pierced him. Jake's
eyes, very bright but wholly free from anger looked straight into his.
For some reason he ceased to strain against the compelling hands and sat
passive.

There followed a somewhat tense silence before he said, "Well, go on! I
knew you wanted to row me about something. What's it all about?"

His voice was sullen but his attitude was no longer hostile. He looked
ashamed.

Jake sat down suddenly on the edge of the writing-table. "Say, Bunny!" he
said gently. "Do you know you're the only man in the world that can send
me to perdition and not have his teeth knocked down his throat for his
officiousness?"

Bunny looked up at him, and in a moment, like the flash of sunshine from
behind a cloud, he was smiling. "Oh, get out, Jake. I suppose you're
going to wipe the floor with me now. I didn't mean it and I'm sorry.
Let's get on from there!"

His hand gripped Jake's hard. There was something very winning about him
at the moment, something that appealed strongly to the older man though
he did not instantly reply. He kept the boy's hand in his for a moment,
and his eyes were very kindly as he looked into the thin young face.

"Guess you know I'm pretty fond of you, my son," he said at length, "but
I don't figure to let you go to the devil unhindered on that account."

Bunny whistled. "Who's going? Oh, don't be an ass, Jake, will you?"

"No, I won't," said Jake, "at least not the soft variety. Reckon I've
been too soft with you, Bunny, as long as I've known you."

Bunny stirred restlessly in his chair. "Think so?" he said. "Well, it's a
good fault, old chap. I can't stand bullying from anyone--makes me see
red at once."

"I know," Jake said. "I've never bullied you anyway. But I'm on the
war-path now, and you've got to take your physic whether you like it or
not. Say, Bunny, how much money did you drop at the races this
afternoon?"

"What's that to you?" said Bunny.

Jake's face hardened a little. "Well, I expected that," he said. "Afraid
to tell me, eh?"

"Not in the least afraid," said Bunny. "I dispute your right to know,
that's all."

"I see." Jake regarded him with a very direct scrutiny. "I'm to be kept
in my place, is that it?"

Bunny coloured. "That's the fourth time you've called me a bounder since
we came in. What do you mean by it, Jake?"

"What do I mean?" Jake spoke rather sadly. "Well, maybe that's just what
I do mean, Bunny. You're beginning to bound."

"Rot!" said Bunny, t