tion of each other's arms,
and before David had time to call, the door opened, the switch clicked
once more, and Gooding, his hair sticking out in every possible
direction, his bath robe flapping ungracefully about his knees,
confronted them.

"This is a shame," he began ingratiatingly. "I know it. But I've got
to have some one to talk to. I can't go to sleep and-- Heavens,
what's that on the floor?"

"It is I and my friend, Miss Landbury," said Carol quietly. "We are
having a slumber party."

"Yes, all party and no slumber," muttered David.

"Well, I am glad I happened in. I was lonesome off there by myself.
You know you do get sick of being alone all the time. Shove over, old
man, and I'll join the party."

David looked at him in astonishment.

"Nothing doing," he said. "This cot isn't big enough for two. Go in
and use Carol's bed if you like."

"It's too far off," objected Gooding. "Be sociable, Duke."

"There isn't any mattress there anyhow," said Carol.

They looked at one another in a quandary.

"Go on back to bed, Gooding," said David, at last. "This is no time
for conversation."

Gooding would not hear of it. "Here I am and here I stay," he said
with finality. "I've been seeing white shadows and feeling clammy
fingers all night."

"Well, what are you going to do? We've got a full house, you can see
that."

"Go and get your own mattress and blankets and use them on my bed,"
urged Carol.

Miss Landbury turned on her side and closed her eyes. She was taken
care of, she should worry over Mr. Gooding!

"I don't want to stay in there by myself," said Gooding again. "Isn't
there room out here?"

"Do you see any?"

"Well, I'll move in the room with you," volunteered David.

Miss Landbury sat up abruptly.

"We won't stay here without you, David," said Carol.

"I tell you what," said Gooding brightly, "we'll get my mattress and
put it in the room for me, and we'll move David's mattress on Carol's
bed for David, and then we'll move the girls' mattress in on the floor
for them."

No one offered objections to this arrangement. "Hurry up, then, and
get your mattress," begged Carol. "I am so sleepy."

"I can't carry them alone through those long dark halls," Gooding
insisted. Miss Landbury would not accompany him without a third party,
Carol flatly refused to leave dear sick David alone in that porch, and
at last in despair David donned his bath robe and the four of them
cross