I had been
away all day. I came here as fast as I could hit it up directly I read
it. We had a blow-out, and that delayed us."
Steve ventured a question.
"Say, Kirk, why 'us,' while we're talking of it? How does Mamie come to
be here?"
"She insisted on coming. It seems that everybody in the house was away
to-day, so she tells me, so she came round to me with your note."
"I guess this has put me in pretty bad with Mamie," observed Steve
regretfully. "Has she been knocking me on the trip?"
"Not a word."
Steve brightened, but became subdued again next moment.
"I guess she's just saving it," he said resignedly.
"Steve, what made you do it?"
"Oh, I reckoned you could do with having the kid to yourself for a
spell," said Steve awkwardly.
"You're all right, Steve. But how did you manage it? I shouldn't have
thought it possible."
"Oh, it wasn't so hard, that part. I just hid in the house, and--but
say, let's forget it; it makes me feel kind of mean, somehow. It seems
to me I may have lost Mamie her job. It's mighty hard to do the right
thing by every one in this world, ain't it? Come along in and see the
kid. He's great. Are you feeling ready for supper? Him and me was just
going to start."
It occurred to Kirk for the first time that he was hungry.
"Have you got anything to eat, Steve?"
Steve brightened again.
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