invariable feminine exclamation.

Clara and Ethel-May always heard these remarks. They conducted
themselves with the poise and _savoir faire_ of grown women. Before they
were twelve they could "handle" servants, conduct polite conversations
in a correctly artificial accent, and adapt their manners to another's
station in life.

Charley Junior's development was sharply divided into two periods, with
the second of which alone we have to do. The first, briefly, was
repressive. He was not allowed to play with certain boys, he was not
permitted to stray beyond certain bounds, he was kept clean and
dressed-up, he was taught his manners. In short, Mrs. Gates
tried--without knowing what she was doing--to use the same formula on
him as she had on Ethel-May and Clara.

In the second period, he was a grief to his family. Roughly speaking,
this period commenced about the time he began to be known as "Chuck"
instead of Charley.

There was no real harm in the boy. He was high spirited, full of life,
strong as a horse, and curious. Possessed of the patrician haughty good
looks we breed so easily from shirtsleeves, free with his money, known
as the son of his powerful father, a good boxer, knowing no fear, he
speedily became a familiar popular figure around town. It delighted him
to play the prince, either incognito or in person; to "blow off the
crowd," to battle joyously with longshoremen; to "rough house" the
semi-respectable restaurants. The Barbary Coast knew him, Taits,
Zinkands, the Poodle Dog, the Cliff House, Franks, and many other
resorts not to be spoken of so openly. He even got into the police
courts once or twice; and nonchalantly paid a fine, with a joke at the
judge and a tip to the policeman who had arrested him. There was too
much drinking, too much gambling, too loose a companionship, altogether
too much spending; but in this case the life was redeemed from its usual
significance by a fantastic spirit of play, a generosity of soul, a
regard for the unfortunate, a courtliness toward all the world, a
refusal to believe in meanness or sordidness or cruelty. Chuck Gates was
inbred with the spirit of _noblesse oblige_.

As soon as motor cars came in Chuck had the raciest possible. With it he
managed to frighten a good many people half out of their wits. He had no
accidents, partly because he was a very good heady driver, and partly
because those whom he encountered were quick witted. One day while
touring in the so