"They was goin' somewhere, I think. Then–"
"Yah–yah!" This from Nels in the doorway. "They bane had der dinners."
Meanwhile Phil was thinking what Chip had told them that morning. Paul's absence was now explained. Worth also felt that an astonishing light had dawned on him somehow. He turned to Way, saying:
"What doughheads we were when Chip was talking so glibly about what he was going to do! Why, the thing is sheer nonsense!"
"More than that, it is dangerous!" exclaimed Phil. "Suppose them two boys meet up with Murky way off in the burnt over woods. What'll Murky do to 'em?"
"Don't talk punk, Phil!" Billy was in cold earnest now. "You know what he'd do or try to do, if he thought they had come after that money. There's nothing he wouldn't do if he could, that would put them off his trail and land them–oh, goodness! It makes me cold when I think of Paul."
Here the Anderson girl timidly approached, holding out a scrap of paper.
"He give it me," said the child. "Pap was away and ma was busy."
"Who gave it you?" demanded Phil as Worth took the soiled, folded paper.
"One of you boys. They was leavin'. Ma didn't know," seeing Mrs. Anderson looking on with astonishment written all over her. "I fergot it 'til now."