Besides, it would enable him to repay what he owed to his mother and to Foxy.

Through all the mazes of specious argument Hughie worked his way, arriving at no conclusion, except that he carried with him a feeling that if he could by some means get that money out of the drawer in a way that would not be stealing, it would be a vast relief, greater than words could tell.
That night brought him the opportunity.

His father and mother were away at the prayer meeting.

There was only Jessie left in the house, and she was busy with the younger children.

With the firm resolve that he would not take a single half-dime from his father's drawer, he went into the study.