"Mr. Nelson," she whispered through the cage, "could I speak to you?"
Evan went into the manager's office with her.
"I know you are going to tell head office about it this time," she said, despairingly. "It isn't right for me to ask any further consideration from you. The business here will be ruined."
"I won't say anything," replied Nelson, "until some of the customers begin to kick. I have an idea they will not do any reporting without warning us, though."
The manager's wife sighed.
"It would be a relief, I sometimes think," she said, "to get back to the city. Pen was busy there and it kept, his mind occupied. I see there is no hope for him here. The trouble is head office might drop him from the service altogether. Of course, his relatives in Berlin are big depositors—"
"That might help some," said Evan, treasonably. Then, "Don't give up, Mrs. Penton. We may be able to scare him good for another month or so."
She made an effort to smile, but it was a tired one.
"You are my only hope, Mr. Nelson," she said, forcing back her tears. "I'm going to tell you something more."
He wondered what was coming next.