Moreover, there was always the chance that I might never become President. In all fairness, I had to consider that.
Suddenly the thought of Rob Currier's pop-gun recurred to me. I needed that pop-gun.
Once during the night I got up and looked out of my bedroom window to see if the apple tree were safe. It seemed to be standing serene enough in the moonlight, but who could tell what marauders might besiege it?
In the morning my mind was made up. As soon as I finished breakfast I hurried out, climbed the tree by the emergency route, and began to cut at the bark where my cent was concealed.
I had it in an instant.
As I was working I noticed that the other two cents were gone already. I turned around and looked down Oak Street. Jimmy Toppan, with one fist tightly clutched, was running at full speed toward Johnson's and the Chinese Aërial Bomb.
Ed Mason was nowhere in sight. Apparently he had withdrawn his deposit even earlier.