"Oh, nothing much. Father wanted you to step in some time this
afternoon," answered Walter as carelessly as he could.

"What for?"

"He wishes to talk with you about something. You can stop off as we go
by. It will take only a few minutes of your time."

Tad shook his head emphatically. Nothing could deter him from doing
what he considered was his full duty to his employer.

"Then I shall go over to the store with you myself and see
Mr. Langdon," announced Walter firmly. After that, the conversation
drifted into a discussion of the respective merits of the two ponies
that Ned and Walter were riding.

Arriving at the store, Walter dismounted, and, tossing the reins to
Ned, ran up the steps into the store, while Tad began methodically to
haul the market baskets from the wagon, piling them together on the
sidewalk.

In a moment Walter came hurrying out.

"It's all right," he called from the top step. "Mr. Langdon says hitch
your horse here, while you go over with me to see father."

"Very well," replied Tad, as, with evident reluctance, he followed his
friend to the hank, half a block up the street.