business with. I have an appointment with him at ten o'clock. I
wish you would see at once that he knows I am here."

The clerk's smile was not quite so broad now but he was still
amused.

"What name shall I give, son?" He was about to repeat the "sonny"
that had grated a little on Ned's sense of the proprieties but he
stopped short--and added: "Have you a card, Mr.--?"

"I have no card and I don't call myself 'Mr.'," answered Ned, "but
you can say that Ned Napier is here and will be glad to see Major
Honeywell whenever it is convenient."

At the mention of "Ned Napier" the clerk's airiness disappeared. A
certain respect seemed to take its place. Then he leaned forward
and said a good deal more politely: "You are not the Ned Napier?"

"I never heard of any other one of that name," answered the boy.
"But I think we are losing time. Please say I'm here."

A moment later a page announced that Major Honeywell, in suite 8 A,
desired Mr. Napier to be shown up at once. Reaching the apartment
the page knocked and there was a quick "Come in."

Hat in hand, and with all the manliness and dignity his seventeen
years afforded, Ned stepped into the room. At a table a man had
just risen as if from work on some papers. As the man turned to
come forward and his eyes fell upon the lad he paused as if
surprised. Ned Napier was neither large nor small for his age. But