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S he devoured his bacon next morning the Honorable John Ruffin gazed at the angel face of Pollyooly with a warmer approval than ever.

Presently he said, "By the way, Mrs. Bride, in the stress and turmoil of our negotiations I forgot to congratulate you on the readiness and resource you displayed yesterday morning."

"Yes, sir," said Pollyooly in polite but somewhat doubtful assent, for she did not know with any exactitude what either readiness or resource was.

"Yes, you screamed," said the Honorable John Ruffin. "You screamed splendidly."

"Yes, sir," said Pollyooly in a somewhat perplexed tone, for she had never associated a scream with any kind of splendor.

"Ah, I see that you don't appreciate the