“It was not half as bad as you have made it out, Fan.  And just for a punishment for your laughing so, Nellie, I hope baby will not go to sleep for hours.  I’m off now.”

Merry rippling laughter followed him.  And Fred ran down the stairs, and out of the house, almost hoping somebody might attempt to rob, or murder him even, so that his revolver might prove of great avail, and thus silence Nellie, who was ever talking about what she called his suspicious nature, when it was only necessary caution, he thought.

Soon baby was sleeping soundly, notwithstanding Fred’s wish to the contrary.  And Nellie, putting her into the crib, went to the bureau to arrange her hair.

“Why, Fred has gone without his watch!” she exclaimed.  “I don’t think he ever did that in his life before.  I wonder he has not been back again before this!”

The hours passed swiftly by.  Fannie, with her merry heart, fully compensating Nellie for Fred’s absence.  Eleven o’clock came before they imagined it near so late.  And just then they heard the hall door close, and a moment after Fred entered the room, and in an excited voice exclaimed: 

“Now, ladies, perhaps you will admit the good of carrying a revolver, when I tell you that to-night I have been robbed.”

“Robbed!” exclaimed Nellie and Fannie simultaneously.

“Yes, robbed.  But I did not stay so, many minutes, thanks to my revolver!  Listen, and I’ll tell you all about it.  On my way home I turned Gray’s corner into Fourteenth street.  You know how dark and dismal it is about there—­no lights.  Well, as I turned, a fellow came rushing along, knocked against and nearly sent me down.  And saying quickly, ‘Excuse me, sir,’ hurried on.  I suspected what it was—­a dodge they have when relieving a man of his watch or pocket-book.  I hastened to feel for my watch.  It was gone.”

“Why, Fred, your watch—­”

“Stop!  Don’t interrupt me.  Wait until I’ve done.”

The girls exchanged looks—­mirthful first, anxious after.

“In a second I was after him.  Presenting my revolver, I bade him hand me the watch.  He resisted.  I covered him with my pistol, and spoke again in a tone which convinced him I was in a dangerous mood.

“‘Hand me that watch.’

“Out it came; and without taking a second look at me, he left.  And thanks to my little beauty here,” tapping his revolver, “I am home again, no worse off than when I started.  Now, what say you?”

“Oh, Fred!  Oh, my dear, what have you done?  Oh, you have robbed that man of his watch!  Yours is on the bureau.  You left it home,” Nellie cried, in a voice of real agitation.

“What?  No!  Surely not!” exclaimed Fred, growing very red, and starting toward the bureau.

Fannie handed to Fred his own watch, at the same time fairly shaking with the laughter she had tried so hard to suppress.

“Oh, Fred, forgive me.  I’m only human; I must laugh or die.”