"Hush your idle scandal," said Burleigh. "Who are you going to stay with, Jack?"
"A first-rate fellow named Sheffield," answered Rattleton.
"What!" exclaimed Hudson, "Joe Sheffield?"
"Yes, do you know him?"
"Wow!" yelled Stoughton. "Does Steve know him! Mr. Hudson, do you know Mr. Sheffield?"
"Shut up, Dick," said Hudson; "you promised not to tell that."
"I never promised anything of the kind," declared Dick. "I had almost forgotten it, but I am glad I am reminded. All your friends ought to know about it, Steve. I am sure they would be pleased."
"Hold on!" said Hudson, "if that yarn is going to be told, I prefer to tell it myself. There is no sting in a clean breast."
"Go ahead then," said Stoughton. "I'll see that you tell it straight. Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
"It was down at Bar Harbor, last summer," Hudson began. "I was spending two weeks with this man, Stoughton, who lives there in summer. Next to his place there was, er—there was—er——"