“What brought you out such a night as this?” challenged Tom.
“Just what is keeping you here,” retorted Ben; “the chance of something exciting happening. Say, that message of yours has just stirred me up.”
“You got it all right?”
“The first time. I expected there might be business such a night as this, and kept watch for it. Our ’phone was all right, and I got the doctor at once. He said he would start without delay for Rockley Cove.”
“I hope he made it,” said Tom.
“He must have, for he had the smooth sheltered turnpike to take, and the storm is nothing much now. Our folks were delighted to think that our toy telegraph, as they call it, did something really useful, and they let me come down to stay all night.”
“I’m glad of it, Ben,” replied Tom. “Harry will be back soon. We’ve got a lunch mother put up for us, and we can make a pleasant night of it.”
“That’s just famous!”
Ben removed his wet jacket and took up a comfortable position in a chair. Tom told of the injured Mr. Barton and what he had done for him.
“I say, Tom,” suddenly asked Ben, during the pause after they had discussed current topics, “heard anything from Mr. Edson lately?”