“Made it up yourself, you mean? Are you sure of that?”
“Yes, sir. I’ve never seen any of those plays in books, Mr. Cade, and I haven’t seen many games, either. Maybe it ain’t new, of course. I—I was just sort of amusing myself.”
“No, the chances are that it isn’t new. Mighty few plays are. But it’s new to me, Todd, and it might be new to—” He broke off. Then: “Are you going to be busy this evening?” he asked.
“Not all evening,” answered Jim. “I’ve got about an hour’s studying to do, but after that—”
“It’s a little after eight. Can you drop over and see me about nine or a few minutes later? You know where I live?”
“Yes, sir, I know. I’ll come.”
“Good enough. I’d like to talk to you about this. And, if you don’t mind, I’ll keep it until I see you.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jim watched the dark form of the coach vanish into the gloom of the trees and then turned and made his way back to Haylow. He felt rather excited, rather elated. Suppose— No, he wouldn’t suppose anything—yet! Probably it was all just nothing at all. Maybe Mr. Cade hadn’t really looked at the diagram yet. Maybe—