Arranging himself with drawn up knees upon the scoutmaster’s cot, he began without any introduction.
“Did you notice, Chief” (he often called the scoutmaster chief) “how he kept saying, ’I am a scout’?”
“Yes, I did,” said Mr. Ellsworth, wearily. “It’s the one ray of hope.”
“Did you notice how he said he was obeying the law?”
“Yes, he did; I had forgotten that.”
“His wanting the Handbook, too,” said Mr. Ellsworth, quietly, “had a certain ring to it.”
“Did you ever take a squint at that Handbook of his, Chief?”
“No,” said Mr. Ellsworth, smiling wanly; “I’m not as observant as you, Roy.”
“He has simply worn it out—it’s a sight.”
“His mind is not complex,” said Mr. Ellsworth, half-heartedly, “yet he’s a mystery.”