Part 9 (2/2)

”Well, come in at this time to-morrow,” said Mr Depaw, ”and let me knohat you have decided to do”

Archie hurried at once to Mr Jennings's office to tell hiood news He wondered how his friend would take it, but all his fears were soon put at rest ”Archie,” said Mr Jennings, ”this is the best opportunity you can ever have to ihly respected all over the country, and a man who is known to be extraordinary in many ways association with such a e, and you will make a mistake if you do not accept his offer Of course we shall all be sorry to lose you here, but, as Mr Depaw says, you will have so, and we hope you will always continue to do some work for us”

Archie could al hi, and when, a little later, Mr Van Bunting said practically the sa, he felt that he had never knoo such et them, but would try and spend as much time as possible in the Enterprise office

The next day he called again on Mr Depaw, and told hiood et it, Archie,” he said It was arranged for hiin work the very next day ”You can transfer your things tofor you, and I will begin to-s”

And now Archie found it hard to leave the dear little roo now just as when he saw it first The leaves in the trees were turning brown and gold, and Archie realised that he had been away froo back soon,” he said to himself, ”or I shall simply die of homesickness”

In a couple of days he was installed as a member of the Depaw household, and he soon felt at hoiven a handso sees about it all was that he had access to the fine library, and he longed for the long winter evenings when he could devour thebooks he saw there He was soon initiated into his work, and it was much easier than he had expected Mr Depaw, of course, started hi Every ht o'clock he was in the library with Mr Depaw, taking dictation, and receiving instructions for the day They reether here until ten o'clock, when Mr Depaw either walked or drove to his office

Archie always accoe of so Then at noon he returned to the house, where he spent the afternoon in writing the letters which had been dictated in the s for Mr Depaw

The evenings he always had to hih to do at ho out He al, but occasionally he was asked to accompany the family to some musical event at the opera house, for they had soon learned of his love for music

In work and study the winter passed quickly and happily for Archie, who now felt quite at ease aht go ho approached Mr Depaw proestion of Mr Depaw that Archie's mother come to New York for a as heartily accepted by Archie, but when he wrote home Mrs Dunn replied that she would rather wait for Archie at home She had never visited New York, and felt that she wouldn't like it

Bill Hickson came over very often from the navy yard, and was always a welcome visitor at Mr Depaw's office He didn't seem to care for his work in Brooklyn, however, and Archie finally requested a place for hiant new station which the road had just constructed in the city Mr Depaw very readily gave him an excellent position, one which he could keep always if he so desired And Bill was highly pleased with his neork, soby leading into the once a young lady whom he introduced as his wife Of course Archie was very ht that his friend -house

The days were all busy ones for Archie now He had learned the work so thoroughly that he was given more than ever to do, and he still continued to write, too, for the Enterprise He worked too hard, however, and in April he looked so thin that Mr Depaw sent him home for a week's rest

CHAPTER XXVI

DECIDES TO VISIT HOME--A GREAT RECEPTION IN THE TOWN--A PUBLIC CHARACTER NOW--DINNER TO THE HUT CLUB--DEMONSTRATION AT THE TOWN HALL-- A TELEGRAM FROM HIS EMPLOYER LEAVING FOR EUROPE

IT was a beautiful April day There had been a light shower in the reen as possible all along the railway Archie lay back in his co, and thinking, too, of the days he spent in walking along this very road It seemed hard to believe that he was now secretary to the president of this railroad, and that he was returning ho man He had much to think of in the hours it would take hi about the place, and his mother as he saw her last, and it wasn't at all difficult for hied! He als different

He had changed, that rown to lookparticularly strong He used to be so sturdy, and he had such a splendid colour in his cheeks Mother would be sorry to see him now, but of course he would be sure to i old friends

He was very anxious to see his boy friends, the irls ere in his class at school He had telegraphed his , so she would probably tell the boys about it He was sure they would be there

Now the stations looked more familiar This one just passed was near the Tinch far for old Hiram, and how he had suffered He wondered if the farmer had ever seen any copies of the Enterprise It would be very interesting to him to know that his chore-boy was now a secretary to a millionaire This next station he remembered very well indeed, because he used to come here every fall to visit the county fair, where he s he saw in the side-shows

And now the train was entering the limits of his on Here was the old elevator, and the machine shop near the railway track And, oh, there was his own horeen and pleasant as the train sped by

It alht tears to Archie's eyes to think that he was so soon to see his mother Now they had reached the station, and he stood upon the car platforht My, what a crowd there was! and why did they cheer as he made his appearance? All at once it dawned upon him that all these people were here to meet him, and to bid him welcome home He could hardly speak as he found hian to shake the hands of the big crowd They were all old friends, and then there was the ation of leading citizens How nice it was of them to welco was over, and the et a few minutes with Archie ”We are all very proud of what you have accoive you a public reception to-ht in the town hall, if you don't object” Archie stared blankly at the mayor, and it was severalof the words Then he was alood to be true, it seemed, but he warmly thanked the mayor, and told him how he appreciated the honour which they had done hilad to attend the reception

The croas scattering now, and Archie, wild to reach hoe, in which they drove rapidly out to the little house a the trees and arbours The old town looked beautiful in every way The great reen with new leaves, and every dooryard was bright with soballs and yellow roses ”This is the very best time of the year,” he said to his mother, ”and I am the very happiest boy in all the world”

”And I am the happiest mother,” was the answer Then they sat in silence until they reached the old home They entered by the kitchen door, and, once inside, and seated in the old cane rocking-chair, Archie bowed his head in tears of joy at being hoain

The hours which folloere sith joy Mrs Dunn busied herself in preparing the supper, and Archie hung around the kitchen, telling sos he had planned to tell Mrs Dunn was sht her the sweetest ed so to-day

Supper over, Archie went over the fence to see the Sullivan boys, and he found thelad to see theh at first they were just a little bashful, res which had happened to Archie since they saw hi all about the Hut Club, though, and Archie learned to his joy that it was still a flourishi+ng organisation ”We spoke of you every tiether,” said Jack, ”and ished you were back again”

Archie was delighted to hear that he had been missed, and all at once an idea came to him which he put into execution three days later He deterant dinner to this club of boys, and the very next day he sent to New York for a caterer to arrange it He wanted it to be so finer than any of the boys had ever seen, and it certainly turned out to be so The caterer did his best, and when, three days later, the Hut Club sat down together for the first tihteen months, they partook of a dinner which would have done credit to Mr Depaw's table It was a ht for them all, and every boy enjoyed himself