“One question, sir,” repeated the stranger.
“I am listening, sir,” Tom assured him, with a quiet, but quite impressive, earnestness.
“Where did you spend your vacation at the end of your Freshman year?”
Tom was so surprised, and even disappointed, that he hesitated. Then he answered:
“In Oleander Point, Long Island, in the cottage of Dr. Charles W. Bonner, who was tutoring me. I had a couple of conditions and I stayed until the third of September!”
“Thank you! Thank you! That is all—unless, Mr. Merriwether, you wish to do me and yourself three very great favors. Three!”
He looked at Tom with a sort of intelligent curiosity, as of a chemist conducting an experiment.
“Let's hear what they are,” said young Mr. Merriwether, calmly.
It was at times like these that he showed whose son he was—alert, his imagination active, his nerves under control, and his courage steady and at par. He had, moreover, made up his mind that he would do some questioning later on.
“First favor: Concentrate your mind on how you used to spend your bright, sunshiny days in Oleander Point and your beautiful moonlight nights. Recall the pleasant people you were friendly with during those happy weeks. Visualize that summer! Make an effort! Think!”