Tommy for the first time realized that he was a rich man's son. There was no need to pay back the seventeen thousand dollars. There was no need to work for wages. But--well, his father would decide and he would do whatever his father wished. He owed it to his father. “I don't know. What do you want me to do, dad?” Mr. Leigh could not help seeing Tommy's loving loyalty. “What do you wish to do, my son?” he asked, eagerly. “Whatever you say,” answered Tommy, firmly. “No! No!” Mr. Leigh shook his head violently. “It is for you to decide, Thomas.” Then he began to snap his fingers, nervously. “Well, dad,” said Tommy, slowly, “now that I have found you I don't want to leave you, somehow.” “Don't you, Tommy?” cried the old man, eagerly. He rose and approached his son with outstretched hands. “Don't you really?” Tommy saw his father's quivering hands and the light of a great love in his eyes. “I certainly do not! But--” He shook his head. “But what?” asked Mr. Leigh, halting suddenly. “Well, I think I ought to go back to Dayton.” Tommy thought of the shop, thought of how he might accomplish what Thompson had wanted him to do, what he now could accomplish far more easily. “There's work there that I want to do, dad, and--” “And what?” “Well, I want to do it. It's a man's job, and I need not think of the money now, but give myself up to it. But why can't you come with me?” He brightened happily. “How about it?” But Mr. Leigh said, slowly: “Do you want to go back to Dayton?” “I do and I don't. I want to be with you and I want to be in Dayton.” “But you will go to Dayton?” “After awhile, if--if you'll let me.” Mr. Leigh's lips came together firmly as if he would force himself to be silent. “I do not begrudge the cost, my son!” said Mr. Leigh, in a voice that rang with gratitude. “I am very happy, for if you had not been what you are--” “Dinner is ready, sorr,” announced Maggie. “Come on, dad,” said Tommy, taking his father's arm in his and finding great comfort in feeling it so near him. But Mr. Leigh disengaged his arm gently. “My son, will you invite me to dine with you at your club? You are a man now, and safe, and--and--I should like to be your guest before you go back to Dayton!” THE END End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Last Penny, by Edwin Lefevre