Jack pointed to a house a block away where a dim light showed from beneath a drawn curtain.

“There’s the house,” he said, “and there appears to be some one home.”

“That’s father, of course,” said Frank.  “He seldom goes out in the evening.”

The lads quickened their steps and soon were before the house.  Quietly they mounted the steps and as quietly tip-toed across the porch.  Frank tried the door.  It was unlocked.

“Careless of father,” he whispered.  “I’ll have to speak to him about that.”

He opened the door gently and the two lads passed within.  Frank closed the door noiselessly behind him.  The lads dropped their grips silently in the hall and then tip-toed toward a room at the far end, where a light showed.

Keeping out of sight, Frank peered in the door.  There, with his back to his son, sat Dr. Chadwick, reading.  Frank stepped softly across the room leaving Jack standing, grinning, at the door.

Frank reached out and put both hands across his father’s eyes.

Dr. Chadwick’s book dropped to the floor and for a moment Frank was afraid he had frightened him by this unceremonious greeting.  But Dr. Chadwick’s hands reached up and clasped the hands that for the moment blinded him.

“Frank!” he cried, and sprang to his feet.

The next moment father and son were in each other’s arms.

Dr. Chadwick held his son off at arm’s length, and looked at him.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he declared.  “You look better than you did the last time I saw you, and you were looking fine then.”

“Here, Father,” said Frank, “is a friend of mine come to see you.”

Dr. Chadwick turned and saw Jack in the doorway.  He stepped forward and gripped Jack’s hand heartily.

“Jack Templeton, eh?” he exclaimed.  “I’m glad to see you.  And you are Captain Templeton now, I perceive.”

Jack blushed.

“They insisted on making me one, sir, and I couldn’t refuse,” he said.

“Now,” said Dr. Chadwick, “you two boys sit right down here and tell me all about yourselves.  But first, are you hungry?”

“No, sir,” said Frank.  “We had dinner on the train just before we reached Boston.”

“Then let’s hear what you have been doing.  I understand you were present at the surrender of the German fleet.  Give me some of the details.”

Until long after midnight the three sat there, Dr. Chadwick listening eagerly to the tales of his son and the latter’s chum.  But at last he looked at his watch.

“Why, it’s after midnight,” he exclaimed.  “Time for bed.”

Frank led the way to the room he had occupied since babyhood.  This Jack was to share with him during his stay.

“I’ll tell you,” said Frank, as he climbed into bed, “it feels pretty good to a fellow to get back into his own bed after all these years.”

“I should think it would,” agreed Jack.  “But mine is a long ways from here.  However, I guess I shall see it again some day.”