"Thank you, Stephen," he said. "I haven't a five, but I thank you all the same for your offer. You must have found profitable employment."
This was said with a rising inflection calculated to call for Stephen's confidence, but the latter evaded the inquiry.
"Yes, I've been lucky," he answered. "I've been speculating."
Again Paul was puzzled. How could Stephen speculate without capital, for it was quite certain that he had none.
"If I only had a five," Stephen said, meditatively, "I'd hand you one for Grace."
"Some other time," said Paul.
"Well, good-night. Tell Grace I wanted to send her something. Tell your mother, too, and she may think better of me. If you won't drink with me, I shall have to drink by myself."
With a hasty nod, Stephen opened the door of the saloon and entered, while Paul resumed his journey home.
"I don't understand it at all," he said to himself. "I never saw Stephen in such a generous mood before. How can he have got hold of all that money? I hope it is honestly come by. I think I had better not tell mother about his offer, or she might relent and invite him to call. We shall do better without him."