“Just a minute,” says the president. “What’s your hurry?” “We thought you wanted us to g-go.” “Come back here,” says he. “Come back here. What do you mean, anyhow, coming into my office and talking to me like this? How dare you talk to me like this?” I tell you I was pretty scared, but I looked at Mark and his eyes were twinkling. “I know I was right about you, sir,” says he. “Right? What do you mean?” “That you was f-fair and square, sir.” “H’m!” says the president. “Sit down and be quick. I haven’t any time to waste. Tell me what you want and tell it briefly. No beating around the bush.” Anybody would have thought he was going to bite our heads off. So Mark told him the whole thing from beginning to end, and he told it quick. I hadn’t any idea so much could be told to anybody in such a short time; but then I might have known Mark could do it if he wanted to. When he got right down to business he could be mighty brief, I’ll tell you. “And that’s what you’ve dared to break into my office to bother me with, is it? For a cent I’d have you thrown out. I don’t know but I ought to do worse.” Mark he never said a word, but just looked at the president respectful and confident. The president turned around to his desk and wrote, and then he fairly threw a paper at Mark. “There,” says he. “Now git out.” Mark looked at the paper and I looked over his shoulder. It said: To all officials and employees of the P. G. R. R.: See to it that the bearer, Mark Tidd, is provided with freight-cars at any point to be transported to any other point in the United States within twelve hours of a request. This order is superior to all other rules or embargoes that may be at this time in force. And his name was signed. “Thank you, sir,” says Mark, “and good-by.” He never looked up, and I thought he wasn’t even going to nod his head when we went out, but he called us back again. “D’you know why I gave you that order?” says he. “I think so, sir,” says Mark. “Well, you don’t,” says the president, “but I’ll tell you. It’s because you’ve got the most tremendous crust in the world. It’s because you weren’t afraid, and it was because you had the backbone to force your way in here and compel me to talk to you. That’s why. Now git.” We got. CHAPTER XIV “Now,” says Mark Tidd when we were on the train again, “I guess we kin go to work l-l-lookin’ for George Piggins.” “Somethin’ else is apt to happen,” says I. “You can’t never tell.” “I guess ’most everything has h-happened,” says he. “There hain’t much more left.” Then all of a sudden he give me a poke in the ribs and says, “_Tod Nodder_.” “Eh?” says I. “Tod Nodder,” says he. “What about him? Tod Nodder hain’t no reason for pokin’ me black and blue.” “Who was he always loafin’ around with?” “Why, George Piggins!” says I. “Never seen one without the other, did you?” “Not that I know of.” “Well?” says he.