nd guide him through the perils and temptations of
boarding-school as though--as though he were his own brother. And
Nuisance knew! That was the worst of it,--Nuisance knew the thin tyrant
skein by which he held him irrevocably linked! Christmas was yet to come
and for what Christmas might hold Skippy possessed his soul in
patience.

Then the blow fell. A week later as Snorky Green was returning from the
village he perceived Dennis de Brian de Boru in a state of excitement
waving a newspaper at him from the porch.

"There must be another birth in the faculty," thought Snorky, puzzled to
ascribe an adequate reason. Such events, be it mentioned, were usually
attended by cuts and in the higher spheres with even a half holiday.

Finnegan rushed forward, dove at his knees and spilled him on the ground
joyously.

"Damn you, you mad Irishman," said Snorky picking himself up and
disentangling himself from the newspaper. "What's hit you anyway?"

"It's come, hooray!"

"What's come?"

"Skippy's free!"

Snorky, further mystified, seized Finnegan and having sufficiently
shaken him demanded an explanation.

"Eighth page, first column, ouch!" said Finnegan.

Snorky opened it and read:

MISS POTTERMAN TO MARRY
HAROLD B. DRINKWATER

At this moment the door opened and Skippy came heavily out.

"Have you seen it?" said Dennis breathlessly.

"Seen what?"

"The paper!"

"What's in the paper?"

Dennis glanced at Snorky and solemnly handed over the fatal
announcement. All levity had disappeared. A man's sorrow after all must
be sacred.

Skippy read and suddenly put down the paper. Only two things came to his
mind--wedding immediate and she had not even written him.

At this most auspicious moment, Nuisance came gamboling around the
house.

"Hi, Skippy, old sport, what ye doin'?"

Dennis de Brian de Boru looked at Snorky and then simultaneously each
sat down and retired into an expectant audience.

Nuisance frolicked enthusiastically up for his victim and then stopped.
He had just caught Skippy's expression. He stopped and suddenly looked
at the ground. He _knew_!

Slowly, carefully, warily with his eyes on Skippy he began a strategic
withdrawal. Skippy moved stealthily forward, picking up his steps as a
rat terrier does. Nuisance slunk away, calculating the distance to the
corner of the house. Skippy increased the pace, drawing ominously
nearer.

Then Finnegan'