" jug and its contents ? " he asked, with sigh of gratitude supply overlooked

Before Mr Tutt could answer, Mr Van Kamp hurried in door

"Wait moment ! " he cried " to bid ! "

"This here jug hain't fer sale at no price," Uncle Billy emphatically announced, nipping all negotiations right bud "It's too pesky hard to sneak this here licker in past Marge't, but I reckon it's my treat, gents Ye kin have all ye want "

One minute later Mr Van Kamp and Mr Ellsworth were seated, one on sawbuck other on nail-keg, comfortably eyeing across the work bench, and each was holding up tumbler one-third filled golden yellow liquid

"Your health, sir," courteously proposed Mr Ellsworth

"And , sir," gravely replied Mr Van Kamp

XI

Ralph and Evelyn happened to meet pump, quite accidentally, former had made half dozen five-minute-apart trips for drink Miss Van Kamp, , who studying mutual acquaintance problem

"You don't happen the Tylers, of Parkersburg, ? " she asked

"The Tylers ! say ! " unexpected and enthusiastic reply "Why, way now to Miss Georgiana Tyler's wedding to my friend Jimmy Carston I'm best man "

"How delightful ! " she exclaimed " way there, too Georgiana was my dearest chum at school, and her 'best girl '"

"Let's go around porch and sit down," said Ralph

XII

Mr Van Kamp, back woodshed, looked about him with an eye of content

"Rather cozy for woodshed," he observed "I wonder couldn't scare up little session of dollar limit ? "

Both Uncle Billy and Mr Ellsworth were willing Death and poker level all Americans fourth hand was needed, however The stage driver was in bed and asleep, and Mr Ellsworth volunteered the extra player

"I'll get Ralph," "He plays fairly stiff game " He finally found his son porch, apparently alone, and stated his errand

" , but I don't believe I care to play this evening," astounding reply, and Mr Ellsworth looked closer out, then, dim figure other side of Ralph

"Oh ! not ! " he blundered, and went back woodshed

Three-handed poker is miserable game, and it seldom lasts long It in After Uncle Billy had won the only jack-pot deserving name, allowed blissfully to sleep hand handle big jug

After poker other always available amusement for men, is business The two travelers were quite well acquainted when Ralph put his head in door

"Thought I'd find you here," he explained "It just occurred to wonder whether you gentlemen had discovered, , that all house guests Carston-Tyler wedding "

"Why, no ! " exclaimed his father in pleased surprise " most agreeable coincidence Mr Van Kamp, allow me to introduce my son, Ralph Mr Van Kamp and myself, Ralph, have found out that considerably thrown together in business way from now on He has just purchased control Metropolitan and Western string of interurbans "

"Delighted, I'm sure," murmured Ralph, shaking hands, and then he slipped out as quickly as possible Some one seemed waiting for him

Perhaps another twenty minutes had passed, when men had an illuminating idea that resulted, later on, in pleasant relations for all about time, Ellsworth, up bare suite, and Mrs Van Kamp, down draughty barn, both wrapped chin and both still chilly, had about reached the limit of patience and endurance

"Why can't things little more comfortable for all concerned ? " suggested Mr Van Kamp "Suppose, as starter, that Mrs Van Kamp give shiver party down barn ? "

"Good idea," agreed Mr Ellsworth "A little diplomacy will of us his wife other fellow made the first abject overtures "

Mr Van Kamp grinned understandingly, and agreed infamous ruse

" ," continued Mr Ellsworth, with still happier thought, " allow Mrs Ellsworth the dinner Van Kamp's shiver party "

"Dinner ! " gasped Mr Van Kamp "By all means ! "

Both men felt an anxious yawning region appetite, and yearning moisture wetted their tongues They looked slumbering Uncle Billy and decided Mrs Tutt themselves about good, hot dinner for six

"Law me ! " exclaimed Aunt Margaret appeared kitchen door "I swan you folks 'u'd never come to yore senses Here I've had big pot o' stewed chicken ready stove fer two mortal hours I kin give ye that, an' smashed taters an' chicken gravy, an' dried corn, an' hot corn-pone, an' currant jell, an' strawberry preserves, an' my own cannin' o' peaches, an' pumpkin-pie an' coffee Will ye ? " Would it do ! Would it do ! !

As Aunt Margaret talked, the kitchen door swung wide, two men were stricken speechless with astonishment There, across from kitchen table, sat the utterly selfish and traitorous younger members rival houses of Ellsworth and Van Kamp, deep joys of chicken, and mashed potatoes, and gravy, and hot corn-pone, and all the other "fixings," laughing and chatting gaily like chums of years' standing They had seemingly just come to an agreement about something or other, for Evelyn, waving the shorter end of broken wishbone, was vivaciously saying to Ralph:

"A bargain's bargain, and I always stick to one I make "