he saw drawn up in front of it the long gray car in which； that morning；
Chester Griswold had called at the office。 Cochran emitted a howl of
anger。 Was his home again to be invaded？ And again while he was
absent？ To what extreme would Griswold's jealousy next lead him？
He fell out of his own car while it still moved； and leaped up the garden
walk。 The front rooms of the house were empty； but from his bedroom
he heard； raised in excited tones； the voice of Griswold。 The audacity
of the man was so surprising； and his own delight at catching him
red…handed so satisfying； that no longer was Cochran angry。 The Lord
had delivered his enemy into his hands！ And； as he advanced toward his
bedroom； not only was he calm； but； at the thought of his revenge；
distinctly jubilant。 In the passageway a frightened maid servant； who；
at his unexpected arrival； was now even more frightened； endeavored
to give him an explanation； but he waved her into silence； and； striding
before her； entered his bedroom。
He found confronting him a tall and beautiful young woman。 It was
not the Aline Proctor he knew。 It was not the well…poised； gracious；
and distinguished beauty he had seen gliding among the tables at
Sherry's or throwing smiles over the footlights。 This Aline Proctor
was a very indignant young person； with flashing eyes； tossing head；
and a stamping foot。 Extended from her at arm's length； she held a
photograph of herself in a heavy silver frame； and； as though it were
a weapon； she was brandishing it in the face of Chester Griswold。
As Cochran； in amazement； halted in the doorway she was exclaiming：
〃I told you I didn't know Charles Cochran！ I tell you so now！ If you
can't believe me…〃
Out of the corner of her flashing eyes the angry lady caught sight of
Cochran in the doorway。 She turned upon the intruder as though she
meant forcibly to eject him。
〃Who are you？〃 she demanded。 Her manner and tone seemed to add：
〃And what the deuce are you doing here？〃
Charles answered her tone。
〃I am Charles Cochran；〃 he said。 〃I live here。 This is my house！〃
These words had no other effect upon Miss Proctor than to switch
her indignation down another track。 She now turned upon Charles。
〃Then； if this is your house；〃 cried that angry young person；
〃why have you filled it with photographs of me that belong to
some one else？〃
Charles saw that his hour had come。 His sin had found him out。 He
felt that to prevaricate would be only stupid。
Griswold had tried devious methodsand look where his devious
methods had dumped him！ Griswold certainly was in wrong。 Charles
quickly determined to adopt a course directly opposite。 Griswold
had shown an utter lack of confidence in Aline。 Charles decided
that he would give her his entire confidence； would throw himself
upon the mercy of the court。
〃I have those photographs in my house； Miss Proctor；〃 he said；
〃because I have admired you a long time。 They were more like you
than those I could buy。 Having them here has helped me a lot； and it
hasn't done you any harm。 You know very well you have anonymous
admirers all over this country。 I'm only one of them。 If I have offended；
I have offended with many； many thousands。〃
Already it has been related that Cochran was very good to look
upon。 At the present moment； as he spoke in respectful； even
soulful accents； meekly and penitently proclaiming his
long…concealed admiration； Miss Proctor found her indignation
melting like an icicle in the sun。
Still； she did not hold herself cheaply。 She was accustomed to
such open flattery。 She would not at once capitulate。
〃But these pictures；〃 she protested； 〃I gave to a man I knew。 You
have no right to them。 They are not at all the sort of picture I
would give to an utter stranger！〃 With anxiety the lovely lady
paused for a reply。 She hoped that the reply the tall young man
with appealing eyes would make would be such as to make it
possible for her to forgive him。
He was not given time to reply。 With a mocking snort Griswold
interrupted。 Aline and Charles had entirely forgotten him。
〃An utter stranger！〃 mimicked Griswold。 〃Oh； yes； he's an utter
stranger！ You're pretty good actors； both of you； but you can't
keep that up long； and you'd better stop it now。〃
〃Stop what？〃 asked Miss Proctor。 Her tone was cold and calm； but
in her eyes was a strange light。 It should have warned Griswold
that he would have been safer under the bed。
〃Stop pretending！〃 cried Griswold。 〃I won't have it！〃
〃I don't understand；〃 said Miss Proctor。 She spoke in the same
