week. Say, honest, Hell-cat, don't you think Jud's a real humdinger?"
"Yes, I gotta admit, he's a dandy fellow."
"Say, he certainly is, isn't he! He certainly is a dandy fellow, isn't he! Isn't he a peach!"
"Yes, he certainly is a peach—for a religious crank!"
"Aw now, Hell-cat, don't go calling him names! You'll admit he looks like some football shark."
"Yes, I guess he does, at that. I'd liked to of played with him."
"Wouldn't you like to meet him?"
"Well—"
At this moment of danger, Jim raised his dizzy head to protest, "He's a holy strikebreaker! One of these thick-necks that was born husky and tries to make you think he made himself husky by prayer and fasting. I'd hate to take a chance on any poor little orphan nip of Bourbon wandering into Old Jud's presence! Yeh! Chest-pounder! 'Why can't you hundred-pound shrimps be a big manly Christian like me!'"
Together they protested against this defilement of the hero, and Eddie admitted that he had ventured to praise Elmer to Old Jud; that Old Jud had seemed enthralled; that Old Jud was more than likely—so friendly a Great Man was he—to run in on Elmer this afternoon.
Before Elmer could decide whether to be pleased or indignant, before the enfeebled Jim could get up strength to decide for him, the door was hit a mighty and heroic wallop, and in strode Judson Roberts, big as a grizzly, jolly as a spaniel pup, radiant as ten suns.
He set upon Elmer immediately. He had six other doubting Thomases or suspected smokers to dispose of before six o'clock.
He was a fair young giant with curly hair and a grin and with a voice like the Bulls of Bashan whenever the strategy called for manliness. But with erring sisters, unless they were too erring, he could be as lulling as woodland violets shaken in the perfumed breeze.
"Hello, Hell-cat!" he boomed. "Shake hands!"
Elmer had a playful custom of squeezing people's hands till they cracked. For the first time in his life his own paw felt limp and burning. He rubbed it and looked simple.
"Been hearing a lot about you, Hell-cat, and you, Jim.
