“Nix on that stuff!” said Jim. “You know well enough that you put it all over every other fellow in town.”
The locomotive whistled at the nearest crossing, and a moment later the train came into sight.
There was a perfect hubbub of farewells, and amid a chorus of good wishes that fairly warmed their hearts, the boys swung aboard. Even Jed thawed out enough to wave his hand at them in semi-friendly fashion.
“I’ll keep it dark,” he called after them, “that is unless the gover’ment gits after me, on account of—”
But the rest was lost in the rattle of the train.
The Rushton boys were off at last.
CHAPTER XIII
ANDY SHANKS, BULLY
The train was a long one, consisting of seven cars, beside the smoker, but, as the homeward rush after summer vacations was in full swing, it was pretty well filled, and the boys found it hard to get two seats together.
It was only after they had gone through the first three coaches, that they saw their opportunity.