“That’s good. Getting on all right, are you?”
“Yes, sir.”
“But, look here, Kendall— By the way, I can’t recall your last name, my boy. Was it Benson?”
“Burtis, sir.”
“Burtis, of course!” Mr. Dana slapped his knee. “And how are your folks, Burtis? Father and mother well, I hope? They’re nice people. We had a bully summer up there that time.”
“Yes, sir, thank you, they’re all well.”
“And the old spotted cow that chased me out of the barnyard one morning? How’s she getting on?”
“She’s gone,” laughed Kendall. “We made beef of her.”
“How are the mighty fallen!” said Mr. Dana. “Burtis, that cow was one of the few persons—or things—I was ever afraid of!” He noticed the blue badge on Kendall’s coat and nodded at it. “What sort of a decoration is that? What noble deed have you performed to be allowed to wear that proud insignia?”
“It’s just a badge to get inside the ropes, sir. I was playing football on the Second Team for a while.”