come home to-morrow to stay, Uncle William.
Come, now let's go to dinner, please. Bertram's
hungry,'' she finished, with a bright smile.

There was a tense moment of silence. William
glanced at Bertram; Bertram returned the glance
--with interest.

``Er--ah--yes; well, we might go to dinner,''
stammered William, after a minute.

``Er--yes,'' agreed Bertram. And the three
fell into step together.



CHAPTER IV

``JUST LIKE BILLY''


Billy did not leave the Strata this time.
Before twenty-four hours had passed, the last
cherished fragment of Mr. William Henshaw's
possessions had been carefully carried down the
imposing steps of the Beacon Hill boarding-house
under the disapproving eyes of its bugle-adorned
mistress, who found herself now with a month's
advance rent and two vacant ``parlors'' on her
hands. Before another twenty-four hours had