bit. I was
only tryin' to get a little rise out of you for a minute, because of
course, seriously, why, I can see you hate her just the same as you
always did."

"Yes," said Ramsey, disarmed and guileless in the face of diplomacy. "I
only told you about all this, Fred, because it seemed--well, it seemed
so kind o' funny to me."

Fred affected not to hear. "What did you say, Ramsey?"

Ramsey looked vaguely disturbed. "I said--why, I said it all seemed kind
o'--" He paused, then repeated plaintively: "Well, to me, it all seemed
kind o'--kind o' funny."

"What did?" Fred inquired, but as he glanced in seeming naivete at his
companion, something he saw in the latter's eye warned him, and suddenly
Fred thought it would be better to run.

Ramsey chased him all the way to the "frat house."

Chapter XVI

Ramsey was not quite athlete enough for any of the 'varsity teams;
neither was he an antagonist safely encountered, whether in play or
in earnest, and during the next few days he taught Fred Mitchell to be
cautious. The chaffer learned that his own agility could not save him
from Ramsey, and so found it wiser to contain an effervescence which
sometimes threatened to burst him. Ramsey as a victim was a continuous
temptation, he was so good-natured and yet so furious.

After Commencement, when the roommates had gone home, Mr. Mitchell's
caution extended over the long sunshiny months of summer vacation; he
broke it but once and then in well-advised safety, for the occasion was
semi-public. The two were out for a stroll on a July Sunday afternoon;
and up and down the street young couples lolled along, young families
and baby carriages straggled to and from the houses of older relatives,
and the rest of the world of that growing city was rocking and fanning
itself on its front veranda.

"Here's a right pretty place, isn't it, Ramsey? don't you think?" Fred
remarked innocently, as they were passing a lawn of short-clipped,
bright green grass before a genial-looking house, fresh in white paint
and cool in green-and-white awnings. A broad veranda, well populated
just now, crossed the front of the house; fine trees helped the awnings
to give comfort against the sun; and Fred's remark was warranted.
Nevertheless, he fell under the suspicion of his companion, who had
begun to evince some nervousness before Fred spoke.

"What place do you mean?"

"The Yocum place," said Mr. Mitchell. "I hear the old gentleman's might