“Not with the grip Billy has got on his old grandfather’s heart,” laughed Leslie. “I never would have believed any child could wind that cold-blooded storekeeper around his little finger. It’s as good as pie to me to see it.”
They headed into town, talking as they went, and, of course, there were many matters to be discussed between them, besides Dick’s latest scheme.
“There’s Mr. Holwell,” remarked Dick, suddenly; “and since he knows so much about my plan I think I’d like to tell him what we’ve just been watching.”
“A good idea too, Dick,” assented the other.
The minister met them with one of his customary pleasant smiles.
“You both look as if something unusually fine had happened this afternoon,” he remarked. “Perhaps you wouldn’t object to telling me about the same.”
“That’s just what we meant to do, sir,” declared Dick. “It’s about Deacon Nocker and little Billy, you see.”
Mr. Holwell immediately showed the most intense interest.
“Then that clever plan of yours must be working out in a satisfactory manner, Dick, my lad,” he remarked, “if I can judge from the happy expression on your face just now.”
“Indeed, I reckon it’s going to be a bully success, sir!” ventured Leslie.