"Sit down, Mr. Crabtree," returned Dick, and offered the former teacher of Putnam Hall a chair.
"Thank you." Josiah Crabtree sank down on the seat, resting his crutches against his knee. "You have the same offices that Pelter, Japson & Company had, I perceive," he continued, allowing his eyes to rove around.
"Yes, Mr. Crabtree," answered Dick. "By the way, do you know where Mr. Pelter is just now?"
"You said you wanted to see me about some particular business," said the former teacher. "Perhaps we had better get at that first."
"Well, I might as well admit, Mr. Crabtree, that what I wanted to see you about is this. I want to know if you can tell me where Mr. Jesse Pelter is just now."
"Oh, is that all!" And Josiah Crabtree's face showed his disappointment.
"That is all at present."
"Humph! Supposing I don't care to tell you where he is?"
"Now see here!" pursued Dick, earnestly. "If I understand matters aright, Mr. Crabtree, Jesse Pelter is no longer a friend of yours. When you went to the hospital he practically deserted you, isn't that right?"
"If is!" exclaimed the former teacher, bitterly. "He left me in the lurch, and not only that, he didn't give me the money that was rightfully coming to me."