“I’ll come,” promised Larry, anxious to escape from the gathering crowd.
Larry watched the famous physician enter a big automobile and dart up the street in the care of several friends who had come to court, as soon as they heard the news of his plight. Then the boy left the police station and made his way home, as there was no further need of his services at the newspaper office that afternoon.
“I wonder if I could get him to doctor Lucy,” thought Larry. “If I could, and she should be cured, I’d be the happiest boy in New York. If I get a chance I’ll surely speak to Dr. Carrolton about it.”
When Larry got home that evening he found his mother in much distress. She had just been out to the store to make a few purchases, and, returning, still had her hat on.
“What’s the matter?” asked Larry, as he saw by his mother’s face that something was wrong.
“The groceryman said I had tried to pass bad money on him!” exclaimed Mrs. Dexter.
“What kind?” asked Larry.
“A half-dollar.”
“Tell me about it, mother.”
“I had considerable change in my pocketbook,” went on Mrs. Dexter. “I went out to get a small steak for supper and, when I came to pay the man where we deal, who sells meat as well as groceries, I thought I had a bill to give him. Instead the largest piece of money I could find was a half-dollar.