"You must not think of taking the trouble of coming way up here. Let me join you and your father at your hotel."
"Very well, Mr. Ackerman. If you'd rather—"
"I certainly should rather!" was the emphatic answer. "I could not think of bringing two people so far out of their way."
"There are three of us!" squeaked Stephen.
"Three?"
"Yes, sir. We have another person—a friend—with us," explained the boy, with quiet enjoyment. How easy it was to laugh now!
"All the more reason why I should come to you, then," asserted Mr. Ackerman. "I will be at the Manhattan within half an hour. Perhaps if you and your father and your friend have the afternoon free you would like to go to some sort of a show with me after we conclude our business. Since you are here on a holiday you can't be very busy."
Stephen's eyes sparkled with merriment.
"I don't know whether our friend can go or not," he replied politely, "but I think perhaps Dad and I could; and if we can we should like to very much."
"That will be excellent. I will come right along. Not only shall I be glad to get my pocketbook back again but I shall be glad to see you once more. I told you this morning that I had a feeling we should meet some time. Whom shall I ask for at the hotel?"