uld hardly tear
himself away from the main street, which was full of talking groups,
everyone seeming to be asking the same question--"What is to be done
first?"--but getting no reply.

"We ought to fortify the place," said West to himself, and full of this
idea, which he intended to propound to Ingleborough and Anson as soon as
he reached the office, he hurried in that direction, all the faster from
the fact that he had been so interested in the busy state of the streets
that he had overstayed his time.

On approaching the office door the conscious blood rose to his cheeks,
for he could hear an angry voice speaking, upon which he could only
place one interpretation--namely, that one of the principals was finding
fault severely because he, the guilty one, was not back to his time.

"What a fool I am!" muttered West. Then, pulling himself together, he
stepped forward, muttering again: "Must take my dose like a man."

The next moment he had opened the door quickly, entered and closed it,
and then stood staring in wonder at the scene before him.

For there was no angry principal present--only his two fellow-clerks:
Ingleborough stern and frowning, and Anson with his ordinarily pink face
turned to a sallow white, and, instead of being plump and rounded,
looking sunken and strange.

"What's the matter?" said West, for Anson, who had the moment before
been talking rapidly, suddenly ceased. "You're not quarrelling, are
you?" he continued, for no one replied. "Oh well, I'll be off till
you've done."

"No, don't go," cried Anson, springing forward and grasping his arm.

"Let go!" cried West. "I don't want to be mixed up with any quarrels;
but you might have got them over outside. There, I'm off."

"Stop where you are!" cried Ingleborough. "You have a perfect right to
hear what I have said, and you're welcome."

"Yes, stop where you are, West," cried Anson, clinging to the young
fellow's arm. "I believe that the war scare has sent Ingle off his
head. You never heard such a bit of scandal as he is trying to hatch
up. I believe it's all out of jealousy."

"No, you do not," said Ingleborough coldly.

"But I do," cried Anson. "It's scandalous. He's trying to ruin me."

"How?"

"By hatching up a story which, if it got to the principals' ears, would
mean me being turned off neck and crop, no matter how innocent I am."

"How what?" replied Ingleborough ironically. "Innocent? Why, I've
suspected you for som