"That's so too," commented Mr. Chaffner. "Anyway, keep your mouth tight shut, and your eyes wide open, and if you think your boss is getting into deep water, you come and tell me. I want things to go right with _you_, because I'm depending on that poem for my front page, soon." Mickey held out his hand. "Sure!" he agreed. "I'm in an awful good place now to work up the poetry piece, being right out among the cows and clover. And about Mr. Bruce, gee! I wish he was plowing corn. I just hate his job he's doing now. Sure if I see rocks I'll make a run for you. Thanks Boss!" Mickey had lost time, and he hurried, but things seemed to be happening, for as he left the elevator and sped down the hall, he ran into Mr. James Minturn. With a hasty glance he drew back, and darted for the office door. Mr. Minturn's face turned a dull red. "One minute, young man!" he called. "I'm late," said Mickey shortly. "I must hurry." "Bruce is late too. I just came from his office and he isn't there," answered Mr. Minturn. "Well I want to get it in order before he comes." "In fact you want anything but to have a word to say to me!" hazarded Mr. Minturn. "Well then, since you are such a good guesser, I ain't just crazy about you," said Mickey shortly. "And I'm tired of having you run from me as if I were afflicted with smallpox," said Mr. Minturn. "If your blood is right, smallpox ain't much," said Mickey. "I haven't a picture of myself running from _that_, if it really wanted a word with me." "But you have a picture of yourself running from me?" "Maybe I do," conceded Mickey. "I've noticed it on occasions so frequent and conspicuous that others, no doubt, will do the same," said Mr. Minturn. "If you are all Bruce thinks you, then you should give a man credit for what he tries to do. You surprised me too deeply for words with the story you brought me one day. I knew most of your facts from experience, better than you did, except the one horrible thing that shocked me speechless; but Mickey, when I had time to adjust myself, I made the investigations you suggested, and proved what you said. I deserve your scorn for not acting faster, but what I had to do couldn't be done in a day, and for the boys' sake it had to be done as privately as possible. There's no longer any reason why you should regard me as a monster----" "I'm awful glad you told me," Mickey said. "I surely did have you sized up something scandalous. And yet I couldn't quite make out how, if my view was right, Mr. Bruce and Miss Leslie would think so much of you." "They are friends I'm proud to have," said Mr. Minturn. "And I hope you'll consider being a friend to me, and to my boys also. If ever a times comes when I can do anything for you, let me know." "Now right on that point, pause a moment," said Mickey. "You _are_ a friend to my boss?"