ne_ business, 'champagny-vather an' cracked ice,' chimes
at midnight, won't go home till morning, all good fellows and the rest
of it. Edgington spoke to you about it, I s'pose?"

"Only in a general way," replied Amidon, wondering who and what
Edgington would turn out to be. "I don't know yet how my engagements
will be----"

"Oh, nothing must stand in the way of that, you know," the little man
went on. "Why, gad! the tenderest feelings of brotherly---- Oh, you
don't mean it! But I mustn't keep you. Bessie told me that the plans
for your house have come. She's got 'em over there, now. I say, old
man, I envy you your evening. Like two birds arranging the nest.
Sorry you can't come in; but, good night. And, say! Your little
strawberry blonde is in town! Wouldn't that jar you?"

"Heavens!" ejaculated Amidon. "How am I ever to get through with this?"

The genuine agony in Florian's tones fixed the attention of the little
man, and seemed to arouse some terrible suspicion.

"Why, 'Gene," said he, "you don't mean that there's anything in this
blonde matter, do you, that will---- By George! And she's a sister of
one of the most prominent A. O. C. M.'s of Pittsburg--and you remember
our solemn obligation!"

"No," said Amidon, "I don't!"

"What! You don't!"

"No!" said Florian. "I've forgotten it!"

"Forgotten it!" said his questioner, recoiling as if in horror.
"Forgotten it! And with the sister of the Past Sovereign Pontiff of
Pittsburg Lodge No. 863! I tell you, Brassfield, I don't believe it.
I prefer to think you're bughouse! Cracked! Out of your head! But,
'Gene," added his unknown brother, in a stage-whisper, "if there has
been anything between you and anything comes up, you know, Jim Alvord,
for one, knowing and understanding your temptations--for the strawberry
blondes are the very devil--will stand by you until the frost gathers
six inches deep on the very hinges of---- Say, Mary's coming in at the
side door. Good night! Keep a stiff upper lip; stay by Bess, and I'll
stay by you, obligation or no obligation. 'F. D. and B.', you know:
death, perhaps, but no desertion! So long! See you to-morrow."

And Amidon walked from the house of his unfamiliar chum, knowing that
his sweetheart but once seen was waiting in her unknown home for him to
come to her, and had as a basis for conversation the plans for their
house. He could imagine her with the blue-prints unrolled, examining
them wit