"There aren't so many persons in Deepdale who can afford to throw away money like this," added Amy.
"It wasn't thrown away—it was lost," declared Betty, "and we must find the owner if we can."
"Especially after such a pathetic message," said Grace. "Poor fellow! His last big bill!"
"What makes you think it was a man?" asked Amy.
"That isn't a girl's writing," insisted Grace.
"Fine! You'll be a detective if you keep on—or should I say detectivess?" asked Mollie, with a laugh.
"I wonder what that note means?" inquired Mollie.
"Why," said Betty, "it seems to indicate that some young man ran through a fortune—or lost it—and had only five hundred dollars left. He was going to try to redeem his standing or wealth with this, and probably wrote this to remind himself not to fail. I used to have a habit of leaving my room untidy, and Daddy suggested once that I write a notice to myself, and pin it where I would see it as I came out each morning. I did, and I cured myself. This young fellow probably tried the same system."
"What makes you think he is young?" Grace wanted to know.
"I'm following your line of reasoning—no elderly man would do anything like this—write such a strange memorandum to himself. I'm sure he is young."