CHAPTER II.
SOME ONE PUSHES THE TUNGSTEN You don't have to know every blessed thing that I do, do you ?" demanded Dan Dalzell, in an almost offended tone.
"No; and I have no right to know anything that you don't tell me willingly.

Are you ready to give me any explanation of tonight's foolishness?
"Seeing that you kept awake for me, and were on hand to let me in, I suppose I'll have to," grumbled Dan.
"Well, then?
"Dave, for the first time tonight, I struck my flag." "Struck to whom ?" "Oh---a girl, of course," grunted Dan.
"You?
A girl ?" repeated Dave in amazement.
"Yes; is it any crime for me to get acquainted with a girl, and to call on her at her home ?" "Certainly not.

But, Dan, I didn't believe that you ever felt a single flutter of the pulse when girls were around.

I thought you were going to grow up into a cheerful, happy old bachelor." "So did I," sighed Dan.
"And now you've gone and met your fate ?" "I'm not so sure about that," Dalzell retorted moodily.
"Do you mean that you don't stand any real show in front of the pair of bright eyes that have made you strike your colors ?" "I'm afraid I don't." "Dan, is the game worth the candle," argued Darrin.
"You're mightily interested in Belle Meade, aren't you ?" "Yes; but that's different, Danny boy." "How is it different, I'd like to know ?" "Well, in the first place, there's no guesswork in my case.

Belle and I are engaged, and we feel perfectly sure each of the other.
I'm so sure of Belle that I dream about her only in my leisure moments.