CHAPTER VI. 
THE SECOND STEP, OR A CASKET OF POND 
JEWELRY. 
A FTER accompanying the Deans to their 
home, the two young friends repaired to 
the quietness of their own room, both seeming 
to be in a somewhat reflective mood, which was 
at last broken by Rudolph, who said. 
Well, Charley, what is the prime factor in 
this day’s experience? Is it cold chicken, ani¬ 
mated calico, or confervoid algae? As to my 
conclusions, I think I could make a tolerable 
life of it with such surroundings.” 
“ Ah yes, perhaps so,” was the rejoinder, “ but 
I have not yet quite succeeded in fixing the 
equations of the problem to my satisfaction. 
The cold chicken was excellent, flirting with the 
girls delightful, and the doctor’s conversation 
very entertaining; all of which will leave a more 
agreeable recollection of the dismal surround- 
64 
