"It is mighty nice for us," put in Mr. Tolman cordially. "So Dick is setting forth on his education, is he?"
"Yes, he is starting out to make of himself a good scholar, a good sport, a good athlete, and I hope a good man," returned the New Yorker.
"A pretty big order, isn't it, Dick?" laughed Mr. Tolman.
"It seems so," returned the boy.
"It is not a bit too big," interrupted Mr. Ackerman. "Dick knows he hasn't got to turn the trick all in a minute. He and I understand such things take time. But they can be done and we expect we are going to do them."
He flashed one of his rare smiles toward his protégé and the lad smiled back frankly.
"I expect so, too," echoed Mr. Tolman. "You've got plenty of backers behind you, Dick, and you have a clear path ahead. That is all any boy needs."
"You're going back to school, aren't you, youngster?" Mr. Ackerman suddenly inquired of Stephen.
"Yes, sir. I start in next week."
"Decided yet whether you will be a railroad man like your Dad, or a steamboat man like me?" went on the New Yorker facetiously.