this way he showed himself manly, and he commanded the
respect of enemies as well as friends.

Rattleton was ashamed of the language he had used after the departure of
Bloodgood, and he did not attempt to excuse himself further. He lay back
in his berth, looking sicker than ever.

"I'd give ten dollars for the privilege of helping Mr. Bloodgood out
with my foot!" hissed Jack Diamond. "Never saw anybody so fresh!"

"Oh, I've seen lots of people just like him," grunted Browning, getting
out a pipe and lighting it.

"Don't smoke, Bruce!" groaned Rattleton, as the steamer gave an
unusually heavy roll. "I'm sick enough now. That will make me worse."

"Oh, we'll open the port."

"Open the port!" laughed Frank. "And we just told Bloodgood we did not
drink."

"Port-hole, not port wine," said the big fellow, with a yawn. "We'll let
in some fresh air."

"We can't let in anything fresher than just went out," declared the
Virginian, as he flung open the round window that served to admit light
and air.

"There's something mighty queer about that fellow," said Frank. "Did you
notice the diamonds he was wearing, fellows?"

"Yes," said Bruce, beginning to puff away at his new briarwood. "Regular
eye-hitters they were."

"Who knows they were genuine?" asked Jack.

"Nobody here," admitted Frank. "It is impossible to distinguish some
fake stones from real diamonds, unless you examine them closely. But,
somehow, I have a fancy that those were genuine diamonds."

"What makes you think so?"

"I don't know just why I think so, but I do. Something tells me that for
all of his swagger Bloodgood is a fellow who would scorn to wear paste
diamonds."

"What do you make out of the fellow, anyway?" asked Bruce.

"I'm not able to size him up yet," admitted Frank. "I'm not certain
whether he came of a good family or a bad one, but I'm inclined to fancy
it was the former."

"I'd like to know why you think so?" from Jack. "He did not show very
good breeding."

"But there is a certain something about his face that makes me believe
he comes from a high-grade family. I think he has become lowered by
associating with bad companions."

"Well, I don't care who or what he is," declared Jack; "if he gets fresh
around me again, I'll crack him one for luck. I can't stand him for a
cent!"

"Better turn him over to me," murmured Bruce, dozily. "I'll sit on him."

"And he'll think he's under an elephant," laughed Merry. "Bruce cooked
M. M