“Ah! St. Louis is a good way off. Is he going any further?”
“Perhaps so.”
Another letter came to Mrs. Thatcher from St. Joseph, announcing that Tom was going across the plains, and that it might be a good while before he would be able to write again.
Mrs. Thatcher did not mention this second letter, but the postmaster noticed the postmark, and through him it became known.
Among those who heard of it was John Simpson. Rupert had picked up the news somewhere in the village.
“St. Joseph!” exclaimed Mr. Simpson, startled. “Why, it looks as if the boy was on his way to California.”
“How could he go to California?” said Rupert, rather enviously. “Doesn’t it cost a good deal of money?”
“Yes.”
“He’s as poor as poverty.”
“True; but he has found money enough to go to St. Joseph, and that is no trifle.”