"Why, yes. He gets one thing at a time in his brain, and thinks of nothing else till that idea is worn out. I know him." I recalled my useless persuasion of the morning. "I believe you are right." "Of course I'm right," replied Jack, turning a page of his paper. "Do _you_ know where he has gone?" "I think the telegram explains everything,"--evasively. "Humph! Don't you worry about him, Nan. I'll wager he's up to some of his old-time deviltry." These and other little observations Jack let fall made it plain to me that he was a natural student of men and their impulses, and that his insight and judgment, unerring and anticipatory, had put him where he is to-day, at the head of a department. I left the house about ten o'clock, went downtown and found the prodigal at a cheap hotel on Pennsylvania. He was looking over some boots and leggings and ready-made riding breeches. "Aha, Chuck, so here you are!" "Look here, Bob, this will never do at all," I began. "I thought we had threshed all that out thoroughly this morning." "I left Nancy crying over your blamed callousness." "Nancy? Hang it, I don't want Nancy to waste any tears over me; I'm not worth it." "Precious little you care! If it wasn't for the fact that you have told me the true state of things, I should have exposed you to-night. Why didn't you turn up to dinner as you promised? You might at least have gone through the pretense of saying good-by to them." "My dear boy, I'll admit that my conduct is nefarious. But look; Nancy knows Miss Annesley, and they will be calling on each other. The truth is, I dare not let the girls see me without a beard. And I'm too far gone into the thing to back out now." "I honestly hope that some one recognizes you and gives you away," I declared indignantly. "Thanks. You're in love with Nancy, aren't you? To be sure. Well, wouldn't you do anything to keep around where she is, to serve her, to hear her voice, to touch her hand occasionally, to ride with her; in fact, always to be within the magic circle of her presence? Well, I love this girl; I know it now, it is positive, doubtless. Her presence is as necessary to me as the air I breathe. Had I met her in the conventional way, she would have looked upon me as one of the pillars of convention, and mildly ignored me. As I am, she does not know what I am, or who I am; I am a mystery, I represent a secret, and she desires to find out what this secret is. Besides all this, something impels me to act this part, something aside from love. It is inexplicable; fate, maybe." He paused, went to the window, and looked down into the street. It was after-theater time and carriages were rolling to and fro. "Bob, I apologize. You know a great deal more about feminine nature than I had given you credit for. But how can you win her this way?" He raised his shoulders. "Time and chance." "Well, whate'er betide, I can't help wishing you luck." We shook hands silently, and then I left him.