"I guess a fellow never forgets home," he said, thoughtfully.
"No, I guess not," replied Evan. "Every morning when I wake I feel as if I am somewhere on a visit."
"By gosh," said Henty, "so do I—except that Mrs. Wilson doesn't use me much like a welcome visitor. I always have to break the ice to get into my water pitcher."
Nelson did not smile. In fact, he had not heard: he was thinking of the disappointment coming to his mother if he should have to make good the one hundred dollars loss and miss his holidays.
"There's trouble down at the office, Henty," he said, slowly.
The genial junior raised his eyes in wonder.
"Drunk again?"
"No," said Evan, "worse than that. Someone has stolen a hundred dollars."
"The dickens!"
Nelson related him the story. A. P. drank it in with the expression of a child listening to Andersen's fairy tales. And he asked just as practical questions as a child asks.