On that instant, Dick’s face shadowed and he bit his lips. The threat had gone home. So they had thrown that up to him? His hands clenched as he turned about facing the tittering crowd.
Dinosaur’s bones! Like a ghost of the past, it had come up to haunt him. The memory was not a very pleasant one. The picture burned in his mind—three credulous young men starting out on a fool’s errand. How easily they had all been taken in. A mere child, he reasoned bitterly, would have known better. Eyes straight to the fore, he strode angrily across the landing and up the familiar, well-beaten, path.
“I’ll show them yet,” he blurted angrily to himself. “I’ll make it my business to wipe out that disgrace if it’s the last thing I do.”
In the trading room, Mr. Scott awaited him.
“Well, have they gone?” he inquired eagerly.
“Yes,” answered Dick, forcing a smile, “they’re on their way now.”
“Their start wasn’t very propitious, was it?” The factor moved back to the counter.
“No,”—glumly.
“Why Dick,” accused the factor, “you look as if you hadn’t a hope in the world. I wouldn’t worry if I were you. Your friends will return safely. Two weeks isn’t very long, Dick, when you stop to consider.”
“I wasn’t thinking of that. I—I mean I know they will. It isn’t that.”