“All right. Go ahead,” begged his sister.
“So, that Sadie girl, she came back to my help, and when one of the fellows had me down, and Reno was holding the other by the wrist, she started to dig into the face of the rascal who held me. And once she scratched me by mistake,” added Tom, laughing.
“But between us—mostly through Reno’s help—we frightened them off. They hobbled away through the bushes. Then I took her to the railroad, and waited at the tank till a train came along and stopped.”
“And put her aboard, Tom!” cried Ruth.
“Yes. It was a freight. I bribed the conductor with two dollars to let her ride as far as Campton. I knew those two tramps would never catch her there. Why! what’s the matter?”
“Goodness me!” exclaimed Helen, with disgust. “Doesn’t it take a boy to spoil everything?”
“Why—what?” began Tom.
“And her name was Sadie Raby?” demanded Ruth.
“That’s what she said.”
“We just wanted to see her, that’s all,” said his sister. “Ruth did, anyway. And I’d have been glad to help her.”