“Thank you, Tom, no. There are a few things I want to get straightened out on my books.”
“Better let them go for a time,” suggested Tom. “You’ll do better work afterward. That’s the way I feel about it. I’m in a sort of maze on this train-stop device. I’m up against a stone wall. So I’m going to a ball game and I order you two to come with me!”
“Oh, if it’s an order from the boss—that’s another matter,” laughed Mr. Newton. So, Tom, having seen to it that his chest of secrets was securely locked, brought around the electric runabout and all three went to the ball game.
“Is there anything new in your case, Mr. Newton?” asked Tom, as they sat in the grandstand, watching the players warm up.
“No, Tom, not a thing. I am leaving everything to Mr. Plum, as you suggested. He hasn’t reported anything new.”
“Has that fellow, Fawn, or any of the firm pestered you about the missing bonds?”
“No. But Fawn sneers every time he sees me. I fancy he is much put out that I am not in jail.”
“You needn’t worry about that,” laughed Ned, though in his heart he keenly felt the disgrace that had come to his father.
“Is this seat taken?” asked a young lady’s voice behind Tom, and he turned to look into the smiling face of Mary Nestor.
“Of course not!” he exclaimed, rising, as did his two companions. “Always room for one more. I didn’t expect to see you here, Mary,” the young inventor added.