per perthon for you to be with."

"Couldn't I help him?" said Skippy craftily. "We should always try to
help, shouldn't we?"

"You would have to be vewy vewy stwong for that, wouldn't you?"

"Yes, of course," said Skippy, with his mind on the delicate arch of
Miss Tupper's little foot.

Miss Tupper, who was expectantly set for an interesting confession, was
somewhat disappointed at the lengthy delay.

"I'm afwaid your pawenth gave you too much money," she said finally. "It
ith tho often that, ithn't it?"

There were some things that were too much even for Skippy's imagination.
In the present case it absolutely refused to follow such a lead.

"No, it wasn't that," he said slowly. After all it is only the first one
hundred thousand lies that are difficult. Skippy's hesitation was brief.
He remembered the episode of the fictitious Tina Tanner that had so
often served him in delicate moments.

"I almost made a wreck of my life," he began, frowning terrifically.

"Tell me," said Miss Tupper eagerly.

"She wasn't a bad sort; only,--well stage life is different."

"Stage life! You mean--"

"She was an actress," said Skippy nodding.

"But how--"

"I ran away from home. They never understood me. Family fight. Swore I'd
never set foot in the old house again. Cut for the West. You get to see
a rough side of life like that you know, mining camps, mule drivers,
lumber men. Good sorts," he added reflectively, "but wild, very wild.
You couldn't understand."

"But your father and mother?" said Miss Tupper, wide-eyed and thoroughly
thrilled.

"I'd rather not say anything against them," said Skippy magnanimously.

"Poor boy!"

"I've kept pretty straight considering," said Skippy, who did not wish
to paint the picture too black.

"And the girl?" said Miss Tupper, who could not restrain a perfectly
feminine curiosity.

"Tina? She wanted me to go on the stage with her," said Skippy, who had
now told the story a sufficient number of times to begin to believe in
it. "It was touch and go. Well, I didn't. That's all."

"What a dweadful thide of life you've theen," said Miss Tupper,
appalled. "At your age, too!"

"I say, I never expected to tell any one this."

"But aren't you glad you did? Don't you feel better now that you've
told the twuth!" said Miss Tupper enthusiastically.

Skippy thought this over and acknowledged finally that confession was a
relief.

"Now pwomise never, never to gamble, smoke, or dwink.