mark in his preparatory school and college in several
lines of athletics. But a boy in his position would scarcely become a
professional baseball player or pull an oar for a living. To tell the
truth, Tom had never shown much aptitude for his father's business. Dry
goods did not interest him.

Yet when he had come home after the armistice Ruth thought he was going
to buckle right down to business with Mr. Cameron's firm. There seemed to
be a super-abundant supply of energy in Tom that had to be worked off.
And Ruth thought it would be worked off properly under the yoke of
business. Besides, Mr. Cameron was getting no younger, and he ought to
have the support of his only son in business affairs.

But the last winter, since Ruth and the Cameron twins had returned from
the Northwest, things had not gone with Tom quite as the girl of the Red
Mill would have chosen.

Yet she felt that it was not really her business to interfere. Indeed,
she did not purpose to interfere. If she undertook to advise Tom it would
please him only too well--that she knew, of course.

For Tom considered Ruth quite as much his property as Helen--only in a
slightly different way. And if Ruth showed in any manner that she
considered Tom her property--well, it would be all off, to use one of
Helen's favorite expressions.

There was no engagement between Ruth and Tom--not even a tacitly
recognized one. In times of stress and need Tom had proved himself to be
a very good friend indeed, and Ruth fully appreciated this. But during
this past winter he had been somewhat spoiled--or so the girl thought.

In the first place, Helen was determined to make a hero of her handsome
brother. Captain Cameron was pushed to the fore by his sister in every
possible way and manner. Helen had many gay friends in New York--she had
met them through the Stones, for Helen had often been with Jennie when
Ruth was elsewhere and more seriously engaged.

Naturally Tom had been one with his sister in gay parties, dances,
theater groups, supper crowds, and all the rest. Business had gone by the
board with Tom; and before Ruth realized it the young returned soldier
had lapsed into a butterfly existence that busy Ruth did not approve.
Especially, did she believe, was such an aimless life bad for Tom
Cameron.

She met him in the living room of the bungalow, however, with her usual
warmth; perhaps "lack of warmth" would be the better expression. For
although Ruth was always qu