Mr. Parker’s glance was searching, but his lips were smiling.
“To the best of my information, you’ve behaved remarkably well!” said he emphatically.
“Oh!” It was all Sam could say.
“Yes,” his father went on. “I’ve been at some pains to inquire into your conduct. I’ve examined and cross-examined Lon and the boys who were with you at the camp and afterward. By the way, two of them were unusually excellent witnesses.”
“Yes, sir?” said Sam questioningly.
Mr. Parker’s smile broadened. “One was Willy Reynolds, who——”
“What! The Shark?... That’s a nickname we have for him, you know.”
“Ah! The Shark?”
“Yes, sir—he’s a bug on mathematics.”
“A bug, therefore a Shark—I don’t quite master the sequence of ideas, but never mind that! Master Reynolds struck me as a quaint person, but instructive. He seems to seek precision of statement, and begrudge unnecessary words. Then there was young Orkney—very intelligent fellow, and a very good friend of yours, isn’t he?”