treats him I wouldn't stay in the house another day."

"Really, this is very annoying," said Dr. Crawford, irritably. "Have you
come here from Warren to say this?"

"No, sir, not entirely."

"Perhaps Carl wants me to receive him back. I will do so if he promises
to obey his stepmother."

"That he won't do, I am sure."

"Then what is the object of your visit?"

"To say that Carl wants and intends to earn his own living. But it is
hard for a boy of his age, who has never worked, to earn enough at first
to pay for his board and clothes. He asks, or, rather, I ask for him,
that you will allow him a small sum, say three or four dollars a week,
which is considerably less than he must cost you at home, for a time
until he gets on his feet."

"I don't know," said Dr. Crawford, in a vacillating tone. "I don't think
Mrs. Crawford would approve this."

"It seems to me you are the one to decide, as Carl is your own son.
Peter must cost you a good deal more."

"Do you know Peter?"

"I have met him," answered Gilbert, with a slight smile.

"I don't know what to say. You may be right. Peter does cost me more."

"And Carl is entitled to be treated as well as he."

"I think I ought to speak to Mrs. Crawford about it. And, by the way,
I nearly forgot to say that she charges Carl with taking money from her
bureau drawer before he went away. It was a large sum, too--twenty-five
dollars."

"That is false!" exclaimed Gilbert, indignantly. "I am surprised that
you should believe such a thing of your own son."

"Mrs. Crawford says she has proof," said the doctor, hesitating.

"Then what has he done with the money? I know that he has but
thirty-seven cents with him at this time, and he only left home
yesterday. If the money has really been taken, I think I know who took
it."

"Who?"

"Peter Cook. He looks mean enough for anything."

"What right have you to speak so of Peter?"

"Because I caught him stoning a cat this morning. He would have killed
the poor thing if I had not interfered. I consider that worse than
taking money."

"I--I don't know what to say. I can't agree to anything till I have
spoken with Mrs. Crawford. Did you say that Carl had but thirty seven
cents?"

"Yes, sir; I presume you don't want him to starve?"

"No, of course not. He is my son, though he has behaved badly. Here,
give him that!" and Dr. Crawford drew a ten-dollar bill from his wallet,
and handed it to Gilbert.

"Thank you, sir. This