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Ernest grunted "What did you say? Eh--no--I don't think so Say, Roger, oldabout, Ernest?"

"About Charley Who else would it be?"

Roger nearly fell off the box on which he was sitting "Proposed to Charley? Why, you weren't in love with her, were you, Ernest?"

"You great nut! Why else should I propose to her? Just because you don't admire her is no reason that other men are wooden headed"

"I never said I didn't ader

"You did You said you didn't care for big wouess I don't But I never think of her as a wo fellow that you want for a friend"

Ernest grunted "I wouldn't have a teer"

"I don't see that yours is giving you ht now, old chap"

"Never youthan never have loved her"

Roger, who had helped his friend to recover froood many heart-breaks patted him on the shoulder "Awfully sorry, old Ern"

"I knohat you're thinking," said Ernest, "but this one is different, just as she's different I'll never get over this You realize that she's different, don't you, you wooden ihtfully "Yes, Charley is different I really like her very er brother, so clean-cut and direct and--" His voice trailed away to nothing as suddenly he thought of Charley's hand on his head, that ine house Indeed, he wondered if the thought of that touch would ever leave him He believed that it would becoentle touch

Finally, Ernest said, "If it weren't for you and the help I can give you, I'd go home"

"You are hard hit, old man! Maybe it'll be easier when Elsa coht I'd go in to-ets here You'll be tinkering on the engine and won't miss me Suppose we can fix up Mrs von Minden's tent for her, instead of her buying a new one"

"Good idea! But, by Jove, the thought of going to Archer's Springs for mental distraction is either funny or pathetic! I don't knohich I hope I can have a test of the plant on Monday"

"So do I," replied Ernest "Guess I'll go to bed Gustav's blown out his bug"

"I' before Ernest ceased to toss in the hot silence of the tent