n' tell
her you got me drunk," he concluded with a radiant smile.

Rex considered. There seemed to be enough method in Strong's madness to
justify the belief that he had an engagement. If so, he must by all
means wait and trust to luck to pick out the "lovely blue-eyed girlie"
who was the "party of the other part," and hope for an inspiration as to
what to tell her. She might be with or without a chaperone, she might be
any variety of the species, but Strong seemed to be quite clear that she
had blue eyes.

The crowd from the incoming boat began to unload into the ferry-house,
and Rex placed himself anxiously by the entrance. Three or four thin men
scurried in advance, then a bunch of stout and middle-aged persons
straggled along puffing. Then came a set of young people in theater
array, chattering and laughing as they hurried, and another set, and
another--the main body of the little army was upon him. Rex scanned
them for a girl alone or a girl with her mother. Ah! here she was--this
must be Strong's "blue-eyed girlie." She was alone and pretty, a little
under-bred and blond. Rex lifted his hat.

"I beg your pardon," he said, in his most winning way; "are you waiting
for Mr. Strong?"

The girl threw up her head and looked frightened, and then angry.

"No, I am not," she said, and then, with a haughty look, "I call you
pretty saucy," and Rex was left mortified and silent, while a passing
man murmured, "Served you right," and a woman laughed scornfully. He
stalked across to the tranquil form on the truck.

"Billy," he said, and shook a massive shoulder. "Wake up. Tell me that
girl's name."

Strong opened his eyes like a baby waked from dewy sleep. "Wha's that,
Recky--dear old Recky--bes' fren'----"

"Cut that out," said Rex, sharply. "Tell me the name of the girl you're
waiting here to meet," and he laughed a short bitter laugh. The girl
whom "Billy" was waiting to meet! Rex was getting tired and hungry.

Strong smiled a gentle, obstinate, tipsy smile and shook his head. "No,
Recky, dear ol' fren'--bes' fren'--well, nev' min'. Can't tell girl's
name; tha's her secret."

"Don't be an ass, Billy--quick, now, tell me the name."

"Naughty, naughty!" quoted Billy again, and waggled his forefinger.
"Danger hell fire! Couldn' tell girl's name, Recky--be dishon'able.
Couldn', no, couldn'. Anythin' else--ask m' anythin' else in all these
wide worlds"--and he struck his breast with fervor. "Tell you
_anythin'_, Reck