"Alexander McMurtrie Sands, that it is your patriotic purpose to procure an American flag for use in your school. With this purpose I am in hearty accord. It will therefore give me great pleasure, my dear madam, to procure for you at once, at my sole expense, and present to your school, an appropriate banner, to be followed in due season by a fitting staff. I trust that my purpose and desire may commend themselves to you. I wish also that your pupil, the aforesaid Master Sands, shall have full credit for having so successfully called this matter to my attention; and to that end I make him sole bearer of this communication. "I remain, my dear madam, "Your obedient servant, "Richard Butler." January 12th. Colonel Butler read the letter over slowly aloud, folded the subscription paper on which it had been written, and handed it to Aleck. "There, young man," he said, "are your credentials, and my offer." The shrieking whistle had already announced the approach of the train, and the easy puffing of the locomotive indicated that it was now standing at the station. The colonel rose from his chair and started across the room, followed by Aleck. "You're very kind to do that," said the boy. And he added: "Have you a grip that I can carry to the train for you?" "No, thank you! A certain act--rash perhaps, but justifiable,--in the civil war, cost me an arm. Since then, when traveling, I have found it convenient to check my baggage." He pushed his way through the crowd on the platform, still followed by Aleck, and mounted the rear steps of the last coach on the train. The engine bell was ringing. The conductor cried, "All aboard!" and signalled to the engineer, and the train moved slowly out. On the rear platform, scanning the crowd at the station, stood Colonel Butler, tall, soldierly, impressive. He saw Aleck and waved his hand to him. And at that moment, capless, breathless, hopeless, around the corner of the station into sight, dashed Pen Butler. CHAPTER II Pen was not only exhausted by his race, he was disappointed and distressed as well. Whether or not his grandfather had seen him as the train moved out he did not know. He simply knew that for him not to have been there on time was little less than tragical. He dropped down limply on a convenient trunk to regain his breath. After a minute he was aware that some one was standing near by, looking at him. He glanced up and saw that it was Aleck Sands. He was nettled. He knew of no reason why Aleck should stand there staring at him. "Well," he asked impatiently, "is there anything about me that's particularly astonishing?" "Not particularly," replied Aleck. "You seem to be winded, that's all." "You'd be winded too, if you'd run all the way from Drake's Hill." "Too bad you missed your grandfather. He was looking for you." "How do you know?" "He told me so. He wanted to know if I'd seen you."