"I'll get you a railroad ticket," answered Nat, and he did so, and also gave Fred some change for his meals. Fred was more than thankful, and actually cried on parting.
"You're the best boy in the world, Nat," he sobbed. "The very best! Just wait till you come back to the farm! I'll show you how I can treat you!" And then he was off for home, a sadder but a wiser youth.
"To go back to the farm was the best thing that fellow could do," was Dick's comment. "Why, he wouldn't amount to shucks here, even if he stayed a year."
"We can't all be city folks," said Mrs. Talcott. "Some men must remain farmers."
"The trouble with Fred is, he doesn't like to work," said Nat. "But this may teach him a lesson."
On the day that Fred left, Nat was called to the office by John Garwell.
"Nat, I want you to go to Springfield, Massachusetts, immediately," said the real estate broker. "See when you can catch a train."
"A train leaves the Grand Central Depot at eleven-thirty," was our hero's answer, after consulting a time-table.
"Then you have plenty of time. Take this document and turn it over to Mr. Perry Robertson."
"Yes, sir."