"Why, mother! I'm surprised! Do you think for a minute that Evan would deceive us like that?"
"I can't believe it, dear; but what am I to do?"
"There's a mistake somewhere," replied Lou; "why, even if they have fired him it's all a mistake. 'On suspicion'—imagine! Why brother wouldn't take a—a—"
The thought was too much for Lou. What with lonesomeness for her brother and anger at the mere thought of anyone suspecting him, she gave way to a June storm.
Frankie was not free from signs of lamentation, either. She filled up more and more until there were raindrops from that quarter, too, and Sadie Hall's story came out.
Mrs. Nelson was overcome. Why had not her boy written about the trouble?
"Oh, Louie," she cried, "it's terrible! They suspect him of stealing! And he's discharged! Whatever are we to do?"
Lou raised her lovely face and forced a smile.
"Mother, dear," she said, "you know what a fellow Evan is. He doesn't want us to know about it until the thing is straightened out. It must straighten out, because we know he isn't guilty."
Such is a sister's logic. Mrs. Nelson telephoned her husband to come up at once. He came, and was told the news.