"Yes, sir."
Pen put on his hat and coat, took his umbrella, and went out into the rain. Six blocks away he stopped at Elmer Cuddeback's door and rang the bell. Elmer himself came in answer to the ring.
"Come out on the porch a minute," said Pen. "I want to speak to you."
Elmer came out and closed the door behind him.
"Tell me," continued Pen, "what became of the flag this afternoon, after I left."
"Oh, we picked it up and carried it into the school-house. Why?"
"My grandfather wants to know."
"Well, you can tell him it isn't hurt much. It got tore a little bit in one corner; and it had some dirt on it. But we cleaned her up, and dried her out, and put her back in her place."
"Thank you for doing it."
"Oh, that's all right. But, say, Pen, I'm sorry for you."