“Thank you.”  And then into the receiver:  “If you should get an answer before seven o’clock, please telephone it to me here.”

Then the three went out to the front porch.  They found chairs in the shade where a welcome little breeze made for cool comfort.  Miss Crawford sat with the men, answering their questions about that wild country, chatting with them.  And there, at her invitation, they sat and smoked when she left them and went into the house.

“A charming girl,” Hapgood was moved to say enthusiastically.  “Really a charming girl!  Who would have thought to find her out here?  And say, Greek”—­being confidentially nearer—­“her old man must be tremendously rich, eh?  You don’t need to think of such things, of course, but take me—­” He paused, and then continued, thoughtfully:  “Sooner or later, old man, it’s got to come to one end for Roger Hapgood.  And, do you know, I’m half in love with her already?”

His verbal enthusiasm in no way imparted itself to young Conniston.  So Roger puffed complacently at his cigarette in thoughtful silence, rather more than usually well pleased with himself.

The late afternoon drew on, and the girl had not returned to them.  Conniston looked at his watch and saw that it was half-past five.  They would have to leave within an hour and a half; they could not impose longer than that.  He was hoping that she would spend at least the last half-hour with them when he heard the door open and looked up quickly, thinking she was coming.  It was the Japanese boy, bowing and smiling.

“Most honorable sir,” looking doubtfully from one of them to the other, “the telephone would speak with you.”

Conniston sprang to his feet.  Hapgood smiled his satisfaction.  “The old gent is as prompt as the very deuce, God bless him!”

Conniston hurried after the boy into the house, leaving Hapgood beaming.

“Mr. Conniston?” the telephone-girl was asking.

“Yes, I’m Conniston.  You have the answer?”

“Yes.  Shall I read it to you?”

“Please.”

“It’s rather long,” she laughed into the telephone.  “But it’s paid.  It runs: 

“MY DEAR SON,—­Your wire received.  Sorry you misunderstood me.  So that you may make no mistakes in the future I shall be more explicit now.  I shall not send you one single dollar for at least one year from date.  If at the end of that time you have done something for yourself I may help you.  I leave for Europe to-morrow to be gone for a year on my first vacation.  It will do no good for you to telegraph again.  I cannot help you beyond wishing you luck.  You are on your own feet.  Walk if you can.

     “Yours,

     “WILLIAM CONNISTON, Senior.”

Conniston leaned limply against the wall, staring into the telephone.

“Look here!” he cried, after a moment.  “There’s a mistake somewhere.”

“No mistake.  The wire was just brought in from the Western Union office.”