“Th’ best meal I’ve eat in twenty year,” he said. “But I’ve got t’ go—my train starts at six-ten. How much do I owe you?”
“What!” cried Jack, his eyes flashing. “Owe us? Ye don’t owe us a cent!”
“Do you take me fer a dead beat!” shouted Jed. “I’m a-goin’ t’ pay fer that meal. Here,” he cried, and fillped a folded bit of pink paper out upon the table, “take that. It’s wuth it.”
Allan alone understood, and he began to smile, though his eyes were wet.
“You infernal galoot,” went on Jed, excitedly, "did you suppose fer a minute I’d take that money? I was never so near lickin’ a man in my life! Take it, or by George, I’ll lick you yet!"
And with that, he jumped on Mamie, caught her up, kissed her, and fairly ran from the house.
[CHAPTER XXIX]
THE YOUNG TRAIN DISPATCHER