“Tell your father I shall be up to see him this evening.”
“Whew!” commented Ben, in one long marveling breath.
His step was brisk and his face beaming as he went homewards. Things had taken a turn. If he and his father had met with some misfortunes, the same had brought to their rescue staunch, loyal friends.
Ben told his father about Mr. Dunn, and Mr. Hardy brightened up somewhat. After supper Ben went down town to the village telegraph office. He knew the night despatcher, who welcomed him with a friendly smile.
“Nothing for my father, is there, Mr. Noyes?” asked Ben.
“Nothing so far. Expecting something?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, it may come in the half rate grist. That begins soon. Won’t you wait?”
Ben sat down. The dispatcher attended to his wires. Then, as a new clicking succeeded to a brief lapse in business, he smiled and nodded at Ben, while writing out the message.
“I’ll deliver it to my father,” said our hero. “Don’t mind an envelope.”