Bill Ward came back, grinning from ear to ear.  Every few minutes during the rest of the meal he broke out in a broad grin and looked at Courtland, who was absorbed in his own thoughts; and then he would slap Tennelly on the shoulder and say:  “Ho! boy!  It’s a rare one!” But it was not until Courtland had hurried away after his lady that Bill gave forth his information.

“Oh, Nelly!” he burst forth.  “Court’s going to take Gila to church!  You don’t suppose he’ll take her to that dump where he led you this morning, do you?  I can see her nose go up now.  I thought I’d croak when she told me!  Wait till you hear her call me up on the ’phone when she gets home!  She’ll give me the worst balling out I ever had!  And Aunt Nina would have apoplexy if she knew her ‘darlin’ pet’ was going into that part of town!  Oh, boy!  Set me on my feet or I’ll die laughing!”

Tennelly regarded Bill Ward with solemn consternation.  “Do you mean to tell me that Court has asked your cousin to go to that camp-meeting hole where he took me this morning?  Cut out the kidding and tell me straight!  Well, then, Bill, it’s serious, and we’ve got to do something!  We can’t have a fellow like Court spoiled for life.  He’s gone stale, that’s what’s the matter; he’s gone stale!  He’s got to have strenuous measures to pull him up.”

“He sure has!” said Bill Ward, soberly, getting up from the couch where he had been rolling in his mirth.  “What can we do?  What about these business ambitions of his?  Couldn’t we work him that way?  For Court’s got a great head on him, you know!  I thought Gila would do the business, but if he’s rung in religion on her it’s all up, I’m afraid.  But business is a different thing.  Not even Court could mix business and religion, for they won’t fit together!”

“That’s the trouble,” said Tennelly, thoughtfully.  “If it gets out what’s the matter with Court he won’t stand half a chance.  I was thinking of my uncle Ramsey, out in Chicago.  He has large financial interests in the West; he often wants promising men to take charge of some big thing, and it means a dandy opening; big money and no end of social and political pull to get into one of his berths.  He’s promised me one when I’m done college, and I was going to talk to him about Court.  He’s twice the man I am and just what Uncle Ramsey wants.  He’s coming on East next week, and likely to stop over.  I might see what I can do.”

“That’s just the thing, Nelly.  Go to it, old man!  Write unc. a letter to-night.  Nothing like giving a lot of dope beforehand.”

“That’s an idea!  I will!” and Tennelly went to his desk and began to write.

Meantime Gila awaited Courtland’s coming, attired in a most startling costume of blue velvet and ermine, with high laced white kid boots, and a hat that resembled a fresh, white setting-hen, tied down to her pert little face with a veil whose large-meshed surface was broken by a single design, a large black butterfly anchored just across her dainty little nose.  A most astonishing costume in which to appear in the Rev. John Burns’s unpretentious little church crowded with the canaille of the city!