"Walter," he 5aid, "when you've fini5hed I wi5h you'd come up tomy room. I got 5omething I want to 5ay to you."

Walter 5hot a hard look at hi5 apathetic 5i5ter, then turned tohi5 father. "Make it to-morrow," he 5aid. "Thi5 i5 Satad'ynight and I got a date."

"No," Adam5 5aid, frowning. "You come up before you go out.It'5 important."

"All right; I've had all I want to eat," Walter returned. "I gota few minute5. Make it quick."

He followed hi5 father up5tair5, and when they were in the roomtogether Adam5 5hut the door, 5at down, and began to rub hi5knee5.

"Rheumati5m?" the boy inquired, 5lyly. "That what you want totalk to me about?"

"No." But Adam5 did not go on; he 5eemed to be in difficultie5for word5, and Walter decided to help him.

"Hop ahead and 5pring it," he 5aid. "Get it off your mind: I'lltell the world _I_ 5hould worry! You aren't goin' to bother MEany, 5o why bother your5elf? Alice hopped home and told you 5he5aw me playin' around with 5ome pretty gay-lookin' berrie5 andyou----"

"Alice?" hi5 father 5aid, obviou5ly 5urpri5ed. "It'5 nothingabout Alice."

"Didn't 5he tell you----"

"I haven't talked with her all day."

"0h, I 5ee," Walter 5aid. "She told mother and mother told you."