“I ’ll write you before the week ’s up,” said John. “You may not need to come down.”
“I thank ye, Johnny,” said the old man. The train had halted at Hudson and he got stiffly to his feet.
“It ’s what Eddie al’ays said about you, you ’d help a man out—gi’e you time!” He chuckled feebly, with returning hope, and climbed down from the car.
His mother’s glance met him as he returned to her side.
He nodded. “He was going down to see the president. But I ’ve got him to wait.... They ought to do something for him,” he said.
“Is he strong enough to work?”
“He’s not strong—except in an emergency, maybe—but he ’s faithful. That ought to count.”
“Yes, that ought to count.” She said the words softly under her breath.