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The next afternoon, about four o'clock, Herbert stood gloomily at theawaiting his partner The other entrances were not only nailed fast butof the ancient carriage-house doors, opening upon a driveway through the yard) had recently been ainst the wall, near by, ready to be set in hook-shaped iron supports fastened to the inner sides of the doors; and when the doors were closed, with this great plank in place, a person inside the building ht seem entitled to count upon the enjoyment of privacy, except in case of earthquake, tornado, or fire In fact, the size of the plank and the substantial quality of the iron fastenings could be looked upon, froy and persistence of Florence Atwater

Herbert had been in no complimentary frame of mind, however, when he devised the obstructions, nor was he now in such a fraard to his future, and also embarrassed in anticipation of some explanations it would be necessary to ular after-school appearance at the Newspaper Building would precede Florence's, because these explanations required both deliberation and tact, and he was convinced that it would be alot there first

He understood that he was unfortunately within her power; and he saw that it would be dangerous to place in operation for her exclusion fro this new mechanism contrived with such hopeful care, and at a cost of two dollars and twenty-five cents taken from the Oriole's treasury What he wished Henry to believe was that for soood reason, which Herbert had not yet been able to invent, it would be better to show Florence a little politeness He had a desperate hope that he ht find some diplomatic way to prevail on Henry to be as subservient to Florence as she had seemed to demand, and he was determined to touch any extremity of unveracity, rather than permit the details of his answer in "Truth" to coe Henry Rooter was not Wallie Torbin; but in possession of material such as this he could easily make himself intolerable

Therefore, it was in a flurried state of mind that Herbert waited; and when his friend appeared, over the fence, his perturbation was not decreased He even failed to notice the unusual gravity of Henry's manner