"Nothing, except to make up your mind that the friendship will last if you want to suit me."
"Honest—honest?" urged Fogg, the tears in his eyes, earnestly regarding Ralph's face. "You don't despise me?"
"Oh, yes, we all dislike you, Mr. Fogg!" railed Ralph, with a hearty laugh. "The master mechanic has such bitter animosity for you, that he's taking his revenge by circulating a subscription list to help build you a new home."
"Never!" gasped Fogg, overcome.
"What's more," proceeded Ralph, in the same ironical tone, "the men down at the roundhouse have such a deep grudge against you, that they are following his example."
"I don't deserve it—I don't deserve it!" murmured the fireman.
"Why, even the new moving picture showman is so anxious to throw you down, that he's going to give you a benefit Saturday evening."
"I guess I'm the wickedest and happiest man in the world," said Fogg, in a subdued tone.
"You ought to be the happiest, after that little memoranda you gave to the master mechanic," suggested Ralph.
"The pledge? Yes!" cried the fireman, "and I mean to keep it, too. He told you about it?"
"And everything else necessary to tell," replied
