“I’ll tell you,” said Mr. Willing, trying a new line, for he had made up his mind to have Dick accompany them, “you will be able to do some writing on the trip. The sights you will see should mean money to you. You should be able to write many interesting articles when you get back.”
Dick apparently was impressed with this line of reasoning. And now Shirley added her voice to the colonel’s.
“Please, come, Dick?” she said.
“Well,” said the young man after hesitating a long while, “I’ll tell you what I’ll do. If I can make arrangements to get off indefinitely, I’ll go.”
Shirley clapped her hands.
“I’m sure you can,” she cried.
And Mr. Willing muttered to himself:
“I’ll fix it with Harperson!”
The discussion of the trip now became general, and Dick was acquainted with the time they expected to depart.
“You will remain here over night, of course,” said Mr. Willing.