a grin, as he observed Tom hop into his trim
little roadster, which under his orders, Koku had
polished and cleaned until it looked as though
it had just come from the factory.

A little later the trim and speedy car drew up
in front of the Nestor home, and Tom bounded
up on the front porch, his heart not altogether
as light as his feet.

"No, I'm sorry, but Mary isn't in," said Mrs.
Nestor, answering his inquiry after greeting him.

"Not at home?"

"No, she went on a little visit to her cousin's at
Fayetteville. She said something about letting
you know she was going."

"She did drop me a card," answered Tom, and,
somehow he did not feel at all cheerful. "But
I thought it wasn't until next week she was
going."

"That was her plan, Tom. But she changed
it. Her cousin wired, asking her to advance
the date, and this Mary did. There was something
about a former school chum who was also
to be at Myra's house--Myra is Mary's cousin
you know."