Mrs. Fairbanks was congratulating herself that affairs had quieted down permanently and was enjoying the days that brought Ralph home for the evening each day, when a new ripple on the surface of affairs set things in vivid action again.
Ralph had come home to dinner and was spending a few minutes in casual conversation with his mother after the meal, when the door bell rang sharply. Ralph answered the summons to find Glidden standing outside, his face pale and anxious, and so nervous over something that he could not stand still in the same position for a single minute.
“Any trouble, Mr. Glidden?” inquired Ralph quickly.
“Only of my own,” responded the old operator. “See here, I want you to do something for me. It’s a hurry business. Just tell your mother not to worry if you are away to-night.”
“Is there a probability that I will be?” inquired Ralph.
“If you consent to do me the favor of my life, yes,” declared Glidden quickly. “See here, I’ve fixed everything.”
The operator shoved a slip of paper towards Ralph. It was a brief permission for Ralph to go off for twenty-four hours.
“I had to act quick,” explained Glidden, “so I got that end of it fixed directly.”
“I hardly understand, Mr. Glidden.”
The old operator glanced at his watch and grabbed the arm of his companion.