“I thought you were a machinist and came from Pittsburg,” interrupted Chester, in surprise.
“I came here by way of Pittsburg,” answered the tramp, coughing. “I am machinist, too.”
“His stories don’t seem to hang together,” thought Chester.
After supper the tramp, who said his name was Robert Ramsay, took out his pipe and began to smoke. If it had not been a cold evening, Mrs. Rand, who disliked tobacco, would have asked him to smoke out of doors, but as it was she tolerated it.
Both Chester and his mother feared that their unwelcome visitor would ask to stay all night, and they would not have felt safe with him in the house, but about a quarter past ten he got up and said he must be moving.
“Good-night, and good luck to you!” said Chester.
“Same to you!” returned the tramp.
“I wonder where he’s going,” thought Chester.
But when the next morning came he heard news that answered this question.