pause.

"'Why not?' I inquired.

"'My father holds a mortgage on his father's farm, and it will fall
due in three months,' he answered.

"'Surely he won't foreclose?'

"'Surely he will,' returned Conrad. 'Old Grant will have to leave
the farm and go to the poorhouse, or, at any rate, to some small
place like the Sam Martin house. It contains four rooms, and is good
enough for a bankrupt.'

"This made me uneasy. I hope, Andy, you will find some friend who
will be able and willing to advance money to pay the mortgage when
it falls due. I hear Squire Carter is treating with a city man to
buy the place. He evidently feels sure that it will come into his
possession."

When Andy read this portion of the letter he smiled.

"I suspect Conrad and his father will be disappointed," he said to
himself. "The city man will have to look elsewhere for an investment."

One day Andy had a pleasant surprise. Just in front of him on Broadway
he saw a figure that looked familiar.

The tall, bent form, and long white hair he recognized at once as
belonging to Dr. Crabb, the principal of Penhurst Academy.