Part 25 (2/2)

They shook hands upon it

Sir Archibald presently wrote a check and scribbled a few lines on a slip of paper The check was for two hundred and fifty dollars; it was for running expenses and eencies that Archie needed the hard cash

The slip of paper was an order upon the warehouses and shops for credit in the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars

”Now,” said Sir Archibald, ”it is explicitly understood between us that on or before the first of Septe & Company a sufficient quantity of properly cured fish to liquidate this account”

”Yes, sir,” Archie replied, earnestly; ”on or before the first day of September next”

”You perfectly understand the terms?” Sir Archibald insisted ”You know the nature of this obligation?”

”Yes, sir”

”Very well, son,” said Sir Archibald; ”your honour is involved”

Archie received the two slips of paper It ers a little It was a good deal to coood deal ofresponsibility Sir Archibald watched the boy's face narrowly He seemed to be pleased hat he found there--a little fear, a little anxiety, a great deal of determination The veteran business man wondered if the boy would sleep as easily as usual that night Would he wake up fresh and se cares to lie upon the shoulders of a lad

”Shall I give you a--well--a receipt--or a note--or anything like that?” Archie asked

”You are upon your honour,” said his father

Archie scratched his head in doubt

”Your honour,” Sir Archibald repeated, shed ”I shan't forget that date”

In the end he had good cause to remember it

Before Archie left the office Sir Archibald led him to the broadbehind the desk Archie was used to this It was his father's habit The thing was not done in a spirit of boasting, as the boy was very well aware Nor was it an attempt to impress the boy with a sense of his own importance and future wealth in the world It was rather a well-considered and consistent effort to give hiations that would some day be his

From the broadArchie looked out once reat business There were schooners fitting out for the fishi+ng cruise to the Labrador; there were traders taking in stores for the voyage to the Straits of Belle Isle, to the South Coast, to the French Shore; there were fore-and-afters outbound to the Grand Banks and waiting for a favourable wind; there were coastwise vessels, loading flour and pork for the outportmore favourable weather in which to load salt-cod for the West Indies and Spain

All this never failed to oppress Archie a little as viewed from the broadof his father's office

”Look!” said Sir Archibald,and storehouses

Archie gazed into the rainy day

”What do you see?” his father asked, in a way half bantering, half grave

”Your shi+ps and wharves, sir”

”Some day,” said Sir Archibald, ”they will be yours”