"Of course
you'll go at once."
"How can I?" replied Richard helplessly. "Mr. Martin will--"
"Never mind Mr. Martin," interrupted Frank. "Your first duty is to
your family. I'll get along as best I can, and I'll explain to Mr.
Martin if he gets back before you do."
"But what will you do for meals? You must have time to get them?" went
on Richard, anxious lest his friend should be assuming too much.
"He can take lunch along, and I'll bring him his dinner," put in Mattie.
"You go, Dick; your mother and your sisters need you."
Richard needed no further urging. Whatever Mattie said must certainly
be right. He glanced at the clock.
"Quarter to ten. I wonder when I can get a train?" he cried.
A consultation of a time-table showed that no train for Mossvale could
be had until nine-thirty the next morning.
"It's too bad!" he groaned. "I could have taken one just an hour ago
if I had known."
There was nothing to do, however, but wait, and so Richard retired
with the rest.
He passed a sleepless night, thinking over what had happened, and
trying to form some plan for the future. But he could arrive at no
conclusion, and found that he must wait until he had talked the matter
over with the others.
He was the first one up in the morning, and, having over three hours
yet to wait, took a walk around to the store to see what Phil was
doing.
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