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 at the Follies, papa Max's big, bald head busily speculated upon the incident which obviously was pregnant with the greatest possibilities, but which also required most careful gestation. It was half past ten, during a sentimental song scene on a dark stage, when Elmen, père, suddenly chuckled and rubbed his hands together.

"What you laughing at, papa?" whispered Elmen, mère, hastily scanning the stage to see if she had missed anything.

"Herman," whispered papa, peering about his wife's ample bosom, "when you call up that number to-morrow morning, say to that girl, 'Come to my office right away.' You understand me? Telephone her sure to come to-morrow morning, Herman."

"Yes, papa," promised Herman.

The reference, as Herman correctly comprehended, was to the Royle girl; for it was become Herman's duty, in preparation of the defense of Ketlar, to oversee the conduct of his witnesses.

Already he had ascertained that his chief witness was agreeably dependable, but his second witness presented distinct problems. In order to use Dads, Elmen must put him on the witness stand, and, before embarking upon such a venture, it was plain that Dads must be provided with a less vulnerable respectability than he possessed.

As a first step, his most troublesome debts and the judgments against him must be paid; and Elmen had had them paid. Next, Dads must be provided with irreproachable employment and this task was not so easy; but at last Elmen succeeded in establishing Mr. James Morton Royle with a real estate firm of fair reputation who provided Dads with a desk as the outward and visible sign of occupation.

Ket's money paid Dads' salary as Ket's money also had paid the most conspicuous of Dads' debts. Of course