Page:The plastic age, (IA plasticage00mark).pdf/197

Rh >owerfully built, and moved as easily as a dancer. Tls features were good enough, but his brown eyes vere dull and his jaw heavy rather than strong. 3ugh had often heard that Slade dissipated violently, but he did not believe the rumors; he vas positive that Slade could not be the athlete he yas if he dissipated. He had been thrilled every
 * ime Slade had spoken to him—the big man of the
 * ollege, the one Sanford man who had ever made

American, as Slade had this year.

When he returned to his room from the bath¬ room, Slade was sitting in a big chair smoking a rigarette. Hugh walked into his bedroom, combed lis dripping hair, and then came into the study, still ingry but feeling a little sheepish and very curious.

“Well, what is it?” he demanded, sitting down.

“Do you know who those women were?”

“No. Who are they?”

“They’re Bessie Haines and Emma Gleeson; at east, that fs what they call themselves, and they ’re rotten bags.”

Hugh had a little quiver of fright, but he felt that he ought to defend himself.

“Well, what of it?” he asked sullenly. “I don’t see as you had any right to pull me away. You never paid any attention before to me. Why this sudden interest? How come you’re so anxious to guard my purity?”

Slade was embarrassed. He threw his cigarette