“Sure! That is--” Then Clem found Jim grinning broadly. “Well, I might. How do I know? How does any one know what he will do when faced by--er--by sudden temptation and all that sort of thing?” “No, you wouldn’t,” answered Jim. “Neither would I. Webb could have starved. But, just the same, and I think it’s sort of funny, too, I didn’t think anything about lying! Seems like stealing and lying aren’t much different, don’t it?” “Well, yes, but, gosh, a fellow’s got to tell a whopper sometimes to protect a friend, hasn’t he? And that’s what you did.” “I guess a lie’s a lie, just the same,” responded Jim regretfully, “and I didn’t feel right about telling that one to the police captain that time. Only, I didn’t want Webb to go to jail. Gee, I don’t know!” “You needn’t have told him you gave the money to Webb, as far as that goes. They couldn’t have proved it on him if I hadn’t said I’d lost it.” “Gee, I never thought of that, Clem! But it was all so sort of sudden that I didn’t have much time to think. Lying comes mighty easy, don’t it?” Well, it was just like old times in Number 15 that evening. There was a lot to be said, things that ought to have been said days and days ago and things that had been unthought of before, and almost before Jim knew that it was as late as nine the ten o’clock bell rang. Even after they were in bed the talk kept on, as: “Say, Jim, it’s a shame to keep you awake, but--” “Gee, I ain’t sleepy. I’d rather talk than not.” “Well, about Janus. You know we were speaking of it a while back. You’ll join, eh?” “I don’t know, Clem. I ain’t--I’m not much for society doings. Gee, I don’t even own a dress-suit!” “You don’t need a dress-suit, you gump! I’m going to put you through next week, and there’s an end to it.” “Well, if you want me to, all right. Father got rid of some timberland the other day that he’s been trying to sell for three or four years. He didn’t get quite all he wanted, but he did pretty well. So I guess I can afford this Janus thing.” Still later: “Jim, you asleep?” “Yes. What’ll you have?” “Listen. About Mart coming back--” “I know. That’s all right.” “How do you mean, all right?” “Why, you fellows can have this room or I’ll find some one else to come in here. Just as long as I don’t have to pay the whole rent--” “You make me sick! I never had any notion of going in with Mart. He doesn’t expect me to. I just said that because you made me mad, you silly ass!” “Oh! Well, I didn’t--understand. Still, you mustn’t feel like you’ve got to turn Mart down, Clem.” “I don’t. I’m not turning him down because he hasn’t even suggested it. If you can’t talk sense you’d better go to sleep.” “All right,” chuckled Jim. “Good night.” Some time later Clem awoke in the darkness to find groans and heart-breaking gasps coming from Jim’s bed. After a moment of sleepy concern Clem went across and shook his chum into consciousness. “Hey, wake up! What’s the matter, old son? Got the nightmare?”