The man nodded as if too spent to talk further. He handed Mary Lee a crumpled slip of paper on which was written the address for the letter.
CHAPTER VI
A Picnic
Ten days later found Tom Marshall home. The telegram had come from his cousin stating that the condition of his mother was unchanged. Mary Lee had told the Quinns of the case and Mr. Quinn had paid a visit to the sick man. He had talked to him for a little while and convinced as to the truth of the man's story, had offered to lend him the money which would take him home.
Marshall had returned the money with a letter of thanks immediately upon his arrival home.
Now the end of July had come. Letty and Ruth and Bob all came from the city on the same train. There was a delightful meeting at the town depot, and much happy, excited chattering on the part of the girls. On the way home, Mary Lee said:
"I have planned a picnic lunch for this afternoon. I know a lovely spot and then we can take a long walk afterwards."
"I'll tell you what," said Bob. "If we could get some steak or chops I would give you the best eating you ever had. Father showed me how campers cook."
That sounded exciting to the girls. It meant, of course, stopping off at the village general store which in itself was a novelty. Mary Lee telephoned Mrs. Quinn and obtained permission to make the purchases. But Bob insisted that the buying of the chops was his part of the party and insisted so strongly that he won his point.
They drove home and when they passed the spot where Mary Lee had discovered the unconscious Tom Marshall she showed the place to her friends and told them the story.