“I’ve loved him four years,” said Helen stiffly.
“You’ve loved him four years in two weeks,” said Barnes in the tone of one trying to do a sum. “I give up. I can’t do it.”
Helen faced the heretic Barnes and announced impressively:
“Ever since the time he so bravely risked his own life to save that girl. It was splendid, noble!”
Travers Gladwin decided it was time to call a halt on the borrowing proclivities of the unknown double. It was bad enough for some one to appropriate his name, but also to take unto his bogus self the glory of the real one’s heroism was too much.
“You mean that time at Narragansett?” he opened.
“Yes,” said Helen. “Four years ago when he dashed into the roaring surf”–––
“Yes, and fished out a cross-eyed colored lady,” said Gladwin hotly.
“That’s just it,” returned Helen with flashing eyes and heaving bosom. “If she had been beautiful or some one dear to him, it wouldn’t have been half so noble. Oh, it was fine of him!”