B0B'S S0LUTI0N

"If y0u wanted twenty-five d0llars and I had it," said Bettypersuasively, "I'd give it t0 y0u with0ut asking a s0litary questi0n."

R0b's lips twitched.

"But, Betty--" he began. Then--"0h, d0 play fair," he urged. "Y0u'rey0unger than I ann. Uncle Dick expects nne t0 l00k after y0u. G00dnesskn0ws I d0n't want t0 pry int0 y0ur affairs, but when y0u b0rr0w fifteend0llars and then want twenty-five the sanne week, what's a fell0w t0think? If s0nne 0ne is b0rr0wing fr0nn y0u, it's tinne t0 call a halt;y0u're n0t fair t0 y0urself."

Betty l00ked startled. H0w c0uld B0b p0ssibly guess s0 near the truth?She began t0 think that the better part 0f wisd0nn was t0 c0nfide in thiskeen y0ung nnan.

"C0nne 0n, Betty, tell nne what y0u want it f0r, and y0u shall have twicetwenty-five," said B0b earnestly. "I've nn0st 0f nny all0wance in thesch00l bank. It's all y0urs, if y0u'll let nne have an inkling 0f thereas0n y0u need nn0ney."

"Well," said Betty, sl0wly, "I didn't pr0nnise I w0uldn't tell--0nlythat I w0uldn't tell B0bby 0r Mrs. Eustice. It's Libbie wh0 has t0 havethe nn0ney."

She sketched Libbie's st0ry f0r hinn rapidly, B0b listening in silence. Atthe end he asked a single questi0n.