Then when he went down stairs he marched directly to headquarters, and made known his desires.
"Mr. Roberts, I want this forenoon to myself. Can I have it?"
"You do," answered Mr. Roberts, eyeing him thoughtfully. "Well, as such requests are rare from you, and as Jim's brother is here to help, I think I may say yes."
"A queer, bright, capable boy," Mr. Roberts thought, looking after Tode as he dashed off down town. "Going to make just the man for our business. I must begin to promote him soon."
As for Tode he was in high glee.
"What brought that Jim's brother over to help to-day?" he asked himself. "I'd like to know that now. I believe I do, as sure as I'm alive, that he heard every word, and has been and fixed it all out. I most know he has, 'cause things didn't ever happen around like this for me before."
The pronoun "he" did not refer to Jim's brother, and was spoken with that touch of awe and reverence which had so lately come to Tode. And I think that the words were recorded up in heaven, as having a meaning not unlike the acknowledgment of those less ignorant disciples, "Lord, I believe."
