When I told Betty what it was, to my astonishment she said: "Well, Dawson, if you allow Mr. Friday to have your endorsement on a note you are very foolish!" "Betty!" I said, quite mortified to hear her speak so in front of my old friend. "And," she continued, looking Larry squarely in the face, "if Mr. Friday allows his friend to endorse a note for him, I don't think he is much of a friend." "I am sorry your wife feels that way about it," said Larry. "I guess I'm coming between you two, old man. Here's the note--you better take it back, for I think too much of you to do anything that would affect your happiness. . . . Although I must say that I think Mrs. Black is unjust to you and me." "You put that note right back in your pocket!" I commanded. "Betty," I said sharply, "this is a matter which I can handle without any help. Thank you!" "Dawson," said Betty, holding out her hand to me, "I was vexed." "Come, Larry, old man," I said, "I've known you too many years to allow my judgment of you to be swayed." Larry held out his hand to Betty, who, however, turned coldly away and left the room. "If you don't mind, old man," said Larry, "I'll not stay with you to-night, and if you want that note back--" his hand went toward his pocket. "No! If the time comes that I can't trust you, I'll tell you so to your face!" "You're a real pal!" exclaimed Larry, with feeling eyes. He packed his grip, and, with a hearty, silent handshake, he left the house. I had felt very much astonished and mortified that Betty should have acted that way, and I went into the house to reason with her. To my surprise, she was in her room and the door was locked. "I want to come in," I said. "Keep on wanting!" she replied, angrily. "B-but--" the door was suddenly thrown open, and Betty stood there with her eyes flashing. "Don't 'but' me. You can hardly make both ends meet now, and your business is only just making a bare existence,"--I looked surprised--"yes, a bare existence; and here you jeopardize your future by endorsing the note of a friend without knowing the first thing about it! The thing I advise you to do is to begin to save up five hundred dollars to pay that note." I laughed. "Dawson," she said, "there _are_ times when I don't know whether you're a fool or not. This is one of the times I'm _sure_ you're one!" And, with that, she slammed the door in my face, and left me aghast. Betty was still sulky the next day. She could not get over my having endorsed that note for Larry. I was disappointed in Betty. I didn't think she would have me throw down a pal. Besides, it had not cost me anything to endorse the note, when it was sure to be paid long before it matured. While trying to get Betty to be reasonable, the telephone bell rang and I said, "Go answer it, Betty." "Better answer it yourself," she snapped, "perhaps it is some other friend who wants you to give him some money." I picked up the telephone and called, "Hello!"