te, as would be proper. If the
women hadn't been there and akin to him, I'd have throwed it down."

John had turned to the bureau for a handkerchief. He was angry, but more
at himself than his gentle companion.

"It is all poppycock," he said, suddenly. "I'm astonished, Sam, to hear
you say such fool things--you, a man of your age and trade. I thought
you was a plain, sensible man. Why, you are trying to be a dude."

Nevertheless, as the old man sat silent, John made up his mind that the
advice was worth heeding and he forced a smile.

"All right, Sam," he said; "I'll remember next time. I'm new at this
game."

"I thought you'd take it sensible," Cavanaugh said, in relief. "Now
there is another little thing. It seems to me that, as you are going to
escort Tilly there, you oughtn't to be behind time. You know you always
had a bad memory, and it wouldn't look exactly right for you to keep her
sitting somewhere waiting on you. A man ought to be first on deck in a
jaunt like this."

"I was wondering about that." John stared eagerly. "She didn't say what
time we'd leave the house. Do you suppose she'd want to start now?"

"I don't know, but I'll tell you what we'll do to be on the safe side.
Let's go down in the yard and set about. I've got two cigars. You take
one and I'll take one and we'll smoke till something turns up."

They went down the stairs and out into the yard. They saw no one about
the house and they took chairs under the trees near the fence. They had
hardly seated themselves when a horse and buggy stopped at the gate. A
man and a woman sat in the buggy. Giving the reins to his companion, the
man sprang down and came in at the gate. In the light of the rising moon
John saw that it was Joel Eperson.

"Good evening," the young farmer said to John. "Is Miss Tilly about?"

John sat immovable. He turned his cigar over in his mouth and looked up
fiercely. "What are you asking _me_ for?" he snarled. "I'm not keeping
the door."

"I beg your pardon;" Joel said, in a startled tone. "I meant no harm. My
sister and I came by to see if she'd like to go to a party over at my
cousin's house."

John made no reply. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, and
pulled at his cigar. Cavanaugh saw that he was in a rage and rose to his
feet.

"I believe Miss Tilly is getting ready now," he explained, mildly. "She
is going with my young friend here, I understand; but, of course, if you
and your sister want to see h