--there's a note for you in your bed.
I didn't expect you'd be back before I left."

"I'll bet you didn't, son!" said Tim grimly. "Now let me tell you
something, Don. You're acting like a baby, that's what you're doing!
It's all fine enough to say that you don't care what fellows say as long
as you don't hear it, but you don't mean it, Don. You would care. And so
would I. If you don't want them to think you a quitter, for the love of
mud don't run away like--like one!"

"I've thought of all that, Tim, but it's the only thing to do."

"The only thing to do, your grandmother! The thing to do is to stick
around and show folks that you're _not_ a quitter. Don't you see that
getting out is the one thing that'll make them believe Robey was right?"

"Oh, I dare say, but I've made up my mind, Tim. I'm going to get that
seven-one train, old man, and I'll have to beat it. If you want to walk
along to the station with me----"

"And carry your bag?" asked Tim sweetly. He turned the key in the lock
and then dropped it in his pocket. Don took a stride forward, but was
met by Tim's challenging frown. "There's no seven-one train for you
tonight, Donald," said Tim quietly, "nor any other night. Put your bag
down, old dear, and hang your overcoat back in the closet."

[Illustration: "Will you unlock that door?" Demanded Don angrily]

"Don't act like a silly ass," begged Don. "Put that key back and let me
out, Tim!"

"Yes, I will--like fun! The only way you'll get that key will be by
taking it out of my pocket, and by the time you do that the seven-one
train will be half-way to the city."

"Please, Tim! You're not acting like a good chum! Just you think----"

"That's just what I am acting like," returned Tim, stepping past the
other and switching on the lights. "And you'll acknowledge it tomorrow.
Just now you're sort of crazy in the head. I'll humour you as much as
possible, Donald, but not to the extent of letting you make a perfect
chump of yourself. Sit down and behave."

"Tim, I want that key," said Don sternly.

Tim shrugged. "Can't have it, Don, unless you fight for it. And I'm not
sure you'd get it then. Now look here----"

"You've no right to keep me here!"

"I don't give a hang whether I've got the right or not. You're going to
stay here."

"There are other trains," said Don coldly. "You can't keep that door
locked forever."

"I don't intend to try, but it'll stay locked until the last train
tonight has whist