' say that?"

"I--implied it--as gracefully as I could."

"Ah! graze'--the h-only way to write those fellow, tha'z with the big
stick! 'Wire h-answer!'"

Beloiseau lifted a finger: "I don' think thad way. Firz' place, big
stick or no, that hiztorie is sure to be accept'."

M. De l'Isle let out a roar that seemed to tear the lining from his
throat: "Aw-w-w! tha'z not to compel the agceptanze; tha'z to scare
them from stealing it! And to privend that, there's another thing you
want to infer them: that you billong to the Louisiana Branch of the
Authors' Protegtive H-union! Ah, doubtlezz you don't--billong; but all
the same you can infer them!"

Beloiseau's response crowded Chester's out: "Well, they are maybe
important, those stratagem'; but to me the chieve danger is if maybe
_that_ editor shou'n' have the sagacitie--artiztic--commercial--to
perceive the brilliancy of thad story."

"Never mine! in any'ow two days we'll know. Scipion! The day avter
those two, tha'z a pewblic holiday--everything shut!"

"Yes, well?"

"If that news come, 'accepted,' all of us we'll be so please' that
we'll be compel to egsprezz that in a joy-ride! and even if 'rifused,'
we'll need that joy-ride to swallow the indignation."

"Ah! but with whose mash-in', so it won't put uz in bankrup'cy?"

"With two mash-in'--the two of Thorndyke-Smith! He's offer' to borrow
me those whiles he's going to be accrozz the lake. You'll drive the
large, me the small."

"Hah! Tha'z a gran' scheme. At the en', dinner at Antoine', all the
men chipping in! Castanado--Dubroca--me--Mr. Chezter, eh?"

"With the greatest pleasure if I'm included."

"Include'--hoh! By the laws of nature!" M. De l'Isle went on up-stairs.

"We had a dinner like that," Beloiseau said, "only withoud the joy-ride
and withoud those three Mlles. Chapdelaine, juz' a few week' biffo' we
make' yo' acquaintanze. That was to celebrade that great victory in
France and same time the news of savety of our four boys ad the front."

Chester stood astounded. "What four boys?"

"You di'n' know abboud those? Ah, well, tha'z maybe biccause we don'
speak of them biffo' those ladies Chapdelaine. An' still tha'z droll
you di'n' know that, but tha'z maybe biccause each one he's think
another he's tol' you, and biccause tha'z not a prettie cheerful
subjec', eh? Yes, they are two son' of Dubroca and Castanado,
soldier', and two of De l'Isle and me, aviateur'."

"And up to a few w