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 of some sort on his birthday. You know he's pretty popular with the ladies, Dick."

"What's it going to be? A sofa-pillow?"

"No, you idiot! What the girls want to do is get up a purse, collect a lot of money, you know, and refurnish his office for him."

Dick whistled. "That would be a lot of money! He certainly needs new furniture, though. But the question is whether Mr. Grayson is popular enough with the fellows, Gordie."

"Oh, he's not a bad old scout, Dick. Of course, he's always been rather down on athletics"

"Hold on now! Let's be fair. He hasn't been down on athletics, Gordie. He merely thinks that we fellows pay too much attention to it. He's not—not awfully sympathetic, but it isn't fair to say that he's against it. Now go on, and pardon the slight digression."

"All right; he's not what I said. Anyhow, I think most fellows like Grayson pretty well. They ought to. He's awfully fair and—and decent, even when he gives you fits about something."

"I trust he has never had occasion to give you fits," said Dick gravely.

Gordon grinned. "Well, we've had one or two