I shan’t forget it.”

“Oh, Bob, is that you?” said Alan, much embarrassed. “You say he wired? Did you get the job? Congratulations.”

“Sit down, Bob,” said Sherrill, rising. “I’m just going in the house for a sweater. It’s a little chilly.”

“Don’t go,” said young Lincoln. “It’s nothing private. You don’t mind if I tell Sherrill, do you?”

“There’s nothing to tell,” said Alan diffidently.

“I think there is,” said Bob, turning to Sherrill. “Alan’s put me in for the chance of my life. I’m going with Professor Hodge to Egypt. Starting day after tomorrow. Can you beat it? And I owe it all to old Mac here. I never even heard of the job until I got the wire, and I needed something the worst way.

“Mac,” he said, turning back to Alan, “I owe you something more than just thanks. I owe you a lot of apologies. I guess there’s plenty of humble pie coming to me. I’ll own I’ve said mean things about you several times, and the time you thrashed me I guess I deserved it even more than you knew. But I never knew you were upright like this. I thought you were a hypocrite. Now I ask your pardon. This is the best thing I ever knew a man to do to his enemy.”

“Oh, Bob, cut that out,” growled Alan, “there was nothing great in what I did. Knew you were keen on such things. Happened to hear you wanting to go away. Since I couldn’t go myself I didn’t see any reason why you shouldn’t profit by it. I hope I’m not a dog in the manger.”

“I’ll say you’re not!” said Bob fervently. “And I’ll have to own that if the chances had been reversed, I’m afraid I would have been. I’d have said I couldn’t go myself but you shouldn’t anyway.”

“Aw, cut it!” said Alan. “You aren’t like that, Bob, and anyhow that doesn’t cut any ice. I’ll own I was upset that I couldn’t go myself, but I’m tickled to death you can, since I can’t.”

“But why can’t you go, Mac? Aren’t you keen about it?”

“Keen? Boy! It’s like the pot of gold and the rainbow all in one to me. I’d rather go than get rich if you know what I mean. But it can’t be done. My dad got run over this morning, and I’ve got to stay by the store and take his place. It’ll be weeks, maybe months, before he’s around again.