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THAT ROYLE GIRL

approximately quarter to one upon the morning in question, together with his daughter Joan Daisy and Frederic Ketlar who were continuously in his company in the living-room of the apartment for three-quarters of an hour thereafter and that during this period the radio, tuned to Los Angeles, reproduced in entirety the song of "Home, Sweet Home," which was being sung in Los Angeles.

"In what condition were you when you arrived at your apartment?" challenged Calvin, soon after the start of the cross-examination.

"Pardon?" requested Dads politely.

"In what condition were you?" demanded Calvin, bluntly.

"Do you ask that pejoratively?" questioned Dads.

"What?" asked Calvin, before his wits warned him.

"Since it is plain that you are a preterist," replied Dads, "and a most pejorative preterist, I assume that your question is pejorative. Is that so?"

Calvin felt the eyes of every one upon him; and he knew he had encountered a prepared trap to make him ridiculous. He had no idea what the word pejorative might mean or what was a preterist. No one else in the room, except the witness and Elmen, knew. Not the jury, who sat up expectantly, ready to be amused and wholly without concern, since the weird words in no way challenged their educational qualifications. The judge also was ignorant of their meaning or whether, in fact, they possessed a meaning.

He looked at the state's attorney and waited.

"Answer my question, please," requested Calvin, uncomfortably.

"The witness has asked to have it explained," interposed Elmen, smoothly. "He has that right; is the question pejorative or not?"

"I do not know the meaning of the word," replied