good of you to do so. But I had supposed you were older--at least a
young man," and he smiled again as if in some doubt.

"Perhaps," replied Ned with just a shadow of resentment in his
voice, "if you will tell me why you sent for me I can help you in
making up your mind as to whether you were wrong in doing so. I'm
seventeen."

Major Honeywell arose, took off his glasses again and walked to
where Ned was sitting.

"I hope you'll not take offense, my boy. But my business with you
is most important. It is possibly the most important thing that has
ever come to me. Fate, or chance more properly, of course, seems to
have brought us together. If what I have in mind and have partly
hoped could be brought about, is brought about, you will have no
reason to regret my sending for you. We must be sure of ourselves.
So far we know almost nothing about each other. Since our
acquaintance may mean a great deal to us let us be sure of
ourselves. Therefore, you will pardon me if I ask you if you are
the Ned Napier?"

Ned laughed good-naturedly.

"That's what the clerk down stairs asked me few moments ago--if I
were the Ned Napier. Well, I never heard of any other Ned Napier.
But boys don't carry credentials, you know, Major Honeywell. I'll
take your word for it that you are Major Baldwin Honeywell, formerly
of the United States Army, and now of the--what do you call
it--ethno--?"