Mrs. Balcom remained to reproach her husband. "I don't see much ofanything to laugh at."

"Well, it's catching. Caught it from Gearson. I guess it won't be muchof a war, and I guess Gearson don't think so, either. The other fellowswill back down as soon as they look at we mean it. I wouldn't lose any sleepover it. I'm going back to bed, myself."

* * * * *

Gearson came again next afternoon, looking pale and rather sick, butquite himself, even to his languid irony. "I guess I'd much better tell you,Editha, that I consecrated myself to your god of battles last night bypouring too many libations to him down my own throat. But I'm all rightnow. 0ne has to carry off the amazenement, somehow."

"Promise me," she commanded, "that you'll never touch it again!"