"Oh, don't worry about that," he grinned as he crossed his long and powerfully built legs. "We stage a mock battle once a week for the neighbors." "By George, that's shrewd. So what're you doing in town?"

"Look." He rose and beckoned me to the window. There sitting in front of the house was a truck filled with furniture.

"What on earth . . .! Are you moving?"

"The house we've been renting was sold and we have to get out."

"I say, that's a damnable shame! But what are you doing with it here? Bob, you know I'm overflowing with all these ancient family heirlooms. There's not a vacant corner in this dreary old house."

"Please, don't panic. I've rented an apartment over on Chamberlayne Boulevard. I'm just taking this load over."

"In that case I insist you let me help you. I'm withering from lack of something to do as t'is."

A sly gleam crept into his eyes. "That's why I came here first. Some of that stuff is too big for one person to handle."

"Splendid! I'm eager to see your new place so why not let's charge over now?" "OK with me."

"Wait, I'll get my coat. It is cold?"

"It's miserable."

As we shuffled out to the truck, I remarked happily, "Bob, how marvelous it is that you and Eve and I will be in the same city now!"

By this time, he had gone to the other side of the truck and made no reply. How strange it is that riding in automobiles causes some people to talk feverishly while it reduces others to a catatonic stare out of the windows. I myself am usually of the loquacious variety, but suddenly I found myself in deep thought as we sped along.

How nice, indeed, that he would be no near. I had always found his calmly supermasculine manner perhaps a little more than interesting. Exciting would better fill the bill. What a pity that he was so all-fired straight. But with him now in the city I could visit often and get some small vicarious pleasure from it all if nothing else. I looked up from my thoughts just in time to see him watching a healthy looking young woman undulate down the street. What a pity, indeed.

We reached the apartment and took a quick tour through it and found it quite nice having been just refurbished for its new tenant. Soon we put on gloves and proceeded to unload and bring in the furniture. There was nothing really heavy, and the thought struck me that had none of the pieces been so awkwardly shaped he could have easily carried them by himself so solidly was he put together.

At length we had brought everything in and now sat about contemplating where things should go.

"You're better at this end of the operation," he told me. "I wouldn't know where to put anything."

"I doubt that," I said a little mendaciously. "But you do deserve a medal for having the aforethought to turn on the heat."

"It is nice in here, isn't it."

"Say, help me with this couch. I know just the place for it."

So wrapped up in our work had we become that night fell without our knowing it. Sometime, someone unconsciously put on lights and it was after nine before we collapsed for a rest. The radio was switched on and we abandoned our labors

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