Mr. Strong found that business made it necessary for him to go at once to Halifax. When this became a certainty, he offered to take the boys with him, provided they could get their parents’ consent. Of course, they jumped at the chance, and for a few hours afterward kept the wires hot with telegrams to the home folks. Finally consent was gained, and it was a jubilant quartette that conveyed the news to Mr. Strong.
“That’s fine, boys,” said he, heartily. “I hated to think of the trip ending with a train ride home. I’ll get the boat tickets, and we’ll start for Halifax about noon tomorrow.”
He took out his watch, which was without a chain, and in some way it slipped from his hand and fell to the floor. With a regretful exclamation, Bob jumped to pick it up.
Mr. Strong examined the watch ruefully, shook it and put it to his ear.
“Done for, I guess, until a jeweler repairs it,” he remarked. “I hardly know how to do without one.”
“Use mine,” volunteered Bob, taking from his pocket the beautiful watch he had received on his last birthday.
“I don’t want to rob you,” said Mr. Strong, hesitating. But Bob insisted so strongly that he at last acquiesced.
“Didn’t think you’d ever let that watch go out of your hands, Bob,” said Joe, when they were alone, for he knew how highly his chum prized it.
“I wouldn’t ordinarily,” replied Bob. “But Mr. Strong’s been so kind to us that it’s little enough to do for him. He’ll need it only till he gets his own watch fixed.”
“But he can’t get that done at once.”