"Oh, you needn't let up on me," said Fred. "I am not kicking on that sort of thing. What the deuce is the matter with her, Bob?" "I have just told her what her tip on Rock Island had made for her," Bob replied. "Ah! She will get a nice plum out of the pie. But look here, girls. If you give us away, there's no telling what may happen. It would do mischief, and a lot of it, too." "I won't say a word," said Gertie. "Nor will I," said Callie. "Well, let's see if girls really can keep a secret," and then he sat down and told how he had given Bowles and Bryant a deadly blow, and how the old man had to be carried out of the Exchange. "Great Scott!" exclaimed Bob. "I'd have given a thousand to have seen Bryant when he got it in the neck." "Oh, he was sick," said Fred. "You'd have to buy a bale of wool to hang up if you want to display his fleece." "That would be cruel," said Gertie. They all laughed and were a happy party. Fred sent out and ordered a carriage to take them off uptown, saying: "I don't want to meet any of those fellows to-day." "What are you afraid of?" Bob asked him. "I am afraid about ten thousand questions will be asked me." They rode uptown in a carriage for the first time since the bank was opened, and the two girls were delighted. The boys saw them to their homes and then had a quiet talk over the situation. "Mr. Allison has been guyed unmercifully about his kids, Bob," Fred said, "and he has stood by us like a father. Let's give him $5,000 to-morrow as a token of our appreciation of him." "I am willing," Bob replied. "The old man is our friend." "Yes, indeed he is." The next morning, when the old cashier came to the bank, he shook hands with both of the boys, saying: "They made it pretty hot for me about my 'kids,' but I guess we have made it pretty uncomfortable for some of them." "I think we have, too," Fred replied. "Here's our check to you for $5,000 for the way you have stood by us." "The devil!" gasped the old man in dumfounded amazement. "Do you give me that?" "Yes, of course." He grasped their hands again. "Boys," he said, choking with emotion, "I--I don't know what to say. God bless me, I don't!" and he jerked out his handkerchief and blew his nose a half dozen times. "That's all right, Mr. Allison. We want you to grow up with us." "Call me pop, boys--call me pop after this--as my other children do," and the old fellow had to wipe his eyes and his glasses.