h mine. After that she came--well, she came to help me again. And
after that--after that--"

"After that it just moved along kind of natural, eh? Um-hm, I see."

"Look here, Grandfather, I want you to understand that she is--is--by
George, she is the cleanest, finest, best girl in the world. Don't you
get the idea that--that she isn't. She came to meet me just because she
was interested in my verse and wanted to help. It wasn't until the very
last that we--that we found out we cared for each other."

"All right, boy, all right. Go on, tell me the whole yarn, if you feel
like it. I don't want to pry too much into your affairs, but, after all,
I AM interested in those affairs, Al. Tell me as much as you can."

"I'll tell you the whole. There's nothing I can't tell, nothing I'm not
proud to tell. By George, I ought to be proud! Why, Grandfather, she's
wonderful!"

"Sartin, son, sartin. They always are. I mean she is, of course. Heave
ahead."

So Albert told his love story. When he had finished Captain Zelote's
pipe was empty, and he put it down.

"Albert," he said slowly, "I judge you mean this thing seriously. You
mean to marry her some day."

"Yes, indeed I do. And I won't give her up, either. Her mother--why,
what right has her mother got to say--to treat her in this way? Or to
call me what she calls me in that letter? Why, by George--"

"Easy, son. As I understand it, this Madeline of yours is the only child
the Fosdicks have got and when our only child is in danger of bein'
carried off by somebody else--why, well, their mothers and fathers are
liable to be just a little upset, especially if it comes on 'em sudden.
. . . Nobody knows that better than I do," he added slowly.

Albert recognized the allusion, but he was not in the mood to be
affected by it. He was not, just then, ready to make allowances for any
one, particularly the parental Fosdicks.

"They have no business to be upset--not like that, anyhow," he declared.
"What does that woman know about me? What right has she to say that I
ensnared Madeline's affection and all that rot? Madeline and I fell in
love with each other, just as other people have, I suppose."

"You suppose right," observed Captain Zelotes, dryly. "Other people
have--a good many of 'em since Adam's time."

"Well, then! And what right has she to give orders that I stop
writing or seeing Madeline,--all that idiotic stuff about ceasing
and terminating at once? She--she--" His agit