Part 21 (1/2)

”Major Starbird,” said the man who had brought Pen in, ”this is the boy whom I told you last week I had hired as a bobbin-boy. He's a grandson of Enos Walker out at Cobb's Corners.”

The man with white side-whiskers laid down his pen, removed his gla.s.ses, and looked up scrutinizingly at Pen.

”Yes,” he said, ”I know Mr. Walker.”

”He is also,” added Robert Starbird, ”a grandson of Colonel Richard Butler at Chestnut Hill.”

”Indeed! Colonel Butler is a warm friend of mine. I was not aware that--is your name Penfield Butler?”

”Yes, sir,” replied Pen. Something in the man's changed tone of voice sent a sudden fear to his heart.

”Are you the boy who is said to have mistreated the American flag on the school grounds at Chestnut Hill?”

”I--suppose I am. Yes, sir.”

Pen's heart was now in his shoes. The man with white side-whiskers raked him from head to foot with a look that boded no good. He turned to his nephew.

”I've heard of that incident,” he said. ”I do not think we want this young man in our employ.”

Robert Starbird looked first at his uncle and then at Pen. It was plain that he was puzzled. It was equally plain that he was disappointed.

”I didn't know about this,” he said. ”I'm sorry if it's anything that necessitates our depriving him of the job. Penfield, suppose you retire to the waiting-room for a few minutes. I'll talk this matter over with Major Starbird.”

So Pen, with the ghosts of his misdeeds haunting and hara.s.sing him, and a burden of disappointment, too heavy for any boy to bear, weighing him down, retired to the waiting-room. For the first time since his act of disloyalty he felt that his punishment was greater than he deserved. Not that he bore resentment now against any person, but he believed the retribution that was following him was unjustly proportioned to the gravity of his offense. And if Major Starbird refused to receive him, what could he do then?

In the midst of these cruel forebodings he heard his name called, and he went back into the office.

Major Starbird's look was still keen, and his voice was still forbidding.

”I do not want,” he said, ”to be too hasty in my judgments. My nephew tells me that Henry Cobb has given you an excellent recommendation, and we place great reliance on Mr. Cobb's opinion. It may be that your offense has been exaggerated, or that you have some explanation which will mitigate it. If you have any excuse to offer I shall be glad to hear it.”

”I don't think,” replied Pen frankly, ”that there was any excuse for doing what I did. Only--it seems to me--I've suffered enough for it.

And I never--never had anything against the flag.”

He was so earnest, and his voice was so tremulous with emotion, that the heart of the old soldier could not help but be stirred with pity.

”I have fought for my country,” he said, ”and I reverence her flag.

And I cannot have, in my employ, any one who is disloyal to it.”

”I am not disloyal to it, sir. I--I love it.”

”Would you be willing to die for it, as I have been?”

”I would welcome the chance, sir.”

Major Starbird turned to his nephew.

”I think we may trust him,” he said. ”He has good blood in his veins, and he ought to develop into a loyal citizen.”