cold voice； only now it had dropped several degrees nearer freezing。
〃I don't think you understand yourself。 You won't have what？〃
Griswold now was frightened； and that made him reckless。 Instead
of withdrawing he plunged deeper。
〃I won't have you two pretending you don't know each other；〃 he
blustered。 〃I won't stand being fooled！ If you're going to deceive
me before we're married； what will you do after we're married？〃
Charles emitted a howl。 It was made up of disgust； amazement； and
rage。 Fiercely he turned upon Miss Proctor。
〃Let me have him！〃 he begged。
〃No！〃 almost shouted Miss Proctor。 Her tone was no longer coldit
was volcanic。 Her eyes； flashing beautifully； were fixed upon Griswold。
She made a gesture as though to sweep Charles out of the room。
〃Please go！〃 she demanded。 〃This does not concern you。〃
Her tone was one not lightly to be disregarded。 Charles disregarded it。
〃It does concern me；〃 he said briskly。 〃Nobody can insult a woman
in my houseyou； least of all！〃 He turned upon the greatest catch
in America。 〃Griswold；〃 he said； 〃I never met this lady until I
came into this room； but I know her； understand her； value her
better than you'd understand her if you knew her a thousand
years！〃
Griswold allowed him to go no farther。
〃I know this much；〃 he roared： 〃she was in love with the man who
took those photographs； and that man was in love with her！ And
you're that man！〃
〃What if I am！〃 roared back Charles。 〃Men always have loved her；
men always willbecause she's a fine； big； wonderful woman！ You
can't see that； and you never will。 You insulted her！ Now I'll give
you time to apologize for that； and then I'll order you out of this
house！ And if Miss Proctor is the sort of girl I think she is； she'll
order you out of it； too！〃
Both men swung toward Miss Proctor。 Her eyes were now smiling
excitedly。 She first turned them upon Charles； blushing most
becomingly。
〃Miss Proctor；〃 she said； 〃hopes she is the sort of girl
Mr。 Cochran thinks she is。〃 She then turned upon the greatest
catch in America。 〃You needn't wait； Chester；〃 she said； 〃not
even to apologize。〃
Chester Griswold； alone in his car； was driven back to New York。
On the way he invented a story to explain why； at the eleventh
hour； he had jilted Aline Proctor； but when his thoughts reverted
to the young man he had seen working with his sleeves rolled up
he decided it would be safer to let Miss Proctor tell of the broken
engagement in her own way。
Charles would not consent to drive his fair guest back to New
York until she had first honored him with her presence at
luncheon。 It was served for two； on his veranda； under the
climbing honeysuckles。 During the luncheon he told her all。
Miss Proctor； in the light of his five years of devotion；
magnanimously forgave him。
〃Such a pretty house！〃 she exclaimed as they drove away from it。
〃When Griswold selected it for our honeymoon he showed his first
appreciation of what I really like。〃
〃It is still at your service！〃 said Charles。
Miss Proctor's eyes smiled with a strange light； but she did not
speak。 It was a happy ride； but when Charles left her at the door
of her apartment…house he regarded sadly and with regret the
bundle of retrieved photographs that she carried away。
〃What is it？〃 she asked kindly。
〃I'm thinking of going back to those empty frames；〃 said Charles；
and blushed deeply。 Miss Proctor blushed also。 With delighted
and guilty eyes she hastily scanned the photographs。 Snatching one
from the collection； she gave it to him and then ran up the steps。
In the light of the spring sunset the eyes of Charles devoured
the photograph of which； at last； he was the rightful owner。 On
it was written： 〃As long as this rock lasts！〃
As Charles walked to his car his expression was distinctly
thoughtful。
THE MEN OF ZANZIBAR
When his hunting trip in Uganda was over； Hemingway shipped his
specimens and weapons direct from Mombasa to New York； but he
himself journeyed south over the few miles that stretched to
Zanzibar。
On the outward trip the steamer had touched there； and the
little he saw of the place had so charmed him that all the time
he was on safari he promised himself he would not return home
without revisiting it。 On the morning he arrived he had called
upon Harris； his consul； to inquire about the hotel； and that
evening Harris had returned his call and introduced him at
the club。
One of the men there asked Hemingway what brought him to
Africa； and when he answered simply and truthfully that he h