ing to the sick boy on the bed, he
remarked, "Red, you needn't let this--this gab of ours bother you.
This is home talk between a couple of boobs who're burying their
illusions in the grave. You didn't leave a sister or a lot of old
schoolgirl sweethearts behind to----"

"What the hell do you know about whom I left behind?" retorted Red,
with a swift blaze of strange passion.

"Oh, say, Red--I--I beg your pardon, I was only kidding," responded
Blair, in surprise and contrition. "You never told me a word about
yourself."

For answer Red Payson rolled over wearily and turned his back.

"Blair, I'll beat it, and let Red go to sleep," said Lane, taking up
his hat. "Red, good-bye this time. I hope you'll be better soon."

"I'm--sorry, Lane," came in muffled tones from Payson.

"Cut that out, boy. You've nothing to be sorry for. Forget it and
cheer up."

Blair hobbled downstairs after Lane. "Don't go just yet, Dare."

They found seats in the parlor that appeared to be the same shabby
genteel place where Lane had used to call upon Blair's sister.

"What ails Red?" queried Lane, bluntly.

"Lord only knows. He's a queer duck. Once in a while he lets out a
crack like that. There's a lot to Red."

"Blair, his heart is broken," said Lane, tragically.

"Well!" exclaimed Blair, with quick almost haughty uplift of head. He
seemed to resent Lane's surprise and intimation. It was a rebuke that
made Lane shrink.

"I never thought of Red's being hurt--you know--or as having lost....
Oh, he just seemed like so many other boys ruined in health. I----"

"All right. Cut the sentiment," interrupted Blair. "The fact is Red is
more of a problem than we had any idea he'd be.... And Dare, listen to
this--I'm ashamed to have to tell you. Mother raised old Harry with me
this morning for fetching Red home. She couldn't see it my way. She
said there were hospitals for sick soldiers who hadn't homes. I lost
my temper and I said: 'The hell of it, mother, is that there's nothing
of the kind.' ... She said we couldn't keep him here. I tried to coax
her.... Margie helped, but nothing doing."

Blair had spoken hurriedly with again a stain of red in his white
cheek, and a break in his voice.

"That's--tough," replied Lane, haltingly. He could choke back speech,
but not the something in his voice he would rather not have heard.
"I'll tell you what. As soon as Red is well enough we'll move him over
to my house. I'm sure mother will let him