“Oh, no, it ain’t that, Ralph. You’re nothing to me. I’ve been a bad man in my day, but I give you my word I’d never desert a kid that belonged to me. Drink has been at the bottom of all my evildoing, though it is my own fault. Latterly, I’ve managed to get a grip on myself, and p’raps it ain’t too late to wipe out some of my past. You come to see me this night, lad, and don’t fail. I reckon I’ll be in a frame of mind to let a few things drop. I ought to, I know. There’s something more than accident in our meeting up in this way. It means Fate, that’s what!” “I’ll be there, without fail, sir. How could I keep away? And, oh, I hope and pray you won’t change your mind between now and night,” faltered the boy, as he put his hand out and touched that of the driver. Perhaps it was that confiding touch that did it, or possibly Smalling’s eyes chanced to fall upon the neatly bandaged hand of Mary just then, and he was overwhelmed by a sense of the debt he owed this lad. At any rate he impulsively grasped that extended hand and squeezed it warmly. “I’m going to do more than give a half promise, Ralph. Take my word for it, that when you come to-night I’ll clear up pretty much all this affair about who and what you are. And, lad, you needn’t worry any more, because it’s goin’ to be all right,” was what he said. “Oh, thank you ever so much for that promise! It will give me heart to do my level best to-day; and I have need of such a spur, I assure you, Mr. Smalling. There, I had a glimpse of the baseball field just then; and listen, what can they be shouting for?” asked Ralph, as a mighty cheer came rolling toward them. “Some feller has made a star play in practice, I reckon. I’m some keen on ball myself, and calculated on getting over later to the game. P’raps I’ll stop off on the way out from town, though the girl had better be took home to her ma.” “Your wife is living, then?” asked Ralph, even while he was trying to steady his nerves for the sight that would soon break upon his vision as he entered the big enclosure where Columbia High boys usually met to enjoy baseball, football, and most outdoor sports. “Oh, yes, and Mary has several brothers and sisters. But she always wants to be the one to fetch my dinner,” and from the way he looked down at the girl it was evident that she must be his favorite. “Here’s where I must jump out, sir,” said Ralph, suiting the action to the word as they came opposite a big open gate. “Then I’ll look for you to-night?” asked Smalling, his eyes ranging up and down the clean built figure of the lad approvingly, and with a light kindling in his eyes. “Unless they do me up so well this afternoon that I can’t walk, I’ll be there,” replied the other, smilingly. “Goodby, Ralph,” said the little girl, holding out her well hand. “I won’t forget how nice you was. And I’m going to do up these for you, too,” pointing to the several handkerchiefs Ralph had used to bind up her hand, and make a sling.