I didn’t think I’d ever regret leaving this little old burg, but I certainly think I’ve missed a lot not having you people for friends. No, don’t say anything. I know you likely wouldn’t care for me any more than you ever did if I stayed, but let me go away with the illusion that you would, can’t you? A fellow has to have someone to tie to!”

“You make us ashamed, Bob, that we have been so unfriendly,” said Sherrill. “Won’t you put it this way, that we just haven’t got to know the real you? We didn’t mean to be horrid, really we didn’t.”

“You make me feel more than ashamed, Bob,” said Alan, laying a friendly arm across the other’s shoulder. “Let’s make up for the loss from now on, shall we? What say we’ll be real partners in this job across the sea. You’re the representative on the field, and I’m the home correspondent or something.”

“Okay with me,” said Bob heartily. “Boy, you don’t know how it feels to have you say that. I can’t ever thank—”

“Cut it out, pard!” said Alan huskily. “Here, have some more lemonade.”

They had a merry time and ate up every scrap of sandwich and every crumb of cake, drinking the lemonade to the last drop. Then suddenly Bob Lincoln sprang up.

“I must go!” he declared, looking at his watch. “It’s awfully late, and I’ve got a lot of work cut out for me tomorrow. First I’ve got to hand in my resignation to the Rockland Canning Factory, which same I shall enjoy doing; and then I’ve got to get all that junk in that list together and pack. There’s a few things in that list I don’t believe I can compass, but I don’t reckon it matters. I’ve learned pretty much to get along without things lately anyhow,” and he laughed a careless little ripple, the kind he had been used to giving to cover his angry feelings.

Sherrill and Alan looked at him with sudden comprehension. This was the old Bob they had not liked. Had it been that he covered up his loneliness with this attitude and they had not understood him?

Then Alan spoke quickly. “Look here, old man,” he said, “you and I have got to have a good talk fest tonight. Suppose you come home with me for the night. Then we can get everything thrashed out. You know we’re partners. You’re taking my place, and it’s sort of up to me to see that you have everything in your outfit you need. Yes, that’s my part. Come on, old boy, let’s get down to brass tacks!”

Bob looked at Alan with sudden wonder.

“You’re great!” he said, with deep feeling in his voice. “What a fool I was! I used to think all that church going you did was just a pose. I called you a hypocrite once right in the school yard! And I believed you were. But now I see— Well, I can’t tell you how I feel about this. I’m not going to let you do anything more for me of course, but—it’s awfully decent and fine of you to talk that way.”

“Come along, pard!” said Alan laughing. “We’ll settle our differences in private. Come, we haven’t any time to waste.”

Alan gave him a push toward the door, but he paused before Sherrill.

“Good night, Sherrill,” Bob said earnestly. “You’ve given me an awfully nice evening, and I shall always remember it.