The Challenge of the North | Page 6

coat," she repeated. "What kind of a coat do I want, Oskar?
I want to try on lots of them. I don't know a thing in the world about
furs. All I know is that I've seen some I liked, and some that I didn't
care much for."
For half an hour Jean tried on coats, until her choice had narrowed
down to a handsome dark baum marten, and a shimmery gray squirrel.
"I think they're both lovely, and I can't quite make up my mind," she
said at last, in a tone of mock despair. "It's worse than picking out
toboggan caps. I just helped Mr. Wentworth select one--and, oh, by the
way, I believe dad is going to find a place for him."
"For who?" asked Hedin, and Jean noticed tiny wrinkles gather
between his eyes.
"Why, for Mr. Wentworth, of course. You see, I told dad that he'd just
lost his position with that old Nettle River thing they were trying to put
through, and Dad said if he was a civil engineer, and out of a job, to tell
him to drop in and see him, so I took him in and introduced him and I
guess they're still talking."
"Humph," grunted Hedin.
"You don't need to be so grumpy about it. Mr. Wentworth is awfully
nice, and all the girls are crazy about him."

"I don't think that gives you any call to rave much over him when it
was Fred Orcutt that brought him here, and he brought him for no other
purpose than to knife your father," replied Hedin dryly.
Jean laughed. "You take Dad too seriously. He really believes Mr.
Orcutt has it in for him, and he sees an ulterior motive in everything he
does in a business way. But, really, the Orcutts are all right. There was
some business deal, years and years ago, in which Dad fancied Mr.
Orcutt tried to get the best of him, and he has never forgotten it. You
see, Dad is the dearest thing that ever lived, but he is sort of crusty, and
it isn't everybody that knows how to take him. Why, Mr. and Mrs.
Orcutt are going to be at dinner this evening, and are going to the
theatre, too. They know it is my birthday party, so that doesn't look as
though they were such fierce enemies of the McNabbs, does it?
"Let's get back to the subject of coats. This squirrel is beautiful, but I
believe I like the dark fur the better. I think I'll try that marten again."
Hedin was thinking rapidly. He had known from the first that the
darker fur was the fur for her, yet he had refrained from making any
direct suggestion.
"Just a moment, please," he said. "Won't you button that coat once
more, I want to get an artificial light effect." As he spoke, he moved
toward the windows and drew the shades. Returning in the gloom, he
reached swiftly into the fur safe and withdrew the Russian sable coat
which he deftly deposited on top of the marten coat that lay with
several others upon a nearby table. As the girl turned from the glass, he
switched on the light.
"All right," he said, a moment later. "If you care to try on the marten
again, we'll see how that shows up under the artificial." Deftly he lifted
the squirrel from her shoulders, and, picking up the Russian sable, held
it while she slipped her arms into the sleeves. As she buttoned it, he
stepped back, and viewed the result through critically puckered eyes.
With an effort he refrained from voicing his enchantment with the
living picture before him. Old John was right--it was a coat fit for a
queen!

"I like this one best. I'll take it."
Hedin agreed. "I think you have chosen wisely," he answered, adding,
as she started to loosen the garment at the throat, "Just a minute--the set
of the collar in the back----" He stepped behind her, raised the collar a
trifle with his fingers, smoothed it into place, and stepped aside to note
the effect. "Just a trifle low," he said, "but it's too late to have it altered
to-day."
"Oh, bother! I think the set is all right. Who would ever notice it? Let it
go."
Hedin smiled. "You can wear it to-night, all right, but you must
promise me to send it down the first thing Monday morning for the
alteration.
"I will bring it to the house this afternoon."
A sudden caprice seized her. "Why, I think I'll wear it!" she answered.
"Just help me on with it, Oskar. And thank you so much for helping me
select it. Here comes Mr. Wentworth, now. I wonder whether he will
like it. I'm