rs, the stranger controlled himself with a strong
effort.

"I don't know what you'll think of me, boys," said he, shamefacedly.
"I'm sorry to have made such an exhibition of myself. But music always
did affect me; besides, it's wakened some old memories. Guess I'd better
be going now."

He half rose.

"Stay awhile longer," urged Jim; and the others seconded the invitation.

Thorpe sank back on his box.

"You won't have to persuade me very hard. Evenings alone on the _Helen_
are pretty long."

His eye fell on Percy's AEneid on the shelf beside the window.

"Aha! Who's reading Virgil?"

"I am," confessed Percy. "Making up college conditions."

The stranger looked at him keenly.

"Conditions, eh? Guess you don't need to have any, unless you want 'em."

"Found you at home there, Perce!" laughed Lane.

"I don't propose to have any more after this summer," averred Percy,
stoutly.

"Stick to that!" encouraged Thorpe. "There's enough have 'em that can't
help it."

Taking down the volume, he opened it at the beginning of the first book,
and began reading aloud, dividing the lines into feet:

_"Arma virumque cano, Trojae qui primus ab oris Italiam, fato
profugus, Laviniaque venit._

"Wouldn't want to say how long it's been since I last set eyes on that.
Probably you boys notice that I use the English pronunciation of Latin
instead of the continental; it's what I had when I was in college."

"What was your college?" inquired Percy.

Melancholy darkened Thorpe's face again.

"Never mind about that," he replied, a little brusquely.

Glancing round the cabin, he caught sight of Throppy's wireless outfit;
soon the two were engaged in an interested discussion on wave-lengths
and the effect of atmospheric disturbances. Later he was talking over
the lobster law with Jim, and life-insurance with Lane. He seemed to be
equally at home on all subjects.

Eight o'clock came before they realized it. The stranger's face suddenly
grew somber.

"Boys," said he, "I must be going now. You've given me a mighty
pleasant evening and I sha'n't forget it right away. You'll think it a
strange thing for me to say, but the best return I can make for your
kindness is to tell you something about myself."

He glanced at Percy.

"You asked me what my college was. I'm not going to answer that
question, but I'll say this: At the end of its catalogue of graduates
you'll find a page headed 'Lost Alumni,' and my name--my rea