"I allus wanted knee pants," he said plaintively. "But seems like I wa'n't made for that kind of luxury. I ain't a bit happy, like I thought. Seems kind of indecent to show your legs, when you never done it before." And Jap donned his long trousers again, much to the relief of Bloomtown. Ellis afterward declared that the three-and-a-half feet of spindling legs that dangled along under the buckled bands of those short trousers were the most remarkable things he had ever seen. They resembled nothing more than the legs of a spring lamb, cavorting in knee pants, in the butcher's window. When we have achieved our heart's desire, we often taste the ashes of illusion. Jap did not worry further about his appearance, but, dressed in the neat jumpers that Flossy provided, he seemed content. The memory of the episode was beginning to lose some of its sting when Dame Fortune gave a mighty turn to her wheel. He was in the alley with Bill, playing marbles, when Wat Harlow came rushing out. "Where is Ellis?" he gasped. "There's hell afloat." "Ellis and Flossy have gone to Birdtown to stay till Monday," vouchsafed Bill. "It's goin' to be big doin's at an anniversary, Sunday." "Good God!" cried Wat, "what can I do?" Jap arose and dusted himself. "Is it a dark secret?" he inquired. "Did Ellis owe you a bill? Lordee, man, you can find plenty more in your fix. Forget it." Wat continued to tear up and down the narrow alley. "I'm ruined," he groaned. "They've got an infernal lie out about me, and it's going to kill me out." Jap was interested. "Maybe I know what Ellis could do," he suggested. "I am running for the Legislature again," Wat said, pacing wildly over the marbles. "The Morgan crowd have got it out that I sold myself to the crowd that are trying to lobby a bill for a big appropriation for the State University. The county is solid against it, and they will vote me out of politics forever." "What could Ellis do?" asked Jap, sympathetically. "I thought that he could print the truth in handbills that could be sent out. It is now Friday, and Tuesday is election day. There will be no chance for help after Monday. They would have to have time to get all over the county." He sat down and wiped his forehead. "What is your defense?" asked Jap judicially. "They said that I was in the headquarters of the University gang--and I was," he said bitterly. "They said I shook hands with Barks--and I did. They said that he walked with me down the steps, with his arm around my shoulder--and he did." "Love of Mike!" exploded Bill, "What do you want to talk about it for, then?"