"But, if he wants to thank me, why shouldn't he come here?"
"My boy, it is one of the privileges of older persons to expect younger ones to come to them."
"I guess that's right," nodded Dick. "Oh, well, I'll go. But, if Mr. Ripley has anything to pass in the way of thanks, I hope he'll cut it short."
So, at three o'clock, Dick climbed the stairs and knocked at the office door.
The lawyer himself opened.
"Oh, how do you do, Prescott?" demanded Lawyer Ripley, holding out his hand. "I'm most heartily glad to see you. You didn't see anything of my indolent son on the street, did you?"
"No, sir," the freshman answered, adding, to himself:
"I should hope not!"
"Come into my private office won't you, Prescott?" asked the lawyer, leading the way through his outer office.
The elder Ripley placed a comfortable arm-chair for his freshman caller, asking him to be seated.