Walters and four or five other De Lacey Streeters got up and reviewed the events of the past few days, giving Speedy full credit for the victories. John Donaldson was gazing at the youth from time to time intently, sizing him up.
And then the feasters started shouting for Speedy himself to talk. He was very red of face and nervous when he finally yielded.
"There never were such friends in all the world as all of you have been to Pop and Jane and me," he declared earnestly. "I didn't do a thing that any one of you couldn't have done. And if Pop had been here, he would have accomplished everything so much better and without near as much fuss. And Jane here—she's been a peach! Pop was very easy on me when he talked about the jobs I got and lost. I don't deserve to be let off so nicely. I've been a lot of a rattle-brain. Maybe I'm one yet. Luck certainly had a lot to do with any success I may have had in the last few days. Luck—and the way you all stuck by me.
"But now I'm engaged to Jane and I'm going to try and make something out of myself. I've got something to work for. I'm just going to ask you all, including Jane, to believe in me and give me a chance until I make good."
When the applause had died down, Chris Walters, a little hesitantly, asked President Donaldson if he would like to say a few words. Donaldson willingly arose.
"First, I want to make clear that anything Steven Carter did down here was entirely without my
