by this time. I never back down; it isn't in the blood. And when all
is said, where's the harm in this escapade? I can see none. It may
not last the day through."

"I trust not,"--savagely.

"I am determined upon answering this letter in person and finding
out, if possible, what induced her to pay my fine. Jackass or not,
I'm going to see the thing through." Then he stretched an appealing
hand out toward me, and said wheedlingly: "Chuck, give me your word
to keep perfectly quiet. I'll drop you a line once in a while, just
to let you know how I stand. I shall be at the house to-night. I'll
find an excuse. I'm to go up North on a hunting expedition; a hurry
call. Do you catch on?"

"I shall never be able to look Nancy in the face," I declared. "Come,
Bob; forget it. It sounds merry enough, but my word for it, you'll
regret it inside of twenty-four hours. You are a graduate of the
proudest military school in the world, and you are going to make a
groom of yourself!"

"I've already done that and been locked up overnight. You are wasting
your breath, Chuck."

"Well, hang you for a jackass, sure enough! I promise; but if you get
into any such scrape as this, you needn't send for me. I refuse to
help you again."

"I can't exactly see that you did. Let's get out. Got a cigar in your
pocket? I am positively dying for a smoke."