“Step in here a moment, doctor,” he said, pushing open the door to his study. So Doctor Meigs followed him in and sat down.
“I am very grateful for my child’s rescue,” began Mr. Williams, with a slight tremor in his voice. “Tell me, Doctor Meigs, what sort of boy is this Will Carden who proved himself so brave this afternoon?”
“I can’t say,” replied the doctor, a merry twinkle in his eye. “That is, with modesty. For Will is my partner.”
“A doctor!”
“No; a mushroom grower.”
Mr. Williams seemed puzzled, but waited to hear more.
“You’d better see the boy yourself,” continued the doctor. “He’s proud, you’ll find; and he’s very poor.”
“Poor?”
“Yes. His father lost all his money in experimenting with that steel process; and then he started for London and was lost at sea. Therefore the family is dependent mostly upon the industry of this boy.”
“I see.”