“Did he say where he was going?” John asked.
“Nope, he didn’t. He jest kept sayin’, ‘Gracious!’ an’ ‘Goodness!’ But he was sure in an awful rush to git wherever he was goin’. Pa says I can buy a gun with the two dollars, as soon’s I earn thirty more to go with it.”
“That’s swell,” John said dully, driving off. “I hope you earn it.”
The load of depression that weighted his shoulders was even heavier. He had, John felt, only two real friends in Pine Hill, Lew Bangorst and the Professor. Now the Professor had gone without a word of farewell and without leaving any message. Only Lew remained, and Lew’s solution to any problem was always the most direct one. If he took Lew into his confidence, told the old woodsman what he faced, Lew would no doubt advise him to select somebody who might be
