"That's awfully good of you," responded Nelson.
"And say!"
"What is it?" asked the schoolmaster.
"How are you fixed financially? I can put my hands on a little more money. You see, I expect it is on some of my money that Marty got away."
"What do you mean?"
"I lent him most of the money I had about me," confessed Frank. "I didn't know what he wanted it for—the young rascal! But if you need more than you have handy——"
"Thanks ever so much, Bowman; but I've quite a little saved up now. I sha'n't need such help as that."
They parted on the corner and Nelson went home to Mrs. Beaseley's to write his resignation from the situation of principal of the Polktown school. He was very sure that to leave the school board in the lurch in this way, with less than twenty-four hours' notice, would terminate his engagement in this school for all time.
"But I must go after Janice—I must!" he thought, tossing wakefully in his bed. "I can wait no longer."