“He told me so himself. I went over to his room to tell him it was all off between him and me――――” “You went to his room?” broke in Dan. “Yes, that’s just what I did. After I found out that Carlton was not going to die――――” “I’m all right,” interrupted Carlton sharply. The little fellow’s face was still white and betrayed the pain he still was suffering, but the boy’s determination was so manifest that the older boys in the room were quick to see and approve his newly found courage. “That’s the way to talk, kid,” said Hodge encouragingly. “‘Never say die.’ You’re learning to be something more than mamma’s nice little boy. The Tait School will make a man of you yet.” Then turning to Walter he added, “Go on with your merry tale.” “I didn’t know at first,” resumed Walter, “but that he was going to do me as he did Carlton, he was so nearly beside himself. When I told him I was done with him he was worse than ever. He said that was just like me, I’d be like the fellows I was with last and that Hodge and Ned and Dan had set me up to it.” Walter steadily held to his story, though Dan at least was aware of the effort it cost the impulsive boy to relate what Gus had said. “He said,” continued Walter, “that he wasn’t going to see even the doctor, he was just going to leave, and the sooner he could get out the better it would be for everybody.” “I guess he was wise,” laughed Hodge. “I’m glad he’s gone.” “I did my best to calm him down,” said Walter, “for I knew he’d be sorry by to-morrow. He wouldn’t listen to a word I said, though, and now that he has really left I don’t feel sorry. I’m sorry I let him make such a fool of me as he did. I can see it all now.” “Walter,” said Ned more seriously, “did it ever occur to you that Gus Kiggins might have a successor?” “I don’t know what you mean,” replied Walter, his face flushing as he spoke. “Who will be his successor? What kind will he be?” “I’m not going to preach to you, Walter, for I don’t know how, but I’m telling you that a fellow is always ‘up against’ some such proposition. If it isn’t Gus Kiggins, then it’s some other chap that can do his work.” “And you think when Gus’s ‘successor,’ as you call him, comes along that I’ll be following him just the way I did Gus?” “I didn’t say that.” “That is what you meant.” “Walter is all right,” spoke up Dan quietly. “He’s had his medicine――――” “You mean the ipecac?” interrupted Ned. Even Walter joined in the laugh that followed, though his expression was not one of pure enjoyment. “You know what I mean,” continued Dan. “I had to learn what a butter-plate was for. It troubled me a good deal at first, but I got a lot of comfort out of the fact that every fellow had to learn something. If it wasn’t butter-plates, then it was something else. Walter, here, had to learn to stand up――――” “I was in the history class the other day,” piped in Carlton. “Good for you, kid,” retorted Hodge. “Glad to hear you were where you ought to be.”