The meeting was called for Monday night, and with only twenty-four hours
in which to think of something for Prouty's salvation, the heads of
households taxed their brains diligently for an original idea to offer.

No such perturbation obtained in the Toomey family, however, where Mr.
and Mrs. Toomey chattered in gay excitement, the like of which they had
not experienced since their memorable trip to Chicago. With his hands
thrust deep in his trousers pockets, Toomey swaggered, resembling
nothing so much as a pheasant strutting and drumming on a log for his
mate's edification, and, not unlike the female bird of sober coloring,
Mrs. Toomey looked and listened with a return of much of her old-time
admiration, though the cause for Toomey's present state of exultation
was, in its inception, due to her own suggestion.

"I'll show these pinheads something," Toomey boasted. "The day'll
come," he levelled at his wife an impressive finger, "when they'll nudge
each either and say, 'There goes Toomey's Dog!'"

Mrs. Toomey sighed happily, "It's like a story!"

"Nothing comes to you unless you go after it," Toomey declared, in the
voice of a man who has succeeded and is giving the benefit of his
experience to the less fortunate.

"I wish you could be there when I spring it," he chortled.

Yet the occasion for this rare exuberance in the Toomey family was
merely a few courteous lines signed "John Prentiss," inside the
businesslike blue-gray envelope resting conspicuously on top of the
clock on the mantelpiece. They had read and re-read it, extracting from
it the last ounce of encouragement possible.

Mrs. Toomey had come across John Prentiss's card in a drawer she was
cleaning and the thought had come to her that therein lay a possibility
which never had been tested. After all these years it might not be
possible to reach him, and when he was found it might not be possible to
derive any benefit from the scant acquaintance, but it was worth trying,
and if there was a way, Jap would find it, so she had shown him the card
and he had joined her in marveling at their negligence.

After due reflection, Toomey had written to Prentiss recalling the
circumstances of their meeting and the fact that he had evidenced an
interest in their country, and renewing his invitation for a visit. He
went at some length into the details of the defunct irrigation project
at Prouty, which if properly completed and managed was a sure and big
winner. He