The boy turned as he spoke, and Josiah followed him, but feeling a trifle uncertain whether it would be advisable for his friends to punish the enemy very severely, because his visit was not yet ended, and he might some day find himself in a more unpleasant predicament.
“I’m a friend of Tom’s,” the guide said, as he slackened his pace to admit of Josiah’s walking by his side. “I guess Sim Jones an’ the crowd what played the trick on you know too much to fool ’round where I am.”
Master Foss spoke so confidently that all Josiah’s fears fled; and when they arrived at the building where Sadie left him, he had perfect faith in Bill’s integrity.
“Tom’s gone over to Chatham Square lookin’ for this feller, an’ Bob’s down to the elevated station, so you’d better stand right here till they get back,” a friend of Billy’s, who had been left on guard, said, as he hurried away to attend to his own business now his mission was accomplished.
In order that the time might pass pleasantly to the stranger in the city, Bill explained how he once punished a portion of that same crowd who had just played the practical joke, and while he was in the midst of the story Messrs. Bartlett and Green arrived.
Josiah had no reason to complain of the warmth of their greeting.
Each seemed to think it necessary to shake him vigorously by the hand, scrutinizing his face closely meanwhile, as if to make sure this was the same boy who had been met at Berry’s Corner.
Then Josiah related his experience of the past twenty-four hours; and when he had concluded, Tom gave an explanation similar to the one made by Bill, regarding their failure to meet him as agreed upon.
Josiah could not fail to be satisfied that his friends had kept their promise to the letter, and that it was his ignorance rather than their neglect which prevented a meeting at the proper time and the proper place.
“Where’s Sadie?” he asked, suddenly remembering that she should have been with the party.