"Well, I will have," repeated the boy. "And anyhow, I don't believe I've eaten so much more than other folks. I notice you don't mention little Carlie here. He's worried down some food to-day, and like as not Hal Harling has, too. What's more, I'll bet a hat Hal won't go supperless to bed." At that moment a rap came at the door and Mary sprang forward to admit the very young gentleman in question. "You see, I'm returning your call on schedule time," grinned he, shaking the snow from his outer garments. "I can't stay but a moment; but I had to come and tell you what's happened. What do you think of that?" Diving into his pocket he held forth a handsome watch and chain. "Who've you been robbing?" drawled Carl. "I don't wonder you say so, kid. Can you beat it? Did you ever see such a beauty?" "But--but--Hal, where on earth did you get a thing like that?" "Well may you ask, kid! Think of me hitched to a gold watch! Oh, it's mine all right. Have a look inside the back cover. There's my name, you see, in perfectly good English." "Where _did_ you get it, Hal?" demanded Mrs. McGregor, as the gift traveled from one admiring hand to another. "You'd never guess, any of you. It came from my worst enemy." The big fellow threw back his head and laughed a ringing laugh. "But that tells us nothing. You have a million enemies," blurted out Carl. "It certainly is from our friends we learn the truth," Hal replied with cheerfulness. "You're not a flatterer, are you, Carlie?" "But I can't imagine who should present you with a gold watch," Carl mused, ignoring the comment. "Oh, you're not half bright to-day. What's the matter with you?" hectored Hal, who was enjoying the sensation he had created. "He's eaten too much turkey," Tim piped. "I guess that's it," agreed young Harling. "Come, gather your wits together. Louise guessed the conundrum. You ought to be as smart as she is." Vaguely Carl studied his friend's face. "Of course it couldn't be from Corcoran," ventured he, as if thinking aimlessly. "And why not?" "Why, because--why Corcoran wouldn't--why should Corcoran give you a present like that?" "The very words I said myself!" "Do you mean to say it _was_ Corcoran?" "Well, it wasn't from Corcoran himself. But he had the buying of it. The watch came from the Corcoran kid and Midget, the dog." "Oh!" Carl gasped, a wave of understanding flooding his face. "It was because of what you did that day. I'd almost forgotten." "So had I. Corcoran thanked me up at the works some time afterward; you remember I told you about it. Well, I thought that was the end of the matter," Hal explained. "But evidently the Corcorans thought they wouldn't leave it there. So--" with a flourish he held up the gift. "Oh, Hal, I think that was splendid of them," Mrs. McGregor declared. "You deserve it, too. Carl said you might have been killed that day."