d
him by the same mail. Dazed and trembling, he got out his bank-book
and tried to strike a balance; the figures danced crazily before him.
But too well he knew that slender sum! He could see barely a month
ahead.

He walked home that evening, to get a new grip on his courage. He
found Shirley almost breathless with excitement.

She waved a letter before him. "You can have two guesses to what's in
it."

But David was unequal even to one guess just then.

"It's from Aunt Clara. She wants me to take the baby out there for two
or three weeks. You don't mind, do you, David?"

"Do you want to go so much?"

"I'm just crazy to have them see Davy Junior. And I haven't seen
Maizie and auntie and the rest of them for so long. And I think the
change will do me good. I get tired so easily, you know."

This last was a convincing argument and quite true. "I know. But I'm
afraid, dear, we can't afford it."

"Is business so bad?"

"It's pretty slow---and getting no better."

"Hasn't that Fisher man paid up yet?"

He hesitated. But he could not find the heart--perhaps it was courage
he lacked--to break his evil tidings to her.

"Not yet."

"I'd like to shake him. But he must pay soon. And anyhow," she
reverted to the original topic, "it wouldn't cost so much. There'd be
only railroad fare and in two weeks--or maybe three--we'd save that in
house expenses. We could let the maid go, you know."

He caught at that straw. "And maybe, when you come back, you'll be
strong enough to get along without her--for a while?"

"Maybe." Her tone lacked assurance. "We'll try it, anyhow."

Two mornings later David stood on a platform and watched a train pull
slowly out of the shed. Then he gulped twice, sternly set his teeth
together and walked swiftly to his office.

Shirley and the baby stayed, not two weeks nor three, but five. There
were other expenses than railroad fare, just what her letters did not
set out in detail. Twice she had to write to David for money; in the
midst of riches she found it hard to economize. Still David, by taking
his meals at a cheap boarding-house, managed to save a little.

In other ways the trip was a great success. Shirley's letters were
glowing. She was getting stronger every day. She could lie
deliciously in bed all morning, if she chose. Aunt Clara had a nurse
for the baby. The weather was fine and there was motoring daily. All
her old friends came to see her with w