“Aw, you know what! Whatever it is you are holding back. Come on; I know you have something to tell.”
Bill was unable to resist. “Well,” he said, “reckon you will be mighty well pleased your own self when I tell you. It was like this. Come time for me to come home, my Aunts wanted to make me a present. Something that I could keep to remember my visit with. Usually they get me something but every other time they have selected it to suit themselves and not me at all. But this time they told me I was growing to be a big boy, and they wanted me to have a choice in the matter. Gee, but I was glad, because usually they get me something about five years too young.
“Well, Rowland, I had an awful time trying to decide what to pick out, and by and by I happened to think of that softy, Fat Bascom and his wireless, and I thought what larks you and I could have with an outfit. We could have it so we could talk at any time, and take messages out of the air for miles and miles. The more I thought of it the more I wanted it.”
“Well,” cried Eddie, “don’t waste time telling how you wanted it. What did you do?”
“I told them that there was one thing I wanted awfully, but I hated to tell them because I was afraid they would think it was foolish and besides, it cost a lot of money; at least to get a good one, and they all said, 'What is it?’ real quick, and I hummed and hawed, and said, 'Well, I’m crazy for a wireless outfit,’ and then I stopped because I thought they would think I was an awful grafter but, Rowland, you never can tell about women. They all cried, 'That’s perfectly fine!’ and 'We are so proud of you, my boy!’ and 'Dearie, how did you come to think up anything so sensible?’”
“So they liked it?” inquired Eddie.
“Liked it? Well, I will say they did! And what do you think? They wrote to Frank, and he is to go down town and buy the best outfit they have down there.”
“When is he going?” asked Eddie breathlessly.
“This afternoon,” answered Bill. “He was busy this morning; had to shine his shoes or something. But we are going down right after luncheon.”
“Well, I’m going too. Can’t I go too?” Eddie demanded, standing up and rolling down his sleeves. “Come on upstairs while I dress!”