"What for?"
"Don't know exactly. Dad's there, and they both want to see you. You'd
better go right away; but maybe you _was_ going," added Pep suddenly.
"No, I wasn't. I was going to take a train home," replied Richard.
"Perhaps it's nothing in particular."
He had an hour before train time, and, accompanied by Frank, walked
down to the Watch Below.
Doc Linyard greeted him cordially. He was surprised to see Richard
dressed up, and grieved to learn of the cause.
"Well, I'm glad as how _I_ ain't got no bad news to tell you," said the
old sailor with a grin. "Tom Clover is upstairs, in his right mind, and
wants to see you."
"What about?" "Never mind, just go up," replied Doc.
On a comfortable bed, in an upper chamber, lay Tom Clover. Good care
and nursing had done wonders for the man, and when Richard looked at
him he could hardly realize that this was the miserable wretch he had
visited in the garret at Frying Pan Court.
"Here's Mr. Dare come to see you," said Doc Linyard, by way of an
introduction.
Tom Clover grasped Richard's hand tightly.
"Betty and Doc have told me all about you," he said in a somewhat
feeble voice. "I thank you more than I can put in words. Sit down; I
want to talk to you."
"I would like to, Mr. Clover, but I've got to catch a train for home
in three quarters of an hour," replied Richard.
Pages:
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200