"Who to?" asked Dan, ungrammatically, falling into a mistake made by plenty of greater age and better experience than himself. "Of course it isn't any of my business," he added, "if you don't want to tell."
"I don't mind telling you, Dan. I've lent it to my aunt. She's got two children, and a hard time to get along. Perhaps I shall never see it again, but I couldn't refuse her."
"Of course you couldn't," said Dan, heartily. "You've done right, and you won't be sorry for it. I wish I knew some way of making two dollars before twelve o'clock."
"Are you in urgent need of two dollars, my boy?" asked a pleasant voice.
Dan turned, and met the face of the stranger introduced in the first chapter.
"Yes, sir," he answered. "I want it the worst way."
"Have you been extravagant and run up bills, Dan?"
"No, sir; the only bill we have is the rent, and that comes due this noon."
"How much is it?"