mall sea-fish, at the slightest disturbance of their
element.

"I guess a fellow never forgets home," he said, thoughtfully.

"No, I guess not," replied Evan. "Every morning when I wake I feel as
if I am somewhere on a visit."

"By gosh," said Henty, "so do I--except that Mrs. Wilson doesn't use me
much like a welcome visitor. I always have to break the ice to get
into my water pitcher."

Nelson did not smile. In fact, he had not heard: he was thinking of
the disappointment coming to his mother if he should have to make good
the one hundred dollars loss and miss his holidays.

"There's trouble down at the office, Henty," he said, slowly.

The genial junior raised his eyes in wonder.

"Drunk again?"

"No," said Evan, "worse than that. Someone has stolen a hundred
dollars."

"The dickens!"

Nelson related him the story. A. P. drank it in with the expression of
a child listening to Andersen's fairy tales. And he asked just as
practical questions as a child asks.

"Do you suspect anybody?"

Evan smiled: he was growing tired of tragedy.

"I sort of suspect Filter," he answered.

Henty was serious.

"You don't like to say, do you?"

"No," said Evan.

The junior was silent a moment, after which he observed, bashfully:

"A certain party certainly needs the coin."

Evan sighed, and Henty looked at him quickly.

"You're lucky it wasn't a thousand, don't you think so?"

The teller had not thought of that. He was surprised both at the idea
and the junior.

"You're right, Henty," he said, with interest, "I'm taking an awful
chance. I believe in my heart Penton is a crook."

"Surest thing in the world!"

Evan thought a while.

"I'm going to write head office," he said finally, "and ask them for a
move--but I can't peach on Penton's doings."

An answer to the manager's letter came from head office, but the teller
did not receive a reply to his own. The one addressed to Penton said
that manager and teller would have to put up $50 each, on account of
the loss, to be paid in monthly instalments. It was a shrewd
compromise, and characteristic of head office.

Penton swore volubly and pretended to be sorely aggravated.

"Well," he said, "_you_ got off easy, anyway."

Filter was professionally indignant when he heard of the affair, but a
man came in who couldn't write his name, and asked to open a savings
account. He so interested Gordon that Gordon forgot all else and
settled in between th