They headed off the truant Old Boys, and
drove them back to the wharf to be received decorously and listen to
the welcoming address. As they had dashed past the Presbyterian church
at a mad gallop, every one became alarmed and the news spread that a
dreadful disaster had happened to the _Inverness_. But Afternoon Tea
Willie came running up out of breath and wet with perspiration to tell
them the real state of affairs. He was scolded soundly by Mrs. Captain
Willoughby, and went about pouring out apologies all day after.

So the reception took place at the wharf after all, with every one in
imminent danger of going through the rotten planks into the lake. It
was a rather informal affair. J. P. Thornton and Archie Blair tried to
preserve some dignity, but Lawyer Ed was in a towering rage and cared
not for decorum. He shook his fist at the Old Boys and told them they
were howling idiots and had lost what little manners they had learned
in Algonquin. Then he stood up on the carriage seat, his face red, his
eyes blazing, and called Captain Jimmie an old blind mole and an
ostrich and everything else in the world foolish and unthinking.
Captain Jimmie shouted back with a right good Highland spirit, from his
vantage point on the deck and all the Old Boys cheered joyously,
declaring this was the one thing needful to make them feel absolutely
at home.

Finally the proper welcome was stammered out by the Mayor, who was even
less at home making a speech than running his automobile, and they all
got away and the procession started up towards the church.

On every side were shouts of welcome: "Hello, Bob!" "Hi, there, Jack,
you home too?" "Well, well, if there isn't old Bill! No place like
Algonquin, eh Bill?" etc., etc. Harry Armstrong was easily the
favourite, and was the recipient of many welcoming shouts.

Roderick stood at the door watching the procession go past to the
church. He was amazed to see Lawyer Ed and his brother seated in the
same carriage as Alexander Graham. There was a ponderous man with a
double chin seated beside him, and going into a spasm of laughter every
time Lawyer Ed spoke. Roderick looked at him with keen interest. This
was William Graham, the man whose word was law with the firm of Elliot
and Kent. He had come all the way from New York for this celebration
entirely, he declared in his speech at the banquet, because Ed had
wired him to come and he could not resist Ed. They had been grea