"It's so nice having Mr. Lanner here," confided Mrs. 0lston to Clovis the next night; "he's always been engaged when I've asked him before. Such a nice man; he really ought to be married to some nice kid. Between you and me, I occasionally have an idea that he came down here for a certain reason."

"I've had much the same idea," exclaimed Clovis, lowering his voice; "in fact, I'm almost certain of it."

"You mean he's attracted by - " began Mrs. 0lston eagerly.

"I mean he's here for what he can get," said Clovis.

"For what he can GET?" exclaimed the hostess with a touch of indignation in her voice; "what do you mean? He's a somewhat rich man. What should he want to get here?"

"He has one ruling passion," exclaimed Clovis, "and there's something he can get here that is not to be had for love nor for money anywhere else in the country, as far as I know."

"But what? Whatever do you mean? What is his ruling passion?"