p me a lot."

"All right, boy," Huntington said soberly. "I know you didn't mean
anything by what you said, but marriage is a mighty sacred thing and you
ought not to speak lightly of it."

"How's Mr. Cosden?" Billy asked, eager to get the conversation onto
safer grounds.

"Well and happy; he dined with me last week."

"Say, but he can ride a bicycle!--What did he have against me down at
Bermuda?"

"He said you covered too much territory."

"I don't see where I got in his way, but he was forever butting in on
Merry and me. And the way he hustled me off in that little speed-boat! I
never had any one take such an interest in my getting back to college on
time! That must have cost him quite a bit of kale. I can't understand
it."

"It was because he is so good a friend of mine," Huntington explained.
"He saw a youngster down there who flopped around like a big St. Bernard
pup"--Huntington was gratified that his memory still retained Merry's
simile,--"and he served the best interests of his friend by keeping you
from making a mistake on your latest flop. Doesn't that clear things
up?"

"As clear as mud," Billy grunted. "I guess I need one of those
glass-bottomed boats they use down there to see the spinach and the
gold-fish. I could see the gold-fish all right, but the spinach was on
me.--That reminds me, Uncle Monty, will you lend me a hundred dollars?"

"For what, this time?"

"I want to lend it to Phil,--he's broke because his father has cut down
his allowance."

"Billy!" Philip cried aghast; "I told you that in confidence. I wouldn't
think of borrowing money from Mr. Huntington."

"How in the world do you expect to get a hundred dollars out of me
unless I land Uncle Monty for it?--and he asked, 'for what?' You heard
him."

"It's all right, Phil," Huntington said reassuringly. "Billy doesn't
have any secrets from me because he can't keep them. I would much rather
lend the money to you than to him."

"That isn't fair," Billy protested. "Phil is sure to pay it back, and I
need it."

"I don't know what has happened," Philip explained without paying any
attention to what his friend was trying to say, "but all of a sudden Dad
wrote that I must cut my expenses in two. That's a hard thing to do in a
minute, and I don't see why I should do it anyway, for Dad has all kinds
of money."

"These are hard times in Wall Street, my boy," Huntington answered him,
"and many a rich man's son has to cut his corners. If