"Good! Now then, you young scoundrel, I'm going to order you the sort of breakfast that goes with what ails you, and while it is coming up, you are going to jump under the shower." "Where d'you get that 'jump' stuff?" the youth inquired, faintly. "Besides, I'm clean." But Gray had seized the phone, and as soon as he had given his order he strode into the bathroom and turned on the water. He was out again in a moment, then laughingly he dragged the aching Texan from his couch. "Under you go," he insisted, "or I'll wet down your whole Japanese flower garden." "Some pajamas, ain't they? I got a dozen pairs," Buddy said, proudly. "Quick! If you think I'll consent to hang around a lonesome hotel while you sleep, you're mistaken. I can't tell you how glad I am to run into you, Buddy. I'm dying to have a riotous time." "Eh?" Briskow turned an inquiring face to the speaker. "I've been hibernating in the wilderness, sucking my paw and living off my fat, like a bear. I want you to shown me this town." A bath, a brisk rubdown, and breakfast put Buddy in fairly good fettle once more; so marked was his improvement, in fact, that Gray envied him his glorious gift of youth. "Flying pretty high, aren't you?" the elder man inquired, with a wave of the hand that took in the expensive suite. "Well, I ain't exactly broke." "True. But I know what these rooms cost. That's going strong for a lad like you." "You took 'em, didn't you, when you had less 'n I got?" "Ahem! It is embarrassing to be held up as an example. I've done a good many things, Buddy, that I wouldn't like to see you do." "If they wouldn't hurt me any more 'n they've hurt you I'd like to try'em." "Another proof that you are still in short pants. I'm a bad person to copy. By the way, why did you quit school?" Buddy considered his reply, then: "I reckon it was because of them short pants you speak about. I can't stand bein' laughed at, Mr. Gray. It comes hard to stand up in a class along with a bunch of children and make mistakes and have a little boy in a lace collar and spring heels snap his fingers and sing out in a sweet soprano, 'Oh, tee-_cher!_' Then have him show you up. They put me in with a lot of nursin' babes. What the hell? I weigh a hundred and ninety and I got a beard!" "Didn't you learn anything?" Buddy closed a meaning eye, and his pleasant features wrinkled into that infectious smile. "I'll tell the world I did! After the whistlin' squabs was asleep in their nests I went out among the whippoorwills an' the bats. Ain't it funny how quick folks can learn to put up with bad grammar when you got a jingle in your jeans? I guess I've got enough education to do me; anyhow, I can write Ozark Briskow in the lower right-hand corner and that seems to get me by." "You wouldn't consent to go back or--have a tutor, like Allie?" "Who, _me?_" Briskow laughed scornfully. "Um-m! Merely a suggestion. You are the architect of your own career."