[Every block was like a stolen base to Hans.]
Hans walked into the car. His first glance showed him a blue hat and suit that looked like Hal’s, and as he came up to the seat he was just about to slap him on the back with a “Hello! Hal!” when he saw the fellow had on blue glasses. He stopped, then saw that the face wasn’t Hal’s and went on through the train, glad that he hadn’t slapped a stranger’s back in his best college style.
Up in the car next to the smoker he found Hal. He was sitting by the window resting his chin on his hands and in his hand he held the letter from his mother which he was rereading.
“You look mighty glum for a fellow that’s going home,” said Hans, tapping him gently on the shoulder. “What’s up?”
Hal looked up in surprise at the familiar voice and turned to look at Hans.
“Thought you were not going to be back until three,” remarked Hal. “I am glad you got back in time to catch the train, though, because I hated to leave without bidding you good-by.”
“Had to run all the way to the station to catch it. Thought I’d better see you before you left for good. Would like to know the real reason. Don’t look well to leave a college like Lowell without some explanation to the office. What’s the trouble, anyhow?” burst out Hans, in the short quick sentences which he used when he was much interested.
“This,” said Hal, handing him the letter. Hans read it over and then he read it again. “Awfully sorry your father is sick, Hal,” he said, “but I don’t see anything about wanting you to come home. Why, this letter don’t even say that he is very sick. Don’t see any reason for going home on that kind of a letter.”
“Well, but don’t you see,” broke in Hal, “they had to break into the college fund to pay the extra bills and I must get along on less. I don’t mind that, but this is the first time I knew that all my folks have saved up in all these years was to go for my start in college, and when I think of a fellow like you, Hans, who has made his own money and think that I am here spending my parents’ savings, I can’t stand it another minute, so I’m going home to learn how to make enough to pay my own way through college.”