THE HERO IS LURED TO AN ADVENTURE INTO THE UNCONVENTIONAL AND
HEARS MUCH THAT IS PAINFUL TO A WELL-REGULATED MIND
Near the close of a fine spring afternoon James Farnum and Alice
Frome were walking at the lower end of Powers Avenue. In the
conventional garb he affected since he had become a man of
substance the lawyer might have served as a model of fashion to
any aspiring youth. His silk hat, his light trousers, the double-
breasted coat which enfolded his manly form, were all of the
latest design. The weather, for a change, was behaving itself so
as not to soil the chaste glory of Solomon thus displayed. There
had been rain and would be more, but just now they passed through
a dripping world shot full of sunlight.
"Of course I'm no end flattered at being allowed to go with you.
But I'm dying of curiosity to know where we are going."
The young woman gave James her beguiling smile. "We're going to
call on a sick man. I'm taking you along as chaperon. You needn't
be flattered at all. You're merely a convenience, like a hat pin
or an umbrella."
"But I'm not sure this is proper. Now as your chaperone--"
"You're not that kind of a chaperon, Mr.
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