I have a very warm admiration and a very sincere respect for Rita Tevis--" "John! You sound like a Puritan making love!" Burleson was intensely annoyed: "You'd better understand, Kelly, that Rita Tevis is as well born as I am, and that there would be nothing at all incongruous in any declaration that any decent man might make her!" "Why, I know that." "I'm glad you do.

And I'm gratified that what you said has given me the opportunity to make myself very plain on the subject of Rita Tevis.

It may amaze you to know that her great grandsire carried a flintlock with the Hitherford Minute Men, and fell most respectably at Boston Neck." "Certainly, John.

I knew she was all right.

But I wasn't sure you knew it--" "Confound it! Of course I did.