“If he gets put off the train I’ll go, too! He’ll never find his way home!” said Wynnette.
Elva began to cry.
The conductor was in a hurry.
“If this young gentleman will bring the dog after me to the freight car, the baggage master will take charge of him for a trifle,” suggested the conductor, who was more moved to pity by Elva’s tears than to anger by Wynnette’s insolence.
“Go, Le,” said Mr. Force, opening his pocketbook and taking from it a note, which he put into the midshipman’s hands. “Give this to the man, and tell him if he will take care of the dog he shall have another at the end of this journey.”
“And introduce Joshua to the baggage master, and tell him what a cultivated and gentlemanly dog he is! And don’t you leave them together until you are sure that they are good friends! Do you hear me, Leonidas Force?”
“All right, Wynnette,” said good-humored Le, taking Joshua by the collar and trying to pull him from under the sofa.
But the dog declined to leave his retreat. He did not recognize Mr. Midshipman Force as his master.
“Bother! I shall have to take him myself. You can come with us if you like, Le; but you needn’t if you don’t,” said Wynnette. And she whistled for the dog, who immediately came out and put his gray paws upon her lap.
She arose and called him to follow her. Le and the conductor escorted her.