"I want to compliment you, Mr. Helmerston," said Enos, quite like a gentleman, "on the success of your little stage-business, and especially on your careful forecast of the play of human motives. I can see that a man with only ordinary business dishonesty, like myself, need not be surprised at defeat by such a master of finesse as you." He bowed toward me. Billy flushed. "If you mean, sir--" he began. "Oh, I mean nothing offensive," answered Enos. "I will be in the office in the morning, and shall be ready, as secretary, to transfer this stock on the books, previous to resigning. Come, father, we've got our beating; but we can still have the satisfaction of being good losers. Good-by, Miss Blunt; I wish you joy!" Pa came out of the green light as they disappeared, limping on his wrapped-up foot, and shouted that he had always said that Enos was a brick, and now he knew it. I ran up to him and kissed him. Then I threw myself into Billy's arms. "Aurelia!" said Pa, looking as cross as a man _could_ look in such circumstances, "I should think you'd be ashamed of yourself!" I dropped into a chair and covered up my face, while Pa went on addressing Billy, trying to be severe on him for letting me kiss him, and to beam on him at the same time for helping him with the Pruntys. "Young man," said he, "I owe you a great deal. This tomfoolery happened to work. Please to consider yourself a part of the Mid-Continent Electric Company in any capacity you choose." "Yes, sir," said Billy, gathering up the money. "Is that all, sir?" "I should like to have you take Enos' place as secretary," added Pa. "Thank you," said Billy. "I shall be pleased and honored. Is that all? Do I still go to Mexico?" Pa pondered and fidgeted, and acted awfully ill at ease. "Yes," said he at last. "You're the only competent engineer we've got who understands the plans. You'll have to go for a few months--if you don't mind--anyhow." "Pa," said I, "I'm tired of metal work, and I need a vacation in new and pleasant surroundings, and--and associations. Billy is awfully pleasant to associate with, and--and be surrounded by; and I've never, never been in Guadalanawhat-you-may-call-it; and--and--may we Pa?" "Young woman!" glared Pa, "who have you the effrontery to call 'Billy'?"--Pa could never acquire what he calls "the 'whom' habit." Billy stepped manfully forward. "You would recognize the name 'Billy,'" said he, "if it were joined with the rather profane surname with which it is, unfortunately, connected, 'from the Atlantic to the Missouri.' Mr. Blunt, you can not be ignorant of the sweet dream in which I have indulged myself with reference to your daughter. I know I am unworthy of her--" "Oh, cut that short!" said Pa. "Take this grease off my face, and remove these infernal stage lights! There, Dolly--there! Mr. Helmerston, er--Billy--will start for Mexico within a month. If you--if you really want to go with him, why go!"