“I was afraid, at first,” answered the boy, reflectively, “that I hadn’t pulled Nan out quick enough. It was a close call, and no mistake.”
“Well, your reward is at hand. The whole town is praising you, and calling you a hero. And the great man himself has sent for you.”
Will shifted uneasily in his chair.
“You know, Doctor, it wasn’t anything at all,” he said.
“Of course not. One girl, more or less, in the world doesn’t make much difference.”
“I don’t mean that. Annabel’s a brick, and worth jumping into twenty ponds for. But anyone could have done the same as I did.”
“To be sure. How are the toad-stools coming?”
Will knew the doctor was in a good humor when he called their product “toad-stools.” If he was at all worried he spoke of them as “mushrooms.”
“Pretty good. But what does Mr. Williams want to see me about?” he enquired.
“Wants to give you ten dollars for saving his daughter’s life, perhaps.”