“There, he’s watching us again, Elmer; just as if he suspected we might be talking about him by ourselves off here.”
Elmer laughed, and went on to act as if detailing some choice bit of gossip concerning one of their home pals in Chester. Amos, stirred to action by the necessities of the case, also managed to look as if tickled over something, although merriment came hard with a fellow who for years now had been carrying such a load of anxiety and boyish sorrow on his shoulders, all connected with the episode of his father’s vanishing, and the constant sad face of his mother.
Elmer did not believe in hurrying things. He knew that many a promising plan of campaign has been ruined simply through an application of too much haste. The night was long; indeed, it would likely seem interminable to the three lads who found themselves face to face with such an unpleasant experience. So he would wait patiently; possibly luck might favor them, and the unwelcome visitor announce his intention of leaving, a happening that would make the carrying out of his cleverly arranged plan unnecessary.
The minutes dragged past.
“I saw him yawn right then, Elmer; he’s getting sleepy, I should say; which looks like he meant to stick by us to-night,” Amos whispered, after another quarter of an hour had crept by.
The talkative “doctor” must have tired himself out, or else his mood changed, for he had about quit speaking to Wee Willie. In fact, the latter was also beginning to display unmistakable signs of being ready to turn in, the heat of the crackling fire doubtless causing his eyes to grow heavy.
Elmer decided that the time was at hand for him to do something. Once their unwelcome guest lay down and went to sleep it would be too late.
First of all, he was watching to get the eye of the tall chum. Wee Willie on his part was suddenly surprised, and electrified as well, to see Elmer make a little movement with his hand which he easily understood to mean: “Don’t open your mouth to say a thing when you hear me make a statement; you’ll know all about it later on!”
Elmer repeated it so as to make sure the other understood, and when he saw Wee Willie make a similar movement he felt that matters were settled.
With that Elmer called out to the visitor: