“About ten dollars,” answered Jack. The other shook his head.
“That’s not much,” he replied, “but I’m sorry to say that it’s more than I’ve got with me. You see, I’m only going to Hampden, three stations up the line, and so didn’t bring much. But wouldn’t it do if you got off at the next station and went back and got your money? Would the delay matter? How long leave have you got?”
The conductor came back and smiled questioningly at the pair. Jack shook his head.
“I’ve got to go on,” he muttered.
“Well, here now, I’ll pay your way to Hampden, anyhow. That will give us time to consider things. Here you are, conductor.”
When the change had been made and the professor was in possession of an elaborate rebate slip, the conductor went off and the professor removed Jack’s valise from the seat and sat down at the boy’s side.
“How long are you going to be gone?” he asked pleasantly.
Jack hesitated. Then—
“I’m not coming back,” he answered defiantly.
“What? Leaving college?”