care of a pony when he got it--said the boy would have no place to
keep it, nothing to feed it on----"

"Yes, that's so."

"But, I told him Tad might stable his pony with Jo-Jo in our barn."

"Sure thing. That's fine. Did he agree?"

"He said for me to bring Tad in to see him."

"But you did not?"

"No; I haven't had a chance. I'm going to try to get him to stop on
the way back, if he will. All three of us will stop off at the bank
Father usually stays late on Saturdays to go over the books all by
himself----"

Further conversation was interrupted by the return of Tad. Acting upon
a knowing look from Walter, Ned maintained a discreet silence on the
subject. And, if Tad's keen glance, which searched their faces, as he
clambered aboard the grocery wagon, gave him the slightest inkling as
to what they had been discussing, he made no effort further to gratify
his curiosity.

"What are you going to do when you get back, Tad?" asked Walter by way
of directing the conversation to the subject of which he was at that
moment so full.

"Going back to the store. Why?"