“I don’t know,” was the doubtful answer. “It makes a difference what you are going to do.”
“I’ll let you know about that later,” said Bentley, rising. “I want you to know that I’m your friend, and I sympathize with you in this affair. We’ll stand by each other to the end. Here is my hand on it, Scott. We’ll make a compact against Dolph Renwood, and we’ll throw him down, too. Shake!”
He held out his right hand, the first two fingers of which were stained a sickly yellow.
Don hesitated, something within him revolting against forming a compact with a fellow so unscrupulous and crafty; but, for all that he would not confess as much even to himself, he desired sympathy and friendship from some one, and Leon seemed to be the only one to whom he could turn.
“Come,” cried Bentley; “I’ll stick by you through thick and thin, old man, and you will come out on top, too. You’ll find me the best friend you ever had, Don.”
The best friend! Never had he known what it was to have a real boy friend, and now he felt that it would be churlish of him to refuse the proffered friendship of this lad whose hand was extended to him in his time of trouble. It was true there were many things about Leon that he did not admire, but was there not about himself many things that almost any other lad might dislike? In such a time as this he must not be too particular.
Don took Bentley’s hand, but something like a shiver ran over him when he felt Leon’s cold fingers rest in his hot palm. On the instant he was almost sorry that he had formed such a compact, but he fancied it was too late to withdraw. The die was cast, and he could not retreat then.
CHAPTER VI.
WORDS OF WISDOM.
When Bentley had departed, Don entered the house, intending to go directly to his own room and change his clothes, after taking a bath. He had reached the foot of the stairs when his father called to him from his office, the door of which was standing open.
Don paused, a sudden thought assailing him and giving him a shock. He remembered now that his father had returned shortly before the appearance of Leon and, without doubt, he had been in his office at the time the two boys were forming their compact beneath the apple-tree. If so, he had overheard all that passed between them, as, earlier in the day, he overheard his son’s talk with Danny Chatterton, in which case he must be aware that Don had given way to a burst of anger, for all of the promise to try to restrain and govern his temper.