"Oh, I don't know," said Mr. Racer, thoughtfully. "I happen to know of this Mr. Thornton, and he's a fine man. I never met his nephew, but our boys seem to like him. I'm almost persuaded to let them go. It will be a good experience for them. And I have always wanted them to see the West."
"Oh, but their schooling!"
"Well, as they say, they can make it up. Besides, there is not much of the term left—hardly half—and all education isn't in books, you know."
"Oh, I just know something will happen to them," sighed Mrs. Racer.
"Nonsense!" exclaimed her husband. "I guess I'll wire them they can go." And just to get even with his sons in a joking way he sent a much longer message than was necessary, and he sent it collect.
"They've got too much pocket money anyhow," he chuckled; "and they made me pay for the one they sent me."
But Andy and Frank never grumbled when they had to pay the telegraph toll. The importance of the message drove everything else out of their minds.
"Hurray!" they cried, bursting into Billy's room. "We can go!"
"Good!" exclaimed the Western lad. "Off for the prairies! That's the only place to live!"