“All right,” said Kalin. “I’m going in to lunch.”
In the dining-room he got into an obscure corner and the waiter had to joggle his elbow to rouse him from the reverie into which he immediately fell. Then, after barely tasting the lunch he ordered, he went to the office of the club and asked that all charges against him be footed up.
“There’s nothing against me at all now?” he said inquiringly as he paid the bill.
“Nothing at all, sir,” replied the clerk.
“I’d hate to leave any club debts,” he remarked, as if talking aloud to himself.
At his office he found his sons still gloomily discussing the situation.
“I think,” he said, “that I have found a way to save the business.”
“How?” they asked eagerly.
“The details are not quite clear in my mind yet,” he replied. “I would like to give them a little more thought before explaining the matter. But, if I succeed in pulling you through, you boys must be mighty careful in the future. A concern doesn’t get out of this kind of hole twice, and I’m going to turn it all over to you.”
“Why?” asked Albert in surprise.