“What you don’t get you don’t miss,” Artie said.
“Well, I’m going to miss it,” said Westy sullenly.
“Well, what do you say we both miss it together?” said Artie. “Then we’ll have some fun missing it. I dare say my mother will be disappointed; she’s getting postcards from me out there already. Well, let’s see. You were asking if I’ve seen any of the troop. Elsie Harris sent me up some jelly; the chauffeur brought it; I guess she wouldn’t trust Pee-wee. Safety first, hey? Sure, all the troop have been up. Mary Temple was here yesterday; she’s in Barnard now. Say, Wes, do you know how Mr. Temple first got hold of Uncle Jeb.”
“Sure, he was out in Montana.”
“Yes, but do you know how he got in with him? Mary was telling me about it.”
“They were surveying or something, weren’t they?”
“Sure, they were surveying for a branch of a railroad through a pass in the mountains. Mr. Temple himself went out there when they got to the pass because he wanted to see that place with his own eyes. Boy, but it must be lonely out there!” Artie burst out laughing at the solemn stare of interest and disappointment on Westy’s face. “Wait till you hear what I’m going to tell you,” Artie added.
“You only make it worse,” Westy said.
“I had to laugh at the way Mary Temple shuddered when she told me about it,” said Artie, still laughing.
“Yes, and you wanted to go out there just as much as I did,” Westy said. “Go on, what did Mary tell you?”