“She wanted to know why you didn’t bring the pin yourself.”

“What’d you tell her?”

“Oh, I told her you were too busy to bother.”

“No—­honest—­”

“I told her you had no time for girls. She said it was just lovely. I don’t know whether she meant you or the pin. She said the tracking was miraculous.”

“She don’t know who—­”

“No, her father’s not going to tell her. I’ve got him cinched. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was cashier in his bank in another six months-but don’t mention it at camp fire, will you?”

Tom laughed. “What did she say?” he repeated.

“I told you’s teen-eleven times.”

“Well, I forget.”