A BLUNDER AND WHAT CAME OF IT
As if a weight had been removed from his soul Walter moved away. The whole world had suddenly become a different place. Although the calamity of Lola's disappearance was none the less distressing at least on his own particular horizon there no longer loomed the spectre of discharge and all the disgrace that accompanied it. He could have tossed his cap into the air for very joy and gratitude. In his relief he was bursting to talk to somebody, and as he had permission to use the telephone in order to keep in touch with his family it occurred to him that now was the moment to call up Bob and impart the exciting tidings of the afternoon. Bob was always off duty at this hour and if he had the good luck to find him at the station just the sound of his voice would be infinitely comforting.
Hastening in the side door he glanced into the wee telephone closet.
No one was there, and he took down the receiver and called the Seaver Bay station. In another instant Bob's Hello came cheerily over the wire.
"It's Walter, Bob."
"Anything the matter, kid?"
"N—o. Yes. That is, something was the matter but it is all over now. I just wanted to talk to you."
"Well, fire ahead. What do you want to say?"
"Oh, a lot. I hardly know how to start." The boy laughed nervously.