ot of the fictitious Tina but of the explanations which must have
taken place between his sister and Miss Lafontaine.

"A nice wreck you'd have made of your life, you big boob," said Snorky
taking up the photograph and smelling it curiously to see what perfume
an actress employed. "So her name's Tanner, eh?"

"Her stage name."

"You couldn't have married a woman like that."

"Not a word against her."

"Well, anyhow are you vaccinated?"

"Bitten, vaccinated and cured!"

* * * * *

Now when Skippy spoke thus from his heart it was in absolute faith,
without the slightest suspicion of the natural course which a habit
inevitably must take. A habit is after all but an acquired appetite, and
what appetite was ever begun with instant enjoyment! No inveterate
smoker ever appreciated his first cigar and the most persistent of
tipplers choked once over the first distasteful introduction to the
demon rum.

So be it recorded in this history of the sentimental progress of Skippy
Bedelle. The impulse which sends the boy back to a second trial of the
cigar that stretched him pale and nauseated on the ground, or leads him
to a new attempt at the alcoholic mixture which scorched his throat,
alone may explain how it came to pass that Skippy, after the first
disillusioning contact with the opposite sex in the person of Miss Mimi
Lafontaine, should in the first week of his summer vacation have fallen
under the despotism of Miss Dolly Travers.

There were, as will be seen, extenuating circumstances and perhaps
likewise much may be explained by the instinctive belief which is
implanted in mankind, that woman is twofold, and that the brunettes of
the species are less deadly than the blondes, or vice versa, according
to the first contact.

When Skippy Bedelle arrived for the long summer vacation at the family
home at Gates Harbor, he arrived with a fixed program which is here
detailed in the order of its importance.

1. To grow at least two inches and to acquire an added ten pounds in
weight.

2. To achieve this necessary progression towards his athletic ambitions,
to sleep at least fourteen hours of the day and to eat steadily and
consistently during the remaining ten.

3. To impress the governor with the necessity of increasing his
allowance.

4. To conceal from his mother the devastation of that portion of his
wardrobe which is not a matter of public display.

5. To reduce sisters No. 1 an