“Take good care of the Herald,” he told them, as he gave them a goodbye hug.
“We will Dad and you take good care of yourself,” they called as he climbed into the Pullman.
Cries of “boooo-ard,” sounded along the train. The porters swung their footstools up into the vestibules, the whistle sounded two short, sharp blasts, and the limited rolled away from the station.
Tom, Helen and their mother stood on the platform until the train disappeared behind a hill.
When they turned toward home, Tom and Helen faced the biggest responsibility of their young lives. It was up to them to continue the publication of the Herald, to supply the money to keep their home going and to build up a reserve which their father could call upon if he was forced to use all the money from their college fund.
CHAPTER III
In the Editor’s Chair
Sunday morning found Tom and Helen Blair entering a new era in their lives. While their father sped toward the southwest in quest of renewed health, they planned how they could develop the Herald.
Their mother was silent through breakfast and several times they saw her eyes dim with tears.
“Don’t worry, Mother,” said Helen. “We’ll manage all right and Dad is going to pull through in fine shape. Why, he’ll be back with us by Christmas time.”
“I wish I could be as optimistic as you are, Helen,” said Mrs. Blair.