urnful air. "He come right in and said:
'Mother Beaseley, I don't believe I can eat any dinner to-day,' and
then shut and locked his door. I didn't know what had happened till
'Rene Hopper, she that works for Mrs. Cross Moore, run in to borry my
heavy flat-iron, an' she tol' me about the stolen money. Ain't it
_awful_?"

"I--I hope Nelson will let me speak to him, Mrs. Beaseley," stammered
Janice, finding it very difficult now to keep her tears back.

"You go right along the hall and knock at his door," whispered Mrs.
Beaseley, hoarsely. "An' you tell him I've got his dinner down on the
stove-hearth, 'twixt plates, a-keepin' it hot for him."

Janice did as she was bidden as far as knocking at the door of the
front room was concerned. There was no answer at first--not a sound
from within. She rapped a second time.

"I am sorry, Mrs. Beaseley; I could not possibly eat any dinner
to-day," Nelson's voice finally replied.

There was no tremor in the tone of it. Janice knew just how proud the
young man was, and no matter how bitterly he was hurt by this trouble
that had fallen upon him, he would not easily reveal his feelings.

She put her lips close to the crack of the door. "Nelson!" she
whispered. "Nelson!" a little louder.

She heard him spring to his feet and overturn the chair in which he had
been sitting.

"Nelson! it's only me," Janice quavered, the pulse beating painfully in
her throat. "Let me in--do!"

He came across the room slowly. She heard him fumble at the key and
knob. Then the door opened.

"Oh, Nelson!" she repeated, when she saw him in the darkened parlor.

The pallor of his face went to her heart. His hair was disheveled; his
eyes red from weeping. After all, he was just a big boy in trouble,
and with no mother to comfort him.

All the maternal instincts of Janice Day's nature went out to the young
fellow. "Nelson! Nelson!" she cried, under her breath. "You poor,
poor boy! I'm so sorry for you."

"Janice--you----" He stammered, and could not finish the phrase.

She cried, emphatically: "Of course I believe in you, Nelson. We _all_
do! You must not take it so to heart. You will not bear it all alone,
Nelson. Every friend you have in Polktown will help you."

She had come close to him, her hands fluttering upon his breast and her
eyes, sparkling with teardrops, raised to his face.

"Oh, Janice!" he groaned, and swept her into his arms.

CHAPTER X

HOW POLK