lege, whom he--Professor Vincent Burgess, A.B., from
Harvard--had escorted home. How cheap Kansas was making him. The boys
and girls had taken Dennie as one of them today; and truly, she did add
to the comfort and pleasure of the outing. It seemed all right down in
the woods where all was unconventional. But now, alone, in how common a
grade he seemed to have placed himself, to be forced to pay attention to
the poorest girl in school. His cheeks grew hot at the very thought of
it.

In the shadows, beyond him, a form straightened up stupidly:

"Shay, Profesh Burgush, that you?"

Dennie's father, half-drunken still! Oh, Shades of classic culture! To
what depths in social contact may a college man fall in this wretched
land!

"Shay! Is't you, or ain't it you? You gonna tell me?" Old Bond queried.

"This is Vincent Burgess," the young man replied.

"Dennie home?" the father asked.

"Yes, sir," came the curt answer.

"Who? Who bring her home? Vic Burleigh?"

"I brought her home. She is a good girl, too."

In spite of himself, Burgess resented the shame of such a father for the
capable, happy-spirited daughter.

"Yesh, Dennie's good girl, all right."

Then a silence fell.

Presently, the old man spoke again.

"Shay, Prof esh, 'd ye mind doin' somethin' for me?"

"What is it?" Burgess was by nature courteous.

"If anything sh'd ever happen to me, 'd you take care of Dennie? Shay,
would you?"

"If I could do anything for her, I would do it," the young man replied.

"Somethin' gonna happen to me. I ain't shafe. I know I'll go that way.
But you'll be good to Dennie. Now, wouldn't you? I'd ask Funnybone, but
he's no shafer 'n I am. No shafer! You'll be good to Dennie, you said
so. Shay it again!"

Bond was standing now bending threateningly toward Burgess, who had also
risen.

"I'll do all that a gentleman ought to do." He had only one thought--to
pacify the drunken man and get away. And the old man understood.

"Shwear it, I tell you! Lif' up your right hand an'--an' shwear to take
care of Dennie, or I'll kill you!" Bond insisted.

He was a large, muscular man, towering over the slender young professor
like a very giant, and in his eyes there was a cruel gleam. Vincent
Burgess was at the limit of mental resistance. Lifting his shapely right
hand in the shadowy light, he said wearily:

"I swear it!"

"One more question, and you may go. You know that little boy Vic
Burleigh takes care of here?"

Th