After a slight hesitation Clem replied: “Yes. Well, so am I, Jim.” It sounded as though he had tried to speak lightly, but he had only succeeded in sounding oddly stiff. Jim looked across inquiringly, but Clem had seated himself on his side of the table and was pulling over his books. “I’m going to get what’s left of that money in the morning,” Jim continued, “and give it back to you. There’s only a little over sixteen dollars of it, though, and so I’m owing you eleven now. I’m going to write to dad and ask him to send me ten and take it out of my December and January allowances. Then--then I thought of another way, but I don’t know--I ain’t sure about that yet.” “Don’t bother about it,” said Clem. “I don’t care a hang if you never pay it back.” He opened a book, propped his elbows and indicated that the subject was closed. Something in his voice and attitude puzzled Jim, and he jumped to a conclusion. “I guess I know how you feel,” he said. “It--it isn’t very pleasant to find that the fellow you’re rooming with has a cousin--well, a sort of a cousin--who’s a--a thief. I sort of wish you hadn’t gone over there with me, Clem.” Clem lifted his head and stared a moment. Then he laughed shortly. “Well, I can certainly believe that!” he said. “What I mean is if you hadn’t known about Webb, about his being related to me, it wouldn’t have troubled you. But I’d sort of like you to believe that he ain’t--isn’t really bad, Clem. If you had known him five or six years ago--” “Look here, Jim, let me understand you. This cousin of yours, or whatever he is, is a ne’er-do-well, all right; I guess you could call him a bum without being sued for libel, but just what do you mean by calling him a thief?” “Why, I--well, I don’t want to call him that, Clem, because I--I’m awfully fond of him, but I guess I’ve got to, haven’t I, after what happened?” “What did happen?” asked Clem brusquely. Jim stared in puzzlement. “Why, he stole your money, Clem!” “Oh, I see. Your cousin stole it.” “Well--well, didn’t he?” asked Jim. “Didn’t you see it? Didn’t you hear what that man said, the Police Captain? I thought--” “Yes, I saw and heard both, Jim, and-- Look here, suppose we leave the word ‘stole’ out of it. Let’s say ‘borrowed.’ It sounds better. Anyway, what’s the good of talking about it any more? You’re sorry and I’m sorry. Let it go that way.” “We-ell, all right,” answered Jim dubiously. “Only I wanted you to know that you were going to get your money back, Clem.” “I’ve told you I didn’t care about that. Besides, hang it all, Jim, if this fellow Webb stole it why don’t you let him pay it back? If he stole it where does your liability come in?” “Why, he couldn’t pay it back, Clem. Or he wouldn’t, I guess. He’s promised to go straight, but I don’t know if he will. I’m responsible, of course. If it wasn’t for me he wouldn’t have come here and taken it.” “When was it he took it?” asked Clem coldly.