in day before yesterday." Billings stared, for he did not know.

The chap grew more impudent. "Yah, see him turn red!"

"By Jove!" I exclaimed, warming up, you know. "Say, Billings, who the
devil is this fellow?" And I advanced angrily--dashed annoyed, you know.

Billings interposed. "My brother," he said quietly.

"Yes, his brother," almost shouted the other. Then he lowered his voice
at Billings' command: "And I say, you didn't tell Jack you were on the
train yesterday, posing as a 'Mr. Smith,' and that you insulted
Frances." He shook off his brother's hand angrily. "Oh, yes he
did--sister told me about it! I knew it was you when I got to thinking
about it this morning!" He panted for breath. "I can't call you a liar,
Lightnut, when you say I wasn't at your rooms, because you're a quicker
hitter than I am, and--" He looked around and shrugged. "And because we
are in this house. But you're an infernal hypocrite, and I want Jack to
know it." He laughed mockingly and faced his brother. "Ask your friend,
Mr. Lightnut, about that girl in black pajamas in his rooms!"

And he flung himself from the room with a Parthian shot: "Ask him to
tell you about her as he did me. Ask him who it _was_!"

Billings seemed to groan. "More black pajamas!" he muttered.

I faced him eagerly. "I never told him about her--I'll swear I didn't,"
I pleaded miserably. "You know all there is to know, Jack. I wouldn't
tell anybody in the world a thing like that. I--love her too well. Much
less would I go and tell her own brother."

"Wha-a-a-t?" Billings' fat body almost leaped into the air. "What the
devil--say, old chap, _what_ are you talking about?"

"And, besides, she's forgiven me," I persisted gloomily. "And I love
her--and--and we're going to be married--or I hope so, dash it!"

Billings stared at me with popping eyes for an instant. Then he lifted
my chin and looked at me anxiously. "Are you quite well, old man?" he
asked. "Headache, or anything like that? By George, it's from sitting
out in that sun without a hat. Marry my sister?" He wagged his head
lugubriously. "What--Elizabeth? Oh, good heavens!"

"No--Frances," I explained anxiously.

He stared. "Francis?" Then his arm led me out. "Come along, old chap,"
he said with an air of concern. "We'll get a little ice--"

There was a bustle near the hall entrance, and I heard a commanding
voice I recognized as that of Judge Billings:

"Come right in, Colonel, and we will try to mak