"Good! Meet me here to-night at eight o'clock," and the old man walked out.
Edward lingered at the club for a short time, then went to his boarding-house, where he found his friend Ben waiting for him.
"Ben, I am going to leave the city," he said, after sitting down.
"Going to New York, I suppose," answered the Russian, smiling, and thinking that Edward had decided to follow Nellie.
"No, sir, I am going West. I have decided to quit the idea of going on the stage."
"What! Going West? What's the matter; Ed, are you crazy?"
"No, I don't think I am crazy, but I may have been," and then he explained the whole thing to his astonished friend, who finally agreed with him, but was sorry to part with Edward, and told him so.
"Never mind, old boy, we will meet again, when we have settled in life," said Edward, beginning to arrange his trunk for his early departure.
After supper he and the Russian walked to the Actors' Club, where the old man was waiting, with a letter addressed to
Mr. Frank Goodnow,
Grass Village,
Montana.