“Well I’m going after those nails,” the pitcher went on. “The fence will fall down before I get back if I don’t hurry. It’s been threatening to topple for a week,” and he went on, whistling a merry tune.
“That’s funny about Sandy,” remarked Ned, when Lem was out of earshot.
“And about that black-moustached man,” went on Bart. “We’ll have to look into this. Hello, here comes Frank.”
Their chum emerged from Judge Benton’s place with a letter in his hand and hurried to the post-office, nearly across the street from the lawyer’s office. He remained inside only a few seconds, and evidently posted the missive for, when he came out, his hands were empty. Then he saw his chums and hurried over toward them.
“Sorry I had to run away,” Frank said, with a little bit of awkwardness in his air, “but I had to attend to some business in a hurry.”
“There’s the envelope you dropped,” said Bart. “We found it when we came out to dress.”
“Thanks,” replied Frank, and, without looking at it he put it into his pocket. “Say,” he went on, “what do you say to taking a walk after some wild flowers this afternoon?”
“Wild flowers; what for?” inquired Ned.
“Well, not for ourselves, of course,” Frank went on. “I happened to meet Miss Mapes, the teacher you know, and she asked me if I knew where there were any. There’s going to be an entertainment in her church and they want some to decorate with. I told her I thought I could get her plenty. Do you want to go?”
“Sure,” replied Bart, and the others nodded assent. Miss Mapes was a favorite with all the pupils.