“Maybe you would be if you had been where we have.”
“Where have you been?”
John was unable to explain, however, for at that moment both Mr. Button and Mr. Halsey together came out of the house. The appearance of the latter indicated that he was not so much angry as crestfallen and perhaps alarmed as well. Mr. Button, however, was quiet in his manner and as he glanced at the boys his confidence and pride were instantly manifest.
Rufus too came and joined the group and whispering to Fred said, “I want to go with you when you leave.”
“What’s the matter, Rufus?” laughed Fred.
“I don’t want to stay here after you go. There’s something happened.”
“What has happened?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Well, I’ll back you up, Rufus. I know you didn’t take it.”
For a moment the jaw of the ungainly man dropped and he stared blankly at the boy. “What do you know about it?” he said at last.