Indeed, it was not much longer than that; but when he came in again, his face shining from a vigorous rubbing, supper was almost ready--an egg fried to a turn, with a bit of broiled ham beside it, bread and butter, blackberry jam, a glass of milk, and a piece of apple-pie--just the sort of toothsome, topsy-turvy meal a healthy boy likes. "Mary," he said, "you're a jewel!" and he stopped to hug her before he sat down. "None o' yer blarney!" she retorted, and affected to push him away, as she gave the last touches to the table. Allan pulled up his chair and fell to with an appetite born of health and good digestion--an appetite unspoiled by over-indulgence, or by French confections, requiring no stimulus but that which work honestly done gave it. He ate with one eye on the clock, for he was not going to run any risk of missing his train, and at the end of five minutes, pushed back his chair and rose with a sigh of satisfaction. "That was great!" he said. "Now if I may have one of those luscious doughnuts of yours, or a piece of that pie, to keep the wolf from the door to-night--" "Doughnut, indade!" cried Mary. "What do you suppose I've been doin' all this toime! Here's your lunch," and she set on the table a little basket, covered with a snowy napkin. Allan's eyes were shining at this new proof of her thoughtfulness for him. "Mary," he began. "There, there," she interrupted; "git along or you'll miss your train. Good-bye. An' take good keer o' yerself, my dear." Allan snatched up hat and basket. "Good-bye," he said. "I'm certainly a lucky boy!" She stood at the door watching him as he crossed the yards. "Yes," she murmured to herself, turning back into the house as he passed from sight, "an' I'm a lucky woman!" * * * * * Dan Breen, the caller, met Allan as he stepped upon the station platform. "Here's yer card," he said, and held out a little envelope. "My card?" repeated the boy, taking the envelope mechanically. "Yes, yer card; how did ye expect t' ride--pay yer way?" "Oh," said Allan, understanding suddenly; "my pass. Yes; thank you," and he swung aboard Number Sixteen just as it was pulling out. When the conductor came through to collect the tickets, the boy proudly produced the card, which commanded all employees of the road to "pass the bearer, Allan West, on all trains, over main line and branches, Ohio Division, P-- & O-- Railway." The conductor glanced at it and then at the boy, nodded, and passed on.