roke the spell. Hurdling the back of the
berth he descended upon the startled McCarthy, who seemed dazed and
bewildered by the outburst and the pattering applause that it started.

"Yeh, Bo," yelled Swanson, giving his diamond war cry. "Yeh, Bo,
you're a bear. Hey, you folks, throw Maddy out of the window and make
room for this red-headed Caruso. Why didn't you tell me you could
sing? The quartette is filled at last!"

Flushed and laughing in his embarrassment, McCarthy was borne up the
aisle and deposited in the place of honor in the quartette.

Suddenly the scuffling and boisterous laughter ceased, and the players
drew aside, apologetically, to make room for an eager, bright-eyed
girl, whose face was flushed with pleasure, but who advanced toward
McCarthy without a trace of embarrassment. McCarthy, glancing at her,
recognized the girl who had directed him to Manager Clancy on the
evening of his first appearance in the Bear camp.

"I was coming to say good-night to father," she said quickly, "and I
heard you sing. I want to thank you."

She extended her hand and smiled. McCarthy stared at her in a
bewilderment. Some memory of long ago stirred within him. He recalled
in a flash where he had seen the face before; the face that had come
into his boyhood at one of its unhappiest hours. He had dreamed of the
face, and the memory of the kind brown eyes, filled with sympathetic
tenderness, never had left him. She was the same girl. He realized
suddenly that he was staring rudely and strove to stammer some reply to
her impulsive thanks.

"Oh, I say," he protested. "It was nothing--I wasn't thinking"----

"You sang it beautifully," she interrupted.

"The song is one of my favorites. I did not know Mr. Kennedy knew it."

"Used to sing it at home," said Kennedy, as if indifferent.

"Thank you," McCarthy stammered, partly recovering his poise. "It is
good of you to like it. I seldom sing at all. The song made me forget
where I was."

"You must sing for us," she said simply. "The boys will make you. I
am certain that after you feel more at home among us you will give us
that pleasure. Good-night--and thank you again."

The girl smiled and McCarthy, stuttering in his effort to reply,
managed to mutter good-night as she passed into the next car.

"It's a pink Kohinoor now," said the relentless Swanson, as he observed
the flushed face of the recruit. "All fussed up, isn't he?"

"Oh, cut it out," r