Peter must cost you
a good deal more."
"Do you know Peter?"
"I have met him," answered Gilbert, with
a slight smile.
"I don't know what to say. You may be right.
Peter does cost me more."
"And Carl is entitled to be treated as well as he."
"I think I ought to speak to Mrs. Crawford
about it. And, by the way, I nearly forgot
to say that she charges Carl with taking money
from her bureau drawer before he went away.
It was a large sum, too--twenty-five dollars."
"That is false!" exclaimed Gilbert,
indignantly. "I am surprised that you should
believe such a thing of your own son."
"Mrs. Crawford says she has proof," said
the doctor, hesitating.
"Then what has he done with the money?
I know that he has but thirty-seven cents with
him at this time, and he only left home
yesterday. If the money has really been taken,
I think I know who took it."
"Who?"
"Peter Cook. He looks mean enough for anything."
"What right have you to speak so of Peter?"
"Because I caught him stoning a cat this
morning. He would have killed the poor
thing if I had not interfered. I consider that
worse than taking money."
"I--I don't know what to say. I can't agree
to anything till I have spoken with Mrs. Crawford.
Did you say that Carl had but thirty
seven cents?"
"Yes, sir; I presume you don't want him to starve?"
"No, of course not. He is my son, though
he has behaved badly. Here, give him that!"
and Dr. Crawford drew a ten-dollar bill from
his wallet, and handed it to Gilbert
"Thank you, sir.
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