nd and exact proper
satisfaction in some form or other--by blows very likely if his honor
had been in any way impugned. "What is it he says about my sister? What
right has he to mention her name here, anyhow? He doesn't know her."

Pethick affected to be greatly concerned lest he cause trouble between
Callum and Hibbs. He protested that he did not want to, when, in
reality, he was dying to tell. At last he came out with, "Why, he's
circulated the yarn that your sister had something to do with this man
Cowperwood, who was tried here recently, and that that's why he's just
gone to prison."

"What's that?" exclaimed Callum, losing the make-believe of the
unimportant, and taking on the serious mien of some one who feels
desperately. "He says that, does he? Where is he? I want to see if he'll
say that to me."

Some of the stern fighting ability of his father showed in his slender,
rather refined young face.

"Now, Callum," insisted Pethick, realizing the genuine storm he had
raised, and being a little fearful of the result, "do be careful what
you say. You mustn't have a row in here. You know it's against the
rules. Besides he may be drunk. It's just some foolish talk he's heard,
I'm sure. Now, for goodness' sake, don't get so excited." Pethick,
having evoked the storm, was not a little nervous as to its results in
his own case. He, too, as well as Callum, himself as the tale-bearer,
might now be involved.

But Callum by now was not so easily restrained. His face was quite
pale, and he was moving toward the old English grill-room, where Hibbs
happened to be, consuming a brandy-and-soda with a friend of about his
own age. Callum entered and called him.

"Oh, Hibbs!" he said.

Hibbs, hearing his voice and seeing him in the door, arose and came
over. He was an interesting youth of the collegiate type, educated
at Princeton. He had heard the rumor concerning Aileen from various
sources--other members of the club, for one--and had ventured to repeat
it in Pethick's presence.

"What's that you were just saying about my sister?" asked Callum,
grimly, looking Hibbs in the eye.

"Why--I--" hesitated Hibbs, who sensed trouble and was eager to
avoid it. He was not exceptionally brave and looked it. His hair was
straw-colored, his eyes blue, and his cheeks pink. "Why--nothing in
particular. Who said I was talking about her?" He looked at Pethick,
whom he knew to be the tale-bearer, and the latter exclaimed, excitedly:

"No