s?" he asked.

"He had twenty-four hours' leave an' ain't likely to flash up before
to-morrow noon," Jerry Walters replied. "How did you get along at
headquarters?"

"That I ain't quite so certain of," Seth replied doubtfully.

"Why not? Anything gone wrong?"

"No; but it don't seem as though the men up there had very much to say
to me."

"Found you plenty of work, eh?"

"Oh, yes; there was enough of that."

"A little too much, I reckon, if it kept you till this hour."

"I was told that I should knock off at six o'clock, but then I hadn't
finished the job I was workin' on, an' so stayed till it was done."

"How did 'Lish Davis swell 'round?"

"I didn't see anythin' of him after we got inside. He told a man there
who I was, an' two or three of 'em hunted 'round to find work for me."

"Well, how do you like it so far's you've gone?" Jerry Walters asked
with a smile, and the remainder of the company gathered around to hear
the reply.

"I'd like anythin' that was givin' me a show of gettin' into the
Department. Of course it ain't so pleasant in the house doin' all kinds
of work as it is out of doors layin' still when you want to, or talkin'
with the fellers."

"Then you don't feel like backin' out yet?"

"No sir-ee! I'll never feel like that. Look here, I've got to be up at
seven o'clock to-morrow mornin', an' why couldn't I shine your boots
to-night?"

"'Cause then is the time for you to rest, Amateur. Don't bother your
head about our boots being shined, for we'll tend to that part of it. I
reckon there'll be as much work at headquarters as you can comfortably
do, so there's no need to come 'round here except to make a friendly
call. Of course we're expectin' to see you pretty nigh every evenin'
so's to have a report of how things are goin'; but so far's your
blackin' our boots, that's all nonsense, and if 'Lish Davis was here
this minute he'd tell you the same."

"But I want to do it, an' Mr. Davis promised me I should, 'cause it'll
make it seem as if I was tryin' to square up for what all of you have
done for me."

Jerry Walters tried to persuade Seth that he had better not attempt to
do so much, particularly at the outset; but it could readily be told
from the expression on the boy's face that he was not convinced, and Mr.
Walters refrained from making further efforts in that line.

After answering a few more questions and promising to visit the
engine-house on the following evening, Seth, feelin