ds if certain people don't mend their ways," threatened
Reddy, rising from his chair, determination in his eye.

"Take the cakes, Grace," entreated Hippy, hastily shoving the plate into
Grace's hand. "Nora, protect me. Don't let him get me. Please, mister, I
haven't any cakes. I gave them all to a poor, miserable beggar who--"

"Here, Reddy, you may have them," broke in Grace decisively. "It is bad
enough to have an unpleasant duty thrust upon one, but to be called
names!"

"I never did, never," protested Hippy. "It was a mere figure of speech.
Didn't you ever hear of one?"

"Not that kind, and you can't have the cakes, again," said Jessica
firmly. "Give them to me, Grace."

"Jessica always helps Reddy," grumbled Hippy. "Now, if Nora would only
stand up for me, we could manage this whole organization with one hand.
She is such a splendid fighter--"

"I'll never speak to you again, Hippy Wingate," declared Nora, turning
her back on him with a final air of dismissal.

"Gently, gently!" exclaimed Hippy, raising his hand in expostulation. "I
was about to say that you, Nora, are a splendid fighter"--he paused
significantly--"for the right. What can be more noble than to fight for
the right? Now, aren't you sorry you repudiated me? If you will say so
immediately I will overlook the other remark. But you must be quick.
Time and I won't wait a minute. Remember, I'm going away to-morrow."

"Good-bye," retorted Nora indifferently. "I'll see you again some day."

"'Forsaken, forsaken, forsaken am I,'" wailed Hippy, hopelessly out of
tune.

"Now, see what you've done," commented David Nesbit disgustedly.

"I'm truly sorry," apologized Nora. "Hippy, if you will stop singing,
I'll forgive you and allow you to sit beside me." She patted the
davenport invitingly.

"I thought you would," grinned Hippy, seating himself triumphantly
beside her. "I always gain my point by singing that song. It appeals to
people. It is so pathetic. They would give worlds to--"

"Have you stop it," supplemented Tom Gray.

"Yes," declared Hippy. "No, I don't mean 'yes' at all. Tom Gray is an
unfeeling monster. I refuse to say another word. I have subsided. Now,
may I have some more tea?"

Anne filled the stout young man's cup and handed it to him with a smile.
"What are you going to be when you grow up, Hippy?" she asked
mischievously.

"A brakeman," replied Hippy promptly. "I always did like to ride on
trains. That's why I am spending fou