“And I won’t forget you.”
And thus the two boys parted, for how long they could not guess.
As it proved, however, they were shortly to be reunited in a somewhat startling way.
Dick went into the kitchen, where Mrs. Maslin handed him a tub of potatoes and a knife.
“Take the jackets off ’em, and see you lose no time ’bout it nuther,” said the lady of the house sharply.
Dick made no reply, but seated himself on a stool in a corner and began his work.
“You ’most ruined Luke’s new suit of clothes this arternoon,” snapped Mrs. Maslin. “Ef I wuz Silas I’d take it out’r your hide. It seems to me my boy can’t ask you to do the simplest thing for him eny more but you must fly at him.”
Dick knew it was useless to enter into any explanation with her.
Luke had evidently told the story in his own way, and whatever he might say now wouldn’t count.
“Don’t you know it’s your place to do whatever he asks of you?” asked Mrs. Maslin, shrilly.