“Yes, it’s here,” answered Mrs. Sandow shortly. “He forgot it, as usual. Tell him he left it on the breakfast-table. Why, is he in trouble?” “No; only he wants to buy some books, and he hasn’t the money with him,” answered Tom politely. “Well, tell him to be sure and not forget to come home to dinner,” said Mrs. Sandow, as she hung up the receiver with a click that snapped in Tom’s ear. “What does she say?” asked the old doctor. “It’s there,” answered the boy. “And she wants you to be sure not to forget to come home to dinner.” “I’ll not. I’ll start right away, and then I can’t forget. But I must tell Mr. Townsend about this book. I remember once I took a volume without paying for it--let me see, it was the same day I picked up a rare copy of Bacon’s works--and I forgot to send the money for a week, I got so interested reading it. I want him to send after the money for this, in case I don’t forward it right away.” Tom found the book-store proprietor and told him of Dr. Spidderkins’ desires. “Tell him to take the book, and welcome,” was the reply Mr. Townsend sent back. “He can take all the books he wants. He is good for them.” The doctor left, after insisting that a messenger must be sent to his house that evening for the ten dollars, in case he did not send it sooner. “I guess you’d better stop up and see the doctor, Tom,” said Mr. Townsend, when it came closing time. “He hasn’t sent the money, and, while I know he’ll pay it, he always likes to have things done just as he requests. I don’t want to offend him. So just take a run up there. You know where the place is now.” “Yes, sir. Shall I bring back the money to-night?” “No; fetch it with you in the morning. I suppose you know that, beginning next week, we shall keep open quite late, on account of the Christmas trade?” “Yes, sir. I don’t mind.” “I’m glad you don’t. The boy who had the place you now have left on account of that.” Tom made up his mind it would take a good deal more than that to make him give up his job. He took a car for the Back Bay district, and arrived at the Spidderkins mansion about seven o’clock. His knock was answered by the woman he now knew to be Mrs. Sandow. “Well?” she asked ungraciously. “I called to see Dr. Spidderkins.” “What about?” “I was told to collect ten dollars for some books.” “Oh! Those everlasting books!” exclaimed Mrs. Sandow. “My brother-in-law spends more money on them than he does on the house. It’s all foolishness!” She opened the door a little wider, and Tom took this for an invitation to enter. “Are your feet clean?” she asked suspiciously. “I wiped them carefully on the mat.” “I don’t believe you half did. I never saw a boy yet with clean feet. Wait here, and I’ll tell the doctor.”