Silence fell between the two for a time, until Jim said with a little touch of disgust:
"Tode, you're as set in your way as a stone wall."
"All right. What is the conclusion of the whole matter?"
"Oh fudge! bring on your pledge and give us a pen."
Instantly a drawer from a side table was drawn energetically out, and pen, ink, and a veritable pledge were placed before the young man. A few quick dashes of the pen, and "James H. McPherson" stood out in plain relief under the strongly worded total abstinence pledge.
His companion waited with flushing cheek and eager eyes until the last letter was written; then he sprang up with an energy that set the arm-chair upside down, and uttered a vehement:
"Good! Jim, oh Jim, I could shout for joy. I have fairly held my breath for fear you would not reach the point."
Jim laughed.
"What a fanatic you are!" he said in a tone of assumed carelessness. "How do you know I won't break it to-morrow?"
"I know perfectly well. If I had not I should not have been so anxious to have you sign to-night. You happen to be as set in your way as an acre of stone fences."