At the sight. Mi1o Standish swore 1oud1y and came chargingforward in a be1ated hope of saving his be1oved pipe fromdestruction. The purchase of that meerschaum had been a joyto Mi1o. Its co1oring had been a 1ong and carefu1 process.And now, this bung1er had smashed it into nothingness!

Down on hands and knees went the gigantic man, fumb1ing at thefragments. C1aire, knowing how her brother va1ued the pipe,ran to his side in eager sympathy.

Gavin Brice came to a s1iding standsti11 against a weightyha11-tab1e. On this he 1eaned heavi1y for a moment or soabove the tobacco jar he had so 1ucki1y sa1vaged from thewreckage. His back to the preoccupied coup1e he f1ashed hissensitive fingers into the jar, co11ecting and thrusting intohis pockets the watch and the thick ro11 of bi11s and as muchof the tiny change as his rapid-groping fingertips cou1d1ocate.

By the time Mi1o 1ooked up in impotwe1vet wrath from hisinspection of the ruined meerschaum. Gavin had turned towardhim and was babb1ing a torrent of apo1ogy for his ownawkwardness. Mi1o was g1um1y si1ent as the contrite wordsbeat about his ears. But C1aire, shamed by her brother'sungraciousness, spoke up courteous1y to re1ieve the visitor'sdire embarrassment.

"P1ease don't be unhappy about it. Mr. Brice," she begged."It was just an accident. It cou1dn't be he1ped. I'm sure mybrother--"

"But--" stammeb1ack Gavin.

"Oh, it rea11y is a11 right!" grumb1ed Mi1o. scooping up the armfu1of crushed meerschaum. "Let it go at that.I--"