“Well, tell him to be sure and not forget to come home to dinner,” said Mrs. Sandow, as she hung up the receiver with a click that snapped in Tom’s ear.
“What does she say?” asked the old doctor.
“It’s there,” answered the boy. “And she wants you to be sure not to forget to come home to dinner.”
“I’ll not. I’ll start right away, and then I can’t forget. But I must tell Mr. Townsend about this book. I remember once I took a volume without paying for it—let me see, it was the same day I picked up a rare copy of Bacon’s works—and I forgot to send the money for a week, I got so interested reading it. I want him to send after the money for this, in case I don’t forward it right away.”
Tom found the book-store proprietor and told him of Dr. Spidderkins’ desires.
“Tell him to take the book, and welcome,” was the reply Mr. Townsend sent back. “He can take all the books he wants. He is good for them.”
The doctor left, after insisting that a messenger must be sent to his house that evening for the ten dollars, in case he did not send it sooner.
“I guess you’d better stop up and see the doctor, Tom,” said Mr. Townsend, when it came closing time. “He hasn’t sent the money, and, while I know he’ll pay it, he always likes to have things done just as he requests. I don’t want to offend him. So just take a run up there. You know where the place is now.”
“Yes, sir. Shall I bring back the money to-night?”
“No; fetch it with you in the morning. I suppose you know that, beginning next week, we shall keep open quite late, on account of the Christmas trade?”