FINIS 199 



did not embarrass them in the least, though I felt 

 somewhat vaguely that it should. 



"Why, how do you do?" exclaimed the girl, cor- 

 dially. "Off to the banquet, I suppose 1" 



"Yes! Wetherby's told you the news, of course. 

 About his father, I mean." 



"Bless you, I knew all about it yesterday! Mr. 

 Wetherby dined with us he and Father are old 

 friends and we planned the feast for you boys as 

 a sort of * welcome home.' 



"Afterward you're all to come up to our house. 

 Some of the girls are coming over and we'll try 

 and amuse you for awhile, if you aren't too tired 

 out for such frivolity." 



I expressed my individual pleasure at this ar- 

 rangement and continued on my way to the Chink's, 

 feeling a little as if I had stepped off the back plat- 

 form of a swiftly moving train. What a busy little 

 town Silver was! 



We enjoyed the dinner immensely, with the pos- 

 sible exception of Bert. The uncompromising cook 

 plainly appeared to suspect the genuineness of the 

 hospitality of any father of Horace's. His sense of 

 propriety triumphed, however, over his uneasiness, 

 and the affair passed off in all respects pleasantly 

 and harmoniously. 



With the coffee and cigars our host rose. 



"I want to say a few words," he began, "before 

 you all leave for the dance which I understand is 

 planned in your honour. 



