THE POSSUM HUNTERS



the entry; he told his secretary how eagerly one
man had "signed up," or the extra amount of
argument which was required before another
would join in the "pool." His secretary gave
pleased attention, she listens with that grace
which induces full recital, she understands be-
cause she loves the organization and the organ-
izer. Her eyes say this fact and she believes his
smile answers full. She listens, he talks, and
they are so interested in one of his recitals-and
in looking into eyes, that neither of them hear
the approach of a visitor through the outer room
of the suite until Durbin Ellis, nervous and irri-
table, stood in the doorway-Ellis, with his an-
noying habit of constantly flipping the ash from
his cigar by tapping it with his second finger.
  The visitor and client stood tapping his cigar
as though he was displeased over seeing other
folks happy while he was miserable.
  "Hello, Hughes." His gretting was a surly de-
mand for the lawyer's attention. He asks, "Are
you busy"
  "Always busy since the day the returns com-
menced to come in," was the jovial reply, as he
waved the handful of papers in a salutation to his
friend and kinsman, who merited additional con-
sideration since he was one of the most extensive
tobacco growers in the county. He welcomed his
visitor, then told him: "Sit down for a moment
and wait until we finish listing these new mem-
bers, please, old fellow, and it will be an intro-
duction to some few of the men who are already
in the society I intend to ask you to join." He
explained his delay in not asking him ere this:
"I have been anxiously waiting your return from
gay Palm Beach for the past thirty days, and
Miss Beatrice has been placing your name at the
very top of our 'prospect' list each time it was
revised. You remember Miss Herron, do you



12