t Wilkesbarre, only last fall; and just before that he got
everybody at the Springs to thinking I was Tascott, and induced a rural
constable to take me into custody. Why, Alvord here in his worst
estate hasn't been as bad as he's been. If he's lost any opportunity,
I don't remember it; and, of course, I've got back once in a while, and
may be about even. But everything has been good-natured and brotherly,
as ought to be between members of the gang. _And_, of course, when the
cannon-crackers began to go off that night, I knew he was doing it. I
was over in Major Pumphrey's parlor, where Daisy had invited me, during
the eruption, and I told her about these things, and wished for some
way of getting even, and--and some one spoke of this breach of promise
suit, and we--that is, I--got up the summons, and I told Ed Tootle to
serve it on you at your orgy--you had no business to expect me to enter
any free-for-all inebriates' competition--you know that, 'Gene! It may
have been a little extreme as a joke; but if you'd laughed it off as
you always do, nobody would have thought anything of it except to chaff
you about it. But what do you do? You make as serious a thing of it
as if you hadn't been trotting with our crowd for five years or so.
You set this old--my learned friend from the West--briefing it up, and
you make a fool of me. Worse than that, you place Daisy in a most
objectionable position; and, by George, 'Gene, I claim the apology is
due from you, to me and Daisy!"

That he, Florian Amidon, had ever been guilty of playing such pranks as
the ones described by Mr. Cox, seemed incredible; but his sense of
relief at the way his burden rolled away in the light of Cox's
indignant apology overcame all other sensations. He sprang forward to
offer his hand cordially to Mr. Cox.

"I agree with you!" said he. "I do owe you an apology, and I freely
offer it. As for the offense I have given Miss Scarlett, I can only
say that I have had a very strange mental experience lately, of which
my friends here can tell you, or I should never have--never have taken
the matter--as I did. I beg you both to forgive me!"

"'Gene," said Miss Scarlett, offering her hand, "I'm too game a sport
to go mourning because I lost out, and you ought to have known--I
declare, I believe you've been crazy! I told Billy--Billy and I are
engaged, now, and are really going to be married--I told Billy how,
when we were at the watering-place, I insi