Come along, lad!" Boyne had ceased to have his earlier allurement for Dyck Calhoun, but his smile was friendly, his manner was hospitable, and he was on the spot.

The time was critical for Dyck--critical and dangerous.

He had lost money heavily; he had even exhausted his mother's legacy.
Of late he had seen little of his father, and the little he had seen was not fortunate.

They had quarrelled over Dyck's wayward doings.

Miles Calhoun had said some hard things to him, and Dyck had replied that he would cut out his own course, trim his own path, walk his own way.