And when that night just before dinner Theo slipped into the
dining-room and placed the shelves beside Mr. Croyden's chair no boy
could have been happier. The only person happier than Theo himself was
the man who received them.
"My, but this is a present!" exclaimed the merchant. "And you made
them all yourself? I can hardly believe it. Why, they are beautifully
finished! And isn't it a queer thing that only yesterday I told
Mrs. Croyden I must buy some bookshelves for my office? You remember,
don't you, Madeline?"
Mrs. Croyden nodded.
"Those were his very words," affirmed Mrs. Croyden, turning to
Theo. "He said it only at breakfast. I believe it was mental
telepathy, Theo."
[Illustration: "THIS IS A PRESENT"]
Theo beamed.
He had really succeeded then in giving Mr. Croyden something he
wanted! That was pleasure enough.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER XIII
THE TRENTON VISIT
[Illustration: A]
Although originally planned to be of only a week's duration, Theo's
visit to the Croydens stretched on into the second week before any one
seemed to realize it. Ten days passed and still the lad had not been
to the porcelain works--one of his chief aims in coming to
Trenton.
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