The superintendent looked at the tooth and at the boy.
"Perhaps you don't know how much that tooth is worth?"
"No, sir," agreed Glen.
"A very conservative price is a hundred dollars, at your age. You wouldn't throw a hundred dollars away."
"No, sir; but I want it pulled."
It was all very well to talk of a hundred dollars, but when Glen had his mind set on a matter he would make any sacrifice.
"Well, you must not have it pulled. But have the dentist look at it. I will give you a pass for this afternoon. You will wear your uniform, walk to the car line and take the street car to the dentist's office. Let me ask you one thing, Glen. Don't forget to come back."
It was as if the superintendent read his thoughts. Glen changed color and looked foolish. He could think of only one thing to say. "At what time, sir?"
"You will be in by six o'clock. As you go to town and see the boys at liberty on the streets remember that if you keep up your good behavior you may soon be paroled and be as free as they. All you have to do, Glen, is to keep it up."
As he went to put on his uniform, the hated uniform that made it so hard for him to lose himself in the crowd, Glen realized better how it was that Nixon and some of the others who had been given liberty in town had never violated their trust. It seemed abominably mean and small to go back on a man like this. He actually began to have his own doubts. But it was very hard for Glen Mason to give up anything on which he had set his heart.