Hale got me the place."
Betty told him of her interview with the old bookshop man, and Bob
listened intently.
"So that's how you heard about Oklahoma," he commented. "You could
have knocked me down with a feather when you said it. I guess Hale
forgot I was working here--he really is dreadfully absent-minded--or
else he thought you weren't to be trusted with so important a secret.
He's as queer as they make 'em, but he was very good to me; couldn't
seem to take enough pains to trace out what he knew of my mother's
people."
Bob went on to explain that his money had given out and that he had
to work in order to get together enough to pay his fare out to the
West and also to board himself and pay for some new clothes. Betty
guessed that he was scrimping closely to save his wages, though she
did not then suspect what she afterward learned to be true, that he
was trying to live on two meals a day, and those none too bountiful.
Bob had a healthy boy's appetite, and it took determination for him
to go without the extra meal, but he had the grit to stick it out.
"When Bobby comes back you must go with us and meet Mrs. Littell,"
observed Betty. "She'll want to take you home to dinner.
Pages:
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166