got to--"

"It wasn't because of any such reason," young Mr. Watson protested. "I
asked her for mine two days ago."

"Well, THAT wasn't fair, was it?" William cried. "Just because I never
thought of sneaking in ahead like that, you go and--"

"Well, you ought to thought of it," Johnnie retorted, jerking his arm
free of William's grasp. "I can't stand here GABBIN' all night!" And he
hurried away.

"Joe," William began, fastening more securely upon Mr. Bullitt--"Joe,
I've done a good many favors for you, and--"

"I've got to see a man," Mr. Bullitt interrupted. "Lemme go, Silly Bill.
There's some body I got to see right away before the next dance begins.
I GOT to! Honest I have!"

William seized him passionately by the lapels of his coat. "Listen, Joe.
For goodness' sake can't you listen a MINUTE? You GOT to give me--"

"Honest, Bill," his friend expostulated, backing away as forcefully as
possible, "I got to find a fellow that's here to-night and ask him about
something important before--"

"Ye gods! Can't you wait a MINUTE?" William cried, keeping his grip upon
Joe's lapels. "You GOT to give me anyway TWO out of all your dances with
her! You heard her tell me, yourself, that she'd be willing if you or
Johnnie or--"

"Well, I only got five or six with her, and a couple extras. Johnnie's
got seven. Whyn't you go after Johnnie? I bet he'd help you out, all
right, if you kept after him. What you want to pester ME for, Bill?"

The brutal selfishness of this speech, as well as its cold-blooded
insincerity, produced in William the impulse to smite. Fortunately, his
only hope lay in persuasion, and after a momentary struggle with his own
features he was able to conceal what he desired to do to Joe's.

He swallowed, and, increasing the affectionate desperation of his clutch
upon Mr. Bullitt's lapels, "Joe," he began, huskily--"Joe, if _I_'d got
six reg'lar and two extras with Miss Pratt her last night here, and you
got here late, and it wasn't your fault--I couldn't help being late,
could I? It wasn't my fault I was late, I guess, was it? Well, if I
was in YOUR place I wouldn't act the way you and Johnnie do--not in a
thousand years I wouldn't! I'd say, 'You want a couple o' my dances with
Miss Pratt, ole man? Why, CERTAINLY--'"

"Yes, you would!" was the cynical comment of Mr. Bullitt, whose averted
face and reluctant shoulders indicated a strong desire to conclude the
interview. "To-night, especially!" he added.