ow bitter all this was until it
struck home to me--by striking home to some one who is loved by the
girl--I love."

The trip downtown was more tiring than he had expected. The stimulus
of his exciting evening was now wearing off, and Bob went direct to the
station house to be handy for the duty which began early in the day.
It was not yet dawn, but the rattling milk carts, the stirring of
trucks and the early stragglers of morning workers gave evidence that
the sun would soon be out upon his daily travels.

The day passed without more excitement than usual. Bob took his turn
after a short nap in the dormitory room of the station house. During
his relief he rested up again. When he was preparing to start out
again upon patrol a letter was handed him by the captain.

"Here, Burke, a little message from your best girl, I suppose," smiled
his superior.

Bob took it, and as he opened it again he felt that curious thrill
which had been aroused in him by the winsome charm of Mary Barton. It
was a brief note which she had mailed that morning on her way to work.

"DEAR MR. BURKE--Everything was all right after all our worry. Lorna
is heartily repentant, and thinks that she had to be brought home by
one of her 'friends' (?). She has promised never to go with them
again, and, aside from a bad headache to-day, she is no worse for her
folly. Father knows nothing, and, dear soul, I feel that it is better
so. I can never thank you enough. I hope to see you soon.

"Cordially,
"MARY."

Bob folded the note and tucked it into his breast pocket. The captain
had been watching him with shrewd interest, and presently he
intercepted: "Ah, now, I guessed right. Why, Bobbie Burke, you're even
blushing like a schoolgirl over her first beau."

Burke was just a trifle resentful under the sharp look of the captain's
gray eyes; but the unmistakable friendliness of the officer's face
drove away all feeling.

"I envy you, my boy. I am not making fun of you," said the captain,
with keen understanding.

"Thank you, Cap," said Bob quietly. "You guessed right both times.
It's my first sweetheart."

He buttoned his coat and started for the door.

"You'd better step around to Doc MacFarland's on your rounds this
evening and let him look you over. It won't take but a minute, and I
don't expect him around the station. You're not on peg-post to-night,
so you can do it."

"All right, Cap."

Burke saluted and left the