have expostulated against repayment,
but he knew that this would only embarrass the lady, and that he had no
right, being a stranger, to force such a favor upon her. He answered,
therefore:

"Certainly, I will do so, but it will be perfectly convenient for me to
call upon you."

"If it will give you no trouble, I shall be glad to have you call any
evening. I live at No. ---- Madison Avenue."

Now it was Frank's turn to be surprised. The number mentioned by the
lady was that of the house in which Mr. Henry Percival lived.

"I thought Mr. Percival lived at that number?" said Frank.

"So he does. He is my father. Do you know him?"

"No; but I was about to call on him. This morning Mr. Robinson, a broker
in Wall Street, told me that he wished to see me."

"You are not the boy who caused the capture of the bondholder?" asked
the lady, quickly.

"Yes, I am the boy, but I am afraid I had less to do with it than has
been represented."

"What is your name?"

"Frank Courtney."

"My father is very desirous of meeting you, and thanking you for what
you have done. Why have you not called before?"

"I did not know till to-day that your father had returned. Besides, I
did not like to go without an invitation."

"I will invite you," said the lady, with a pleasant smile, "and I, as
well as my father, will be glad to see you. And now let me introduce you
to my little son. Freddie, would you like to see the boy that caught the
robber?"

"Yes, mamma."

"Here he is. His name is Frank."

The little boy immediately began to ask questions of Frank, and by the
time they reached the Cooper Institute Frank and he were well
acquainted.

"Don't get out, Frank," said Freddie.

"I am going home, Freddie."

"You must come and see me soon," said the little boy.

"Now you have three invitations," said the lady.

"I will accept them all," said Frank.

And, with a bow, he left the car.

CHAPTER XXVIII

FRANK MAKES AN EVENING CALL

After supper Frank walked slowly up to Mr. Percival's residence. Now
that he knew two members of the family, he looked forward with pleasure
to the call he was about to make. His prospects seemed much brighter
than when he woke up in the morning.

On reaching the house of Mr. Percival, he saw at a glance that it was
the residence of a wealthy man, and the hall, into which he was first
admitted, was luxurious in its appearance. But Frank had been brought up
to the enjoyment of wealth,