There was quite a delegation at the Grand Central Station to meet them.  Mr. Jennings was there in person, and he explained that Mr. Van Bunting was waiting anxiously at the office to see him.  Then there were reporters from the various other city papers, who wanted interviews, but Archie was told to say whatever he had to say in the columns of the Enterprise, so he had to deny the reporters for the first time.  Bill Hickson was introduced at once, and became the lion of the hour.  Every one had read of him, and was glad to shake his hand, and poor Bill was quite bewildered by so much attention.  They didn’t linger long at the station, however, but hurried down to the Enterprise office, where Mr. Van Bunting was awaiting them.  He grasped Archie’s hand in his as they entered, and cried, “Well done, my boy, well done.”  And Archie felt as if he had grown three feet that instant.

CHAPTER XXIV.

   Doing “Special” Work upon the evening paper—­ interviews with famous
   men—­ calls upon old friends.

There was so much to tell Mr. Jennings and Mr. Van Bunting, that Archie didn’t get away from the Enterprise office until seven o’clock in the evening.  And what a lot they did say to each other during the afternoon!  Archie told of all his experiences, and found them all anxious to hear about them.  He learned, to his joy, that everything he had sent had been printed, and that the articles had made a great hit with the public.  “We would have liked to keep you there longer, but we knew you must be worn out, and then we want you to stay right here, now, and see if you cannot get us some good interviews and articles of various kinds for the Evening Enterprise.  The paper has been losing ground somewhat, of late, and we need some new life for its pages.  Of course the morning paper profited greatly by your articles, but the evening edition seemed very weak in comparison, and we think it only fair to Mr. Jennings to let him have you on his staff for awhile now.  So if you are willing, you can start in to-morrow as a member of the staff.  We will see that you are well paid for what you write, or we will put you on salary, whichever you like.  You can think it over, and in the morning you can tell us which plan you like best.”

Archie wanted to ask for a few days’ absence to return home, but he felt, somehow, that he ought not to ask it just now.  So he contented himself with writing a long letter to his mother, in which he enclosed a very large check, money which he had not used on his return to New York.  He told her that he would be home just as soon as he could get off for any length of time, and he knew that she would now be looking forward to the visit every day.  She had written him about the enthusiasm displayed by every one over his achievements, and how proud she was of what he had accomplished.  “I