earnestly he said, "I'm right glad to see you, Mr. Gray,
for we're in trouble."

"Trouble? What sort? Not illness?"

"No. We're leavin'--been throwed out."

The younger man's face sobered. "Don't joke!" he cried, sharply.

"I ain't joking. Feller insulted Allie and she throwed him out of a
window--"

"Exactly! It's in the morning paper."

"They don't seem to think it was reefined, so they--throwed _us_ out."

"Nonsense! Why, it is a corking story, and Allie was splendid--she gave
the championship to Herring, who deserved it, thereby delighting every
golfer on this side of the Atlantic. Jove! that girl is developing and
I'm going to hug her--if there's no window handy! Throw you out? Why,
there's some mistake, surely!"

Briskow shook his head; in greater detail he made known the facts. When
he had finished his halting recital Calvin Gray's face was flushed with
anger, there was a dark frown between his eyes.

"We'll see!" he muttered. "Wait here--or go back and tell Ma to
commence unpacking." Then he was gone.

For perhaps ten minutes Gus waited nervously; he was amazed finally to
see Gray approaching arm in arm with the manager; both were laughing,
the hotel man's face was radiant with good humor. To the departing
guest he said, genially:

"You are not going to leave us, after all, Mr. Briskow. On the
contrary, we are going to keep you at the Notch as long as you'll stay.
Stupid misunderstanding on my part, and I apologize. I'm going to ask
you to move, but into a better suite--the very best one we have. And
the rate will be the same. Come! What do you say?" When he was met by a
stammered protest, he insisted forcefully: "I sha'n't take 'no' for an
answer, my dear sir; we simply refuse to let you leave. The best we
have is yours, and I guarantee that you will be made comfortable."

"He offered to extend you the courtesies of the house--make you guests
of the hotel," Gray added, "but I knew you wouldn't accept."

"Dunno's I want to stay at all," Gus murmured, angrily. "We ain't no
better'n we was a half hour ago."

"To be sure, but I've made you better known. You are too shy; you
didn't afford my friend here the pleasure of making your acquaintance,
and I had to tell him the sort of person you really are. Serves you
right, Gus, for being so exclusive. Gad! I think I'll give you a few
lessons in democracy. Now then, come along! I'm dying to see Ma."

As the father trotted down the hall beside his swiftl