nz and Paul that for the forgetfulness of Fritz they must
face the landlord, and more than that the tipless Peter. So with red
cheeks and eyes cast down they returned to the Swan inn, and the
landlord met them at the door with a smiling welcome.

"I expected you," he said. "You remind me of the story of the traveler
who upon his journey came to a cross road, and, not knowing which to
take, returned home. But I judge you had a better reason that it will be
a great pleasure to you to relate."

On their way back Fritz had said, "If the money is under the pillow we
can get it, and there will be no need of telling the hotel people why we
came back. Then they will not have a chance to laugh at us."

The others agreed to this, so he was ready with his reply.

"Yes, sir; we left a trifle under our pillow, and came back to get it."

"Only a trifle?"

"A small package, but as we do not wish to leave it, we came back for
it."

"That was quite right. You can go up and seek for it."

The three flew up the steps, but soon returned with long faces and
tearful eyes.

"We have not found it, Mr. Swan," they said.

"But if it is only a trifle, why need you care?" asked the landlord,
laughing heartily. "But," he added, "there are sometimes important
things left by travelers, for this morning our chambermaid found in one
of the rooms this handkerchief in which is tied three small
pocketbooks," and he held it up out of reach of the boys.

"It is ours," cried the boys gleefully. "Give it to us, please," and
they reached for it.

"Hands off!" laughed the landlord. "How am I to know that the purses are
yours, when you said you had left a trifle? So it cannot be your money;
for money is no trifle to a traveler. In truth nothing is more useful to
him. It will supply him with a bed, comfortable room, good meals, and
with it he can pay something for having his dusty shoes cleaned after a
day's walk. Now do you think money is a trifle when with it you can have
bed, meals, and service such as brushing dusty shoes? All these things
can be had for a piece of paper, or a coin that you can hide under your
tongue. Then is money really a trifle? Even if there is not much money
in these little purses, yet what would you do if they were not returned
to you?"

"Oh, please forgive us that we have been so foolish," pleaded Fritz.
"The purses are ours and we came back to get them, and we can tell you
of every penny that is in each of them. I have