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Rh up and leaned eagerly toward Carl, gesticulating excitedly.

“As if that made any difference,” Carl replied, his voice sharp with scorn. “You see, I’m a bad egg. I drink and gamble and pet. I have n’t gone the limit yet on—on account of my old lady—but I will.”

Hugh was relieved. He had wondered more than once during the past week “just how far Carl had gone.” Several times Carl had suggested by sly innuendos that there was n’t anything that he had n’t done, and Hugh had felt a slight disap¬ proval—and considerable envy. His own stand¬ ards were very high, very strict, but he was ashamed to reveal them.

“I’ve never gone the limit either,” he confessed shyly.

Carl threw back his head and laughed. “You poor fish; don’t you suppose I know that?” he exclaimed.

“How did you know?” Hugh demanded indig¬ nantly. “I might’ve. Why, I was out with a girl just before I left home and—”

“You kissed her,” Carl concluded for him. “I don’t know how I knew, but I did. You ’re just kinda pure; that’s all. I’m not pure at all; I’m just a little afraid—and I keep thinkin’ of my old lady. I’ve started to several times, but I’ve al¬ ways thought of her and quit.”