"That will be your best course."
"He may agree to our terms," said Harry, hopefully, after their visitor had left the office.
"We will hope so, at all events."
A letter was at once despatched, and in a week the answer was received.
"I am sorry," Mr. Anderson wrote, "to decline your proposals, but, I have immediate need of the whole sum which I ask for the paper. If I cannot obtain it, I shall come back to Centreville, though I would prefer to remain here."
Upon the receipt of this letter, Ferguson gave up his work for the forenoon, and made a tour of the Village, calling upon all who he thought were likely to have money to lend. He had small expectation of success, but felt that he ought to try everywhere before giving up so good a chance.
While he was absent, Harry had a welcome visitor. It was no other than Professor Henderson, the magician, in whose employ he had spent three months some years before, as related in "Bound to Rise."
"Take a seat, professor," said Harry, cordially. "I am delighted to see you."
"How you have grown, Harry!" said the professor. "Why, I should hardly have known you!"
"We haven't met since I left you to enter this office."