"She was an actress," said Skippy nodding.
"But how—"
"I ran away from home. They never understood me. Family fight. Swore I'd never set foot in the old house again. Cut for the West. You get to see a rough side of life like that you know, mining camps, mule drivers, lumber men. Good sorts," he added reflectively, "but wild, very wild. You couldn't understand."
"But your father and mother?" said Miss Tupper, wide-eyed and thoroughly thrilled.
"I'd rather not say anything against them," said Skippy magnanimously.
"Poor boy!"
"I've kept pretty straight considering," said Skippy, who did not wish to paint the picture too black.
"And the girl?" said Miss Tupper, who could not restrain a perfectly feminine curiosity.
"Tina? She wanted me to go on the stage with her," said Skippy, who had now told the story a sufficient number of times to begin to believe in it. "It was touch and go. Well, I didn't. That's all."