"But we've got to have the cash, kid! _Got to have it_, don't you see? It was I who landed us in this plight and I'm the one to get us out. It's nobody's fault but mine." Carl sighed. "I suppose Corcoran wouldn't----" "Take Louise back if I were to humble myself," flared Hal. "Do you think for a moment I'd ask him? Do you imagine I'd gratify him by letting him know how hard he'd hit us? Not on your life! For all he knows the Harlings are rich as mud and don't care a hurrah for his old job. I want him to think that too. If he pictures me eating out of his hand he's mistaken." Carl looked grave. "It is all very well to be proud," affirmed he, smiling at his friend's characteristic attitude of mind. "But sometimes you can't afford to be too cocky. If, as you say, you pitched into Corcoran and were wrong----" "But I wasn't wrong," broke in Hal. "I meant every word I said; it was the truth and I'd say it again if I got the chance. You'd have said the same yourself if you'd been there. The thing that got his goat was that it was true." "But you can't go round telling people the truth about themselves, old man," observed Carl with a wisdom far beyond his years. "They won't stand for it." "I'll bet I would. I'd a darn sight rather a person told me straight to my face what he thought of me than whispered it behind my back." "That's what I'm trying to do now," grinned Carl. Young Harling's lips curved into a smile. "Why, so you are, kid," returned he. "I didn't recognize the stunt at first. You're a mighty white little chap, Carl. Maybe I was wrong to light into Corcoran as I did. Of course he is my superior and I really had no business to sarse him, even if he was wrong. But he is such a cad! It made my blood boil to hear him berate that poor little Mayo girl--and for something she did not do, too." "I know." "Well, if you were in this mess what would you do? Come now. Give me some of your sage advice." "You don't suppose you ought to go to----" "Corcoran and apologize?" interrupted Hal hotly. "No, I don't. I'd starve before I'd do that." "But how about your grandfather, your mother, and Louise?" "I shan't let them starve, if that's what you mean. You can bet your life on that," cried Hal. "If anybody goes without it will be myself." "You seem to be doing it all right." "How do you know?" "Don't you suppose I've eyes in my head? You're thin as a rail already." "Huh! That's only because I've been chasing round with bundles. I was too fat, anyway; didn't get enough exercise at the mills." "Hal Harling!" "Straight goods, I didn't. Just stood and fed stuff into that loom from morning till night. You don't call that exercise, do you?" "I noticed that by night you were often all in, exercise or no exercise," was the dry response. "Well, you've got to go your own gait, I guess." "I'll bet a hat _you_ wouldn't go and bow down to Corcoran." The thrust told. "Bow down to him? I'd crack his nut!"