“Where is Uncle John, papa?” asked Frank suddenly.
Ernest remembered that one of the Fox brothers was named John, and he awaited the answer with interest.
James Fox seemed busily thinking and Frank had to repeat the question.
“Your Uncle John?” repeated the outlaw. “He went away on business.”
“What kind of business, papa?”
It was a natural question, but it startled James Fox. He saw that as his son became older it might not be easy to evade embarrassing questions.
“You seem curious, Frank,” he answered after a pause. “You wouldn’t understand if I were to tell you.”
“Will you teach me your business some day, papa?”
It was on the tip of the outlaw’s tongue to say, “Heaven forbid!” but he only answered: “Wait till you are older, Frank. Then we will talk about it.”
At length they rose from the table.