and you're drunk."

"No such thing! I couldn't haul a whole bunch of girls up here alone,
could I, if I'm drunk! Could I, now? I wish there wasn't any such a
being in the world as a woman.... They bring heaps of trouble on us poor
men."

Saying this, Swipes tumbled into bed, and sank into a stupor.

* * * * *

The cry of "Fire!" rang out upon the night air, startling Dan Jordan and
Teola Graves. The volunteer fire companies were gathering from all parts
of the town, and Dan stepped on to the Rectory veranda as a hose-cart
rolled by. In an instant he was back in the drawing-room.

"Sweetheart, sweetheart," said he, with a strangling kiss upon Teola's
pale lips, "I am sure it's our fraternity house. I must go, dear. I
must, I must!"

He pressed her to him again, bounded through the door and was gone.

"Dan! Dan!" exclaimed Teola. "Dan, come back! I have something to tell
you ... I'm so--afraid--so afraid!"

* * * * *

Teola stood watching the yellow flames kiss the sky. The whole campus
gleamed under the lurid glare of the fraternity fire; the light in the
heavens told her that it was no ordinary conflagration.

Until the day of her death she would not forget that night. She was
longing to hear one word from Dan or Frederick. Her world seemed charged
with hideous forces hitherto unfelt. Teola sickened, and waited. If Dan
would only come back!

* * * * *

The very moment after he had fallen asleep, it seemed to Swipes, Shorts
was pulling him out of bed, and the room was full of smoke. Spuddy was
sleeping in the next chamber, and the first sound came to him in a
haze-like dream. He thought he heard a roar of thunder, and rain
descending upon the roof. Never mind. He was safe in bed, and had just
escaped expulsion from his fraternity. As he rubbed his aching head, a
dazed resolution took form in his brain. He would never get drunk
again--never--never! Then the fumes of the wine brought visions of
bright-colored dresses, of pretty faces and tender loving arms, such as
his father had told him to beware of. He would toss such joys from him,
if it brought him--Spuddy groaned, turned in bed, and tried to wake up.
But to wake up was to realize his disgrace. He groaned again, a sharp
pain ripping through his head. He heard the sound of voices--he was
dreaming, of course; the wine floated fantastic visions again through
his m