“How do you do, Mrs. Winter?” he said. “Have just heard from Ben.”
“Have you? Oh, I am so glad. Look at this paragraph, Albert, and tell me if it is true.”
Albert read attentively the paragraph about the young defaulter.
He said indignantly: “You don’t think that was Ben, do you, Mrs. Winter.”
“No, I didn’t think so, but Mr. Winter insists that it was Ben.”
“Then Mr. Winter is mistaken. How could Ben steal money in New York when he is in England?”
“What!” ejaculated Mrs. Winter, dropping her rolling-pin on the floor in her surprise.
“Look at that letter, Mrs. Winter! You see it is mailed in London.”
“Ben in London!” exclaimed the astonished mother. “How did it happen?”
“I will read you the letter: