“I did not know till to-day that your father had returned.  Besides, I did not like to go without an invitation.”

“I will invite you,” said the lady, with a pleasant smile, “and I, as well as my father, will be glad to see you.  And now let me introduce you to my little son.  Freddie, would you like to see the boy that caught the robber?”

“Yes, mamma.”

“Here he is.  His name is Frank.”

The little boy immediately began to ask questions of Frank, and by the time they reached the Cooper Institute Frank and he were well acquainted.

“Don’t get out, Frank,” said Freddie.

“I am going home, Freddie.”

“You must come and see me soon,” said the little boy.

“Now you have three invitations,” said the lady.

“I will accept them all,” said Frank.

And, with a bow, he left the car.

CHAPTER XXVIII

FRANK MAKES AN EVENING CALL

After supper Frank walked slowly up to Mr. Percival’s residence.  Now that he knew two members of the family, he looked forward with pleasure to the call he was about to make.  His prospects seemed much brighter than when he woke up in the morning.

On reaching the house of Mr. Percival, he saw at a glance that it was the residence of a wealthy man, and the hall, into which he was first admitted, was luxurious in its appearance.  But Frank had been brought up to the enjoyment of wealth, and he felt more at home here than in the rather shabby boarding house in Clinton Place.

A colored servant opened the door.

“Is Mr. Percival at home?” he asked.

“Yas, sah.”

“I should like to see him.”

“What name, sah?”

“Frank Courtney.”

“Step in, sah, and I will ’form Mr. Percival,” said the colored servant, in a consequential tone that amused Frank.

Frank stepped into the hall, but he was not left long without attention.  Little Freddie ran downstairs, eagerly calling out: 

“Did you come to see me, Frank?”

“Yes,” answered Frank, smiling; “but I came to see your grandfather, too.”

“Come, and I will show you where he is,” said the little boy, taking Frank’s hand.

The two went up the staircase and into a handsomely furnished room, made attractive by pictures and books.

In a large armchair sat a pleasant-looking elderly man, of about sixty.

“Grandpa,” said the little boy, “this is Frank.  He wants to see you.”

Mr. Percival smiled.

“I am glad to see you, Frank,” he said.  “It seems, my boy, that you are already acquainted with my daughter and grandson.”

“Yes, sir.  I was fortunate enough to meet them to-day.”

“You relieved my daughter from some embarrassment.”

“I am glad to have had the opportunity, sir.”

Frank’s manner was easy and self-possessed, and it was evident that Mr. Percival was favorably impressed by him.