“For heaven’s sake,” urged the lad, “take that thing off. Except at dances they’re never worn here. There’s a rumor that the boys ran a stranger into the lake, one summer, for coming to supper in evening dress.” “First thing that’s struck me right since I came,” grunted Caleb, eagerly beginning to shed the tabooed garments. “I’ll get into something comf’table in half a minute if you’ll wait for me that long.” “The Granite papers keep us posted on your doings,” said Jack, seating himself on the bed. “You’ve made the old State sit up this summer.” “I’ll have it standin’ on its hind legs an’ beggin’, before I’m done,” chuckled Conover. “I’m only just beginnin’. How you gettin’ on with Dey?” “How do you mean?” asked Jack, uneasily. “Got her to take your view of the marryin’ problem?” “No,” said the boy. “I haven’t.” “Too bad! Been here all summer with her, an’ had moonlight an’ all that sort of thing to your favor. I sh’d think if you was ever goin’ to make her fall in love with you--” “I know,” interrupted Jack soberly. “I counted on all that, but--” “Can’t get her to see it your way?” “Not yet. Sometimes I’m afraid I never shall. But I shan’t give up. All my life I shall care for her and try to make myself worthy of her, whether she ever gets to caring or not.” “Good book-talk,” commented the Fighter, “but it has a kind of a square sound to it, too. Well, good luck to you! You can’t say I haven’t given you all the chances there was.” “I appreciate it, sir,” answered the boy. “And soon or late I mean to win. I--I asked her once more since we came up here--It was about a month ago. But it seemed to make her unhappy. And I don’t want to spoil her summer. So I am waiting. I’ll wait for years, if I have to. Some day she may learn to care.” “These fellers around here,--these youngsters that’s spendin’ the summer at the _ho_tel,” queried Caleb. “Isn’t int’rested in any of them, is she?” “I think not, sir. She’s nice to all of them, just as she is to me. And there isn’t another girl half so popular. But I don’t think she cares. I’m sure she doesn’t.” Conover wondered why Hawarden’s report gave him an indefinable sense of relief. He thought the matter over for a moment; then shook his head. “‘We’re keepin’ ’em waitin’,’” he said, slapping his hair with the heavy military brushes on his table. “Come along--” As he turned to leave, the canvas curtains slowly parted and a gold-red collie stepped into the tent. He glanced about him with the air of one quite at home, and proceeded, with majestic friendliness, to walk across to where Conover stood. “What’s the measly dog doin’ in here?” demanded Caleb, somewhat taken aback at the visit. “Why, it’s Rex,” answered Jack, as though that statement explained everything. “He goes wherever he wants to. Desirée thinks the world of him.” Caleb, mollified, moved nearer to the dog and proceeded to pat the downy fur of his head. Rex, without the least appearance of rudeness, moved quietly away.