"Supposing I sent you the papers, or a copy of them, by mail?"
"That is a good plan. I'll give you my permanent address. But now about going to Oregon. Will both of you accept my offer?"
"I will, with thanks," came from Owen. "And some day I'll pay you back for the railroad ticket, Mr. Wilbur."
"And so will I," added Dale.
"No, no; you have already done enough," cried the lumber merchant. "Can you wait about an hour? Then I'll go down to the ticket office with you."
"Certainly, we can wait," answered Dale.
They sat down again, and Jefferson Wilbur disappeared. The time passed slowly, but at last he came to them again, and all hurried out on the street. A car was passing and they stepped aboard this and soon reached the railroad ticket office Jefferson Wilbur had in mind.
A number of schedules were looked over, and presently the two young lumbermen decided on what route they would take, and Mr. Wilbur purchased the necessary tickets. Then, despite their protestations, he insisted on their accepting fifty dollars apiece for incidental expenses.
"You may need the money," he said. "For on such a journey there is no telling what will happen. When you get settled be sure and write to me."
"We'll certainly do that, and we thank you very much," said Dale, and Owen said the same. A few other words followed, and then the lumber merchant leaped on a train bound for Chicago, and waved them good-by.