“I believe there is nothing further, so I will say good bye till I see you at the office after your return.”
“Good-bye, sir.”
Vance took up his hat, after carefully putting all the papers and the check-book of the Chicago National Bank in an inside pocket of his coat, and left the hotel.
When he reached home an hour later he duly astonished his mother and sister with the information that he was going out of town on business for his employer.
Of course the first thing they wanted to know was his destination.
“I am sorry, mother, I can’t tell you. Where I am going, as well as the object of the trip, is a business secret.”
“But we ought to know, Vance,” expostulated his pretty sister Elsie. “Unless you tell us we shall be worried to death about you.”
“Sorry, sis,” he replied, taking her face in his two hands and kissing her cherry-red, pouting lips; “but I am under strict orders not to say a word about it.”
“It’s real mean of you. You know neither mamma nor I would say a word if you told us not to,” she persisted, throwing her arms about his neck coaxingly.
“Don’t blame me, Elsie—blame the boss. Let me tell you one thing, dear. I feel sure this trip is the chance of my life. Mr. Whitemore as good as said so.”