When Tom Rover arrived he looked rather tired out, but he greeted all the boys with a smile and gave each of the girls the kiss he knew they were expecting.
“Oh, I’m in it neck deep,” he answered, in reply to his sons’ questions. “They must think I can talk just like a coffee-grinder grinds out coffee. And the nerve of some of them!” he continued. “Here they have asked me to go somewhere uptown and meet a lot of bankers and tell them how some of the work on the Liberty Loan is to be done! As if those bankers don’t know as much about it as I do, and maybe more!”
“You’ve bought some of the bonds yourself, haven’t you, Dad?” questioned Randy.
“Yes, Son—twenty thousand dollars’ worth, and The Rover Company, as a company, has taken twice that amount.”
“And my father has taken twenty thousand dollars’ worth, too,” said Mary.
“And so has mine,” added Martha.
“All told, I think we’re doing pretty well by Uncle Sam!” cried Jack. “Just the same, Uncle Tom, I think it’s a shame that they are going to make you stay behind to run the business.”
“I won’t stay behind if things get much warmer!” burst out Tom Rover suddenly. “I’ll put somebody in my place and grab a gun and go after those Huns.”
“Hurrah! that’s the way to talk,” cried Andy enthusiastically.
“Would you really, Dad?” burst out Randy, his eyes shining.