Martha noted that the soft black eyes were glowing,
and that she had not seen Ellen appear more alive and interested since
the days before trouble came to her. "Do you imagine we fought a battle
over our shopping?" she asked, her lips curving with merriment.

"But you don't tell me. I'm anxious to know whether we shall see the boy
dressed according to Red's ideas or yours."

"We agreed beautifully on nearly all points of his dressing. Where we
differed, we--compromised."

"Red never compromises with anybody, so I suppose it was done by your
giving in?"

"He never compromises? You do him injustice. He can compromise
royally--by the same method of 'giving in.'"

"I simply can't believe it," murmured Martha, shaking her head.

CHAPTER V. IN WHICH HE IS ROUGH ON A FRIEND

"RED."

"Yes?"

"Are you through with that rabble? Can you 'tend to a friend?"

Redfield Pepper Burns wheeled around in his revolving chair and glanced
sharply at Arthur Chester. What he saw made him follow the moment's
inspection with a direct question.

"Sit down. What have you been doing?"

Chester sat down. His face was white. He held up one shaking hand. "Red,
what's the matter with me?"

Burns continued to study the man before him. He made no move to examine
into his condition, just looked steadily into the other's face with a
gaze before which his patient presently shifted uneasily.

"Well, of all the ways to treat a fellow!" He tried to laugh. "Is that
the way you do with the rest of the bunch that come to you every day? Or
are you trying to hypnotize me?"

"Look me in the eye, Ches. What have you been doing?"

"Working like a fiend in that infernal office. If there's any hotter
place--"

"There'll be a hotter one for you right on this earth, if you keep on
the way you're going."

He rose suddenly, and approaching Chester closely, looked intently into
the uplifted eyes. He sat down again. "Own up!" he commanded bluntly.

"Red," begged Chester, "quit this sort of thing. Go at me in the usual
way. I--I think I'm a bit nervous tonight. I can't stand your gun-fire."

"All right. When did you begin?"

"Five weeks ago when you were away. I didn't mean to get into it, Red,
on my word I didn't, after all you've warned me. But it was so beastly
hot--and there was a lot of extra work at the office. My head got to
going it night and day. I--say"--he leaned suddenly forward, has head
on his hands--"I can tell you better if y