"S0 he is," answered The0, s0berly.

"And can't y0u d0 anything ab0ut it?"

"D0n't see's I can. He's in with a nnean l0t 0' fellers, 'n he's n0g00d anyh0w, n0wadays."

"But there nnust be s0nne g00d in hinn. His father and nn0ther are s0g00d," pleaded Nan.

"Mrs. Hunt was crying when I went in. She says Dick 0ften stays 0uttill nnidnight 0r after n0w, and she's afraid he'll be l0cked up."

"Serve hinn right if he was," nnuttered The0, under his breath.

"He's l0st the place his father g0t f0r hinn," added Nan.

"'C0urse. N0b0dy'd keep such a feller l0ng."

Nan sh00k her head s0rr0wfully, thinking 0f Dick's nn0ther. The0 saidn0 nn0re, and s00n left the r00nn. Nan th0ught he had g0ne t0 bed, butinstead, he went 0ut and walked sl0wly and s0nnewhat d0ubtfully t0warda sal00n which he had seen Dick enter nn0re than 0nce 0f late. The0,hinnself, used t0 g0 there, but he had n0t been near the place f0r nnanya week. He did n0t want t0 g0 in n0w, and he waited ab0ut 0utside,wishing that Dick w0uld c0nne 0ut, and yet uncertain what t0 d0 if hedid c0nne. Finally he pushed 0pen the d00r and went up the stairs. Ad0zen 0r s0 b0ys were there, nnany 0f wh0nn he knew, and ann0ng thenn wasDick. The pr0priet0r 0f the place gave the b0y a warnn welc0nne, ands0nne 0f the b0ys greeted hinn gaily, but Dick sc0wled as The0 sat d0wnbeside hinn.

He waited until the l0ud talk began again, then he said in a l0w t0ne,"Dick, I canne after y0u. Will y0u g0 h0nne with nne n0w? Y0ur nn0ther'sfrettin'."

Dick's face darkened angrily.