When he had walked half a mile along the lonely road he stopped suddenly and asked himself:
"What are my plans? What use is there in going to Croyden?"
It was a hard question to answer.
Still, he must go somewhere. He could not go to St. Louis without money, and there was a bare possibility that he might find something to do in Croyden. If he could earn a few dollars he could go on, and once in a large city there would be hope of permanent employment.
How different would have been his situation if he had not lost his money, and how unfortunate it was that he should have been set down at this dismal place!
He kept on, meeting no one.
Finally he came to a place where the road divided into two forks or branches, one leading to the right, the other to the left.
"Which shall I take?" he asked himself.
There seemed no choice so far as he could see. Neither was very promising, nor was there any sign-post to inform him of what he wished to know.
"I wish somebody would come along," thought Jasper.