“That’s right–and, say, tell her to hurry, will you?” begged Jake. “I can’t stay here–I’m afraid they’ll catch me.”
Dolly went into the tent again, and in a moment Eleanor Mercer came out. She had never seen Jake before, but she knew all about him for Bessie and Zara had told her enough of his history for her to be more intimate with his life than his own parents.
“Good evening, Jake,” she said, as she saw him. “So you decided to talk to us instead of to Mr. Jamieson? Well, I’m glad you’re here, I’ll have to keep you waiting a minute, but I shan’t be long. Stay right there till I come back.”
“Yes, ma’am,” whined Jake. “But do hurry, please, ma’am! I’m afraid of what they’ll do to me if they find I’m here.”
Eleanor was gone only a few minutes, and when she returned she was smiling, as if at some joke that she shared with no one.
“I’m sure you haven’t had any supper, Jake,” she said. “The girls have finished. See, they’re coming out now. Come inside, and I’ll see that you get a good meal. You’ll be able to talk better when you’ve eaten.”
Jake hesitated, plainly struggling between his hunger and his fear. But hunger won, and he went into the tent, followed by Bessie and Dolly, who, although the service was reluctant on Dolly’s part, at least, saw to it that he had plenty to eat.
“Just forget your troubles and pitch into that food, Jake,” said Eleanor, kindly. “You’ll be able to talk much better on a full stomach, you know.”
And whenever Jake seemed inclined to stop eating, and to break out with new evidences of his alarm, they forced more food on him. At last, however, he was so full that he could eat no more, and he rose nervously.
“I’ve got to be going now,” he said. “Honest, I’m afraid to stay here any longer–”