TOMMY was at his old desk in the outer office when Thompson arrived on Monday morning.
“How do you do, Mr. Thompson?” said Tommy, boyishly trying not to look as grateful as he felt.
Thompson stopped and shook hands. “I want to get off some letters. Tell Miss Hollins I need her, won't you? When she comes out you come in”; and Thompson passed on.
Tommy waited for the stenographer to come out of Mr. Thompson's office. Then he walked in.
“Who talks first?” asked Thompson.
Tommy, thinking of Bill's needs, said, “I think I'd better.”
“Go ahead!” smiled Thompson.
Then Tommy told him about Bill's experiments and what he and Bill had done and what Professor Jenkins said, and then showed him Mr. Kemble's letter, which Thompson read carefully. Tommy waited. Thompson folded the letter, returned it to Tommy, and said:
“Tommy, you knew what you didn't have, so you went to the right place to get it.”
“Yes, sir. Bill wants to see you.”