"Of course we did. You don't mean to say that it was the fear of having a reward forced upon you that kept you away?"
"Well, sir," replied Al, "I confess that had something to do with it."
The mayor laughed heartily.
"This is really refreshing," he said. "My lad, I am interested in you more than ever, now. Well, I promise you that, if you insist upon it, the subject shall not be referred to this evening."
"But I do not insist," said Al. "The fact is, Mr. Anderson, I came here to-night to ask you to make your promise good."
Both the mayor and his wife stared at the lad in surprise.
"You mean," said the former, "that you are here to claim your reward?"
"That is what I mean, sir."
There was, perhaps, just a shade of disappointment on the face of Mr. Anderson; it may be he was thinking that another idol had been rather rudely shattered. But he only said:
"I am glad you have changed your mind, my boy. What reward do you wish? My little daughter's life is worth more to me than anything else on earth, so you need not be too modest in your request. How much shall it be? I will write a check for any reasonable amount you choose to name."