"Oh, Frank—Mr. Racer!" exclaimed Gertrude. "I am so glad I met you!"
"Why, what is the matter?" asked the lad, for he was aware of a note of trouble in her voice.
"Everything!" she exclaimed. "I just came to post a special delivery letter to you. I wanted you to get it the first thing in the morning, and the mail at Dailsburg is so slow. We have just received word from Professor Callum that he has started proceedings to take our home away from us unless his debt is paid at once! Oh, what shall we do?" and Gertrude began crying on the shoulder of her chum.
CHAPTER XVI
AN INSULTING REPLY
Frank hardly knew what to do. He was not in the habit of seeing girls cry, never having had any sisters, and the sight of a girl in whom he was more than ordinarily interested weeping bitterly was rather too much for him.
"Oh now! Now!" he exclaimed a bit awkwardly. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Gertrude."
"But what can I do?" she asked. "And if I don't do something our home will be taken away from us! Mother is heart-broken, and she couldn't think of anything. I thought of you, and how you had the bonds, and I was wondering if we couldn't sell them quickly, even at a sacrifice, and get some money with which to pay Professor Callum."
"I—I just wish I had him here!" exclaimed Grace Knox. "I—I'd say something to him!" and she stamped her small foot on the pavement.
Frank was thinking quickly. Clearly the emergency called for some action, but what he did not know. Matters seemed to be coming to a crisis.