“I tell you what,” he said, suddenly, “I’d like to have you go along. Will you?”
“Go along?”
“And hear the other side of it. It’ll do you good, and maybe it’ll do us good to have you,” he added.
“I’ll be glad to,” answered Allan, his face flushing suddenly, and hastened back to his desk to get things in shape so that he could be absent on the morrow.
CHAPTER VIII
MR. ROUND’S DECISION
And so it happened that Allan arose next morning about two hours earlier than usual, in order to catch the five o’clock train for Cincinnati. It reminded him of the far-off days when he was taking his trick of track-walking in the early morning. As he came down the stairs, he saw a yellow band of light under the kitchen door, and he heard somebody clattering about within. He opened the door to find Mary already busy with the kitchen stove.
“Why, Allan,” she said, “what’re ye doin’ up so early?”
“I’ve got to go to Cincinnati on Number One,” he answered. “I’ll be back on Two to-night.”
“Why didn’t ye tell me last night?” she demanded. “I’d ’a’ had your breakfast ready.”