“What is your name?”
“Earl Danvers. My father died and left them my guardians. They are after the property, I guess.”
“What do you propose to do?”
“Oh, anything to get away from them.”
Ralph talked for quite a while with the boy and learned his entire history. Then he said:
“This is a case for a lawyer. Would you like to come to Stanley Junction with me and have a lawyer look into the matter for you?”
“No. I only want to escape from those bad men.”
“That will follow. You come with me. I will interest myself in your case and see that you are protected.”
“How kind you are—you are the only friend I 208 ever knew,” cried the boy, bursting into tears of gratitude.
Ralph took Earl Danvers home with him when they reached Stanley Junction. His kind-hearted mother was at once interested in the forlorn refugee. They managed to fit him out with some comfortable clothing, and Ralph told him to take a rest of a few days, when he would have him see their lawyer and tell him his story.