Roy spoke very earnestly, and Mr. Keeler did not smile this time. He began to pick at the bark on the tree trunk and did not reply for some little time after Roy had paused. “I think,” he said finally, “that in that case I should have had my hero try to make himself contented with whichever decision was arrived at. Half a million ought to atone for a great many drawbacks.” “Oh, I know a lot of people envy us,” broke in Roy. “Charley Minturn says I ought to be the happiest fellow going. But I’m not. That’s because I’m going—to leave Marley. I s’pose you think it’s queer for me to tell all this to a stranger. But it’s just because you are a stranger that I feel that I can do it. You can understand how that can be, can’t you, Mr. Keeler?” “Yes, perfectly. But I think you attach too much importance to your feeling for Marley. Of course you think now that you will not be contented elsewhere because you do not yet know the attractions of other places. I remember when I was in my teens, living abroad, I thought I could not be happy anywhere but in Paris. I had been there all winter, and when spring came and we were to go to Germany I felt just as you do over leaving Marley. But when we were settled in our German home I grew to like it just as I had Paris. That is the way it is sure to be with you.” “Why, you’ve done me lots of good,” exclaimed Roy. “I should never have thought of looking at things that way. So you’ve lived in Europe? Rex only wants to travel there.” “He’s your twin brother, you say? Does he look like you?” “No; only the least bit. He is the good looking member of the family. There he goes now on his wheel. Would you like to meet him?” “Indeed I should,” replied Mr. Keeler heartily. “It would seem exactly like a character out of a story.” Roy put his fingers between his lips and gave a peculiar whistle, composed of three distinct notes. Rex, who was just passing under the trestle, turned around in his saddle, and when he saw some one beside his brother on the tree trunk, he made a half circle in the road and came scudding back on his machine. He ran this in a little distance among the trees, left it leaning against one of them and then came on foot to the edge of the creek. His bicycle suit was very becoming to him. Roy watched Mr. Keeler’s face and saw that he was favorably impressed at once. He accomplished the introduction, mentioning the book both boys had read. Rex seemed immensely pleased at meeting the author, and put on his most charming manner. “Won’t you come over to the house, Mr. Keeler?” he said. “We can give you some lemonade and I’d like you to see the view of the trestle from our piazza.” “You are very kind,” returned the young man, looking at his watch, “but I am afraid I shall not have time. I had planned to take the next train in to town. I have only about twenty minutes in which to catch it now.”