,"
called Paul, moving toward the house. "So long, Don!"

"So long, Kipper. And don't you go losing that money. It's caused too
much worry already."

"I'll take care of it--don't you fuss about that. There are no rips in
my coat lining."

Thus they parted--the happiest pair of boys in all Burmingham.

CHAPTER XVIII

GRADUATION

Thus did Paul's troubles dissolve in air and with the June winds blow
far away. In the meantime graduation came and the essay he delivered was
clicked off on Mr. Carter's typewriter which, considering the fact that
it was a second-hand one, was an amazingly fresh and unscarred machine.

Nor was this all. After the graduation exercises had come to a close,
and the audience was passing out of the building, Mr. Cameron and the
publisher of the _Echo_ came face to face in the corridor. They had not
met since the famous mayoral campaign when Carter, by means of wholesale
bribery, had swept all before him. Hence the present encounter was an
awkward one and many a citizen of Burmingham stopped to witness the
drama. Had the two men been able to avoid the clash they would
undoubtedly have done so; but the hallway was narrow and escape was
impossible. Here they were wedged in the crowd, each of them having come
hither to see his son take his diploma. It was a day of rejoicing and
no time for grudges.

Melville was at his father's elbow while at Mr. Cameron's heels tagged
Paul, hot, tired, but victorious.

The instant the group collided the magnate's hand shot out and gripped
that of the editor-in-chief of the _March Hare_.

"Well, youngster, I'm proud of you!" he exclaimed. "You did well. We
shall be making a newspaper man of you yet."

Then, glancing up into the face of the lad's father, he added with
hesitating graciousness:

"I--I--congratulate you on your son, Cameron."

Mr. Cameron was not to be outdone.

"And I on yours, Mr. Carter. Melville is a fine boy. You must be glad
that he has done so well."

"Oh, Melville's not perfect," declared Mr. Carter, obviously pleased,
"but he is all the boy we've got and we like him."

There was a pause.

"Our young representatives have done pretty well on this paper of
theirs, haven't they?" remarked Mr. Carter the next moment.

"They certainly have," agreed Mr. Cameron. "The _March Hare_ is a very
readable and creditable little magazine. You've done both the school and
the community a service, Carter, by printing it."

"I've made