only half of the laugh,
however. Gresham wants to sell as badly as the colonel wants to buy,
but he doesn't know where to find a fancy market. Queer case, isn't
it?"

"Yes," replied Gamble. "Who's Miss Joy?"

"For heaven's sake, Johnny, don't say you're hit too--even at long
distance!"

"Hit!" repeated Gamble--"I'm flattened out. I'm no lady-fusser,
Ashley, but I'm going to buy a new necktie."

"You don't even know she's rich, do you?" asked Loring, looking at
him with a curious smile.

"Of course I do!" asserted Johnny. "I saw her eyes. Who is she?"

"That's Miss Constance Joy--an orphan worth an exact million
dollars; although I believe there is some sort of a string to it,"
Loring told him. "She lives with her aunt, who is Mrs. Pattie
Boyden, and she's so pretty that even women forgive her. Anything
else you want to know?"

"Yes. Why do I want to bite Paul Gresham?"