The Press., 1909-01-27
Iy. -In0eeo, nke yOu very

eagerly. ~Indeed, 1 nKe you very much.''
 "I never saw you on the front steps waiting for me-" said Gordon grimly ''Let 1t come out with a rush. Pm fin wrong. How can square myself?"
 '"There Is nothing to be squared" in- sisted Maud. 'I don't see how you can imagine such thing"
 Naughty, naughtyy' reproved Cor don, shaking his forefnger at her ad- nOnishingly. Look here. kiddo. put me next! Ecu don't like me. and I like you. I can't help it if I've got a frozen face. It was wished on me. and it's none of my doings. Tell me how I can loosen mp 30 you'll have yin for me"
 "A yin?'' repeated Maud uncertainty, This was a word not fin Jlmmie's vo- cabulary.
 "A yin-a yearning." explained Cor don. "I want you to think that I'm the whole works, and you won't even let me be the second hand. Fix me up so I can come into the big tent and be . part of the program, I'm the what is it out in the freak tent and I don't like the job. may not be quite your style. but can learn. I'm the star pupil in the little red school. house. and I'll always be at the head of the class if you'n be the teacher. l love to love my teacher"
 Maud sprang to her feet, her eyes blazing.
 aNE. co-a-,, % as,o ..aa ,>olSRlx, ssT win not prolong this interview. do not know what is the matter. l do not want to know, but you must go. please, I cannot listen to you when you talk this way"
 Gordon had sprung to his feet when Maud rose, and now he smiled down into the flushed, angry face.
 "It seems," he said a little sadly, ''that my latest effort Is no more suc- cessful than the earlier attempts. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of nattery. and yet you are not pleased"
 "what do you mean?' gasped Maud In astonishment. :
 "You learned slang for my benefit ' he reminded. z'When I do the same thing you object. Of course my slang is more pronounced than your own, but then you have only Jimmie, while have the valuable assistance of sev- eral elevator boys, my office boy and the janitor's son, who qualities as an expert. You use slang to disgust me with yourself. am using 1t to disgust you-with slang"
 "And you knOw?" gasped Maud. Jimmie has told?"
 "Be 1t said to his credit that the temptation was great" said Gordon gently. Do not blame the lad. He meant well in giving me my last chance to win you. He saw beneath the surface and was sorry for his part. foolishly imagined that if l could excel you in the use of slang I might startle you into an interest that I see now you never can feel. It was foolish experiment. Miss Tolliver, and I ask your pardon for having bored and then frightened you. It was my last chance, and hoped that it might succeed.
 "I gather from Jimmie'S remarks that you fear paternal pressure will be brought to bear on you. beg to as- sure you that I will so cOntrive the situation as not to involve you. I am sorry that-the last chance-failed."
 The little pauseS in his speech were GOrdon's only evidences of emotion. They were only little halts in the evenness of his soft, even voice, but they showed the strength of feeling, and it touched Maud with a sudden emotion.
 Don't go." she said softly. laying detaining hand upon his arm. "Per- haps the last chance has not-I mean"- But she could say no more Gordon'S arms were outstretched. and in his face, no longer expressionless, there was look of such appeal that she suffered herself to be drawn with in their protecting circle. The last chance had won.