“And given him better clothes. He does not dress as well as boys of much smaller means.”
“I don’t mean to pamper him, or dress him in purple and fine linen, Mrs. Winter. He has left a good home and will probably repent it in dust and ashes before many weeks are over. Is breakfast ready?”
“It will be ready in five minutes.”
“I want to start in pursuit of Ben as soon as possible. I feel that I have a responsibility about the boy, if you don’t, Mrs. Winter.”
Mrs. Winter smiled. She understood very well why her husband wanted to recover Ben. The fifty dollars a year promised by Mr. Flack he was not willing to surrender if there was any possible chance of securing it.
Mr. Winter harnessed up and drove to the nearest railroad station, five miles away, but he saw nothing of the fugitive. Ben had taken the five o’clock train, having slept with his friend Albert Graham the night before.
On the way home Mr. Winter met Albert, and knowing the intimacy between the two boys, he stopped his horse and inquired: “When did you see Ben last?”
“Early this morning,” answered Albert.
“You did, hey? Where did you see him?”
“He slept at my house last night.”