"I am very sorry to learn that you had such a hard summer," he said

kindly, "and I regret that I didn't know more about your affairs before

I left the city, but I was too absorbed, I fear, in my own troubles."

"How did you hear about us?" she asked curiously.

"From Miss King."

"Oh," said Amarilly happily, imagining that their trouble must have been

patched up. Then another thought occurred to her which gave her a little

heart palpitation. With intense anxiety depicted on her lineaments she

asked tremulously: "Did she tell you about the surplus?"

"Amarilly," and the tone was so reassuring that the little wrinkles of

anxiety vanished, "when I gave you the surplice, I gave it to you

unconditionally, and I am very glad that you put it to profit. But, you

know, as Miss King told you, that there was something of value--of

importance--in that pocket; something that must be found. My happiness

depends entirely upon its recovery. Now, she tells me that you can give

me the names and addresses of all the people through whose hands it

passed."

"Sure thing!" she replied with business-like alacrity. "You see the

Boarder has been larnin' me bookkeepin', and so I keep all our accounts

now in a big book the grocer give me."

She produced a large, ledger-like book and laid it on the table for his

inspection. He examined her system of bookkeeping with interest. Under

the head of "Cr.," which she explained to him meant "brung in," was

"Washins," "Boarder," "Flamingus," "Milt," "Bobby," "Bud." Below each

of these subheads were dates and accounts. The page opposite, headed

"Dr.," she translated, "means paid out."

She turned a few leaves, and in big letters he read the word "Surplus."

"This bein' a sort of extry account, the Boarder said to run it as a

special and keep it seprut. If you'll set down, I'll read offer to you

whar it has went."

She began to read laboriously and slowly from the book, adding

explanatory notes in glib tones.

"'July 8. Mister Carrul, tenner, 1 doller. Pade.' He's the tenor, you

know, to Grace Church. He wanted it to sing in at a sacred concert. His

was too short or too long.

"'July 11. Miss Lyte and Miss Bobson. 'Tablos. 1 doller. Pade.' Mr.

Carul knows where they live. 'Twaz him as got the job fer me.




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