Four Afoot: Being the Adventures of the Big Four on the Highway

by Ralph Henry Barbour

  CHAPTER XXII

  WHEREIN GOOD-BYS ARE SAID, AND BARRY MAKES HIS CHOICE

  “Well, we’re pretty near home,” said Bob at the breakfast table thenext morning. “To-morrow afternoon we ought to be in New York.”

  “Then it’s back to school!” sighed Tom.

  “I’m ready,” said Nelson. “School’s all right, Tommy. I’m going to havea good time this year. A fellow always does his last year.”

  “Wish it was my last,” said Tom. “You fellows’ll be sophomores atErskine when I get there, and I’ll be a freshie and you won’t haveanything to do with me!”

  “Oh, if you behave yourself, Tommy, we’ll speak to you now and then aswe pass,” said Dan. “We’re not the kind to go back on an old friend.”

  “You could make up a year if you tried,” said Nelson. “If you had somecoaching next summer you could pass the college exams all right.”

  “He and Jerry might be coached together,” suggested Bob.

  “Well, I’m going to try,” answered Tom forlornly, “but I don’t believeI’ll be able to make it. If it wasn’t for Latin----”

  He shook his head dejectedly.

  “Cheer up, Tommy,” said Dan. “_In hoc signo vinces_, old chap! Neverforget that. That means ‘While there’s life there’s hope.’”

  “And _E pluribus unum_ means one out of many,” rejoined Tom sadly. “Andthe one’s me.”

  When they had stopped laughing, Bob said:

  “I think we’ve had a pretty good time this trip, taking it all in all,don’t you?”

  “Dandy,” answered Nelson. “We always do when we get together. Look atthe fun we had last summer at Chicora! I think we ought to do somethingelse together next summer. What do you say?”

  He looked eagerly around at the others.

  “Sure!” cried Dan. “Let’s get together, the four of us, every summeruntil--until we don’t want to!”

  “Good scheme,” said Bob. “Let’s decide on something for next year.”

  “That’s not so easy,” answered Nelson. “But we can think it over andwrite to each other in the spring, and--”

  “What I’d like to do,” interrupted Dan, “would be to go on a cruisesomewhere.”

  “Sail, do you mean?” asked Tom anxiously.

  “Sail or row or paddle or any old way,” answered Dan. “Pass me thetoast, Nel, if you don’t want it all.”

  “Catch,” answered Nelson. “Look here, how would a cruise in a launchdo?”

  “Swell!” said Tom.

  “Just the ticket!” agreed Dan.

  “Well, I think I could get our launch; I guess dad would let us have itfor a month or so; and we could have a bully time.”

  “That would be all right,” said Bob. “Or if we couldn’t do that wemight get some horses, and take a riding trip. I knew a fellow who----”

  “That’s too much like walking,” interrupted Dan. “What’s the matterwith an automobile?”

  “Where are you going to get it?” asked Bob sarcastically.

  “Oh, borrow it. Tom’s father has a machine, hasn’t he, Tom?”

  “Yes, but he isn’t fool enough to lend it to us!”

  “That’s because he doesn’t know us,” answered Dan, unruffled. “I canrun an auto to beat the band.”

  “Not with me inside, you can’t,” said Nelson decidedly.

  “Well, we’ll think it all over,” said Bob. “There’s lots of time. Whatwe’ve got to do now is to hit the trail for Barrington and Mr. JerryHinkley. Aren’t you most through, Tommy?”

  Tommy declared, with his mouth full, that he was quite through, and afew minutes later they were once more on their way, with the journey’send well in sight.

  “It’s certainly done you good, Dan,” said Nelson presently, as theywere crossing the river. “I guess that doctor of yours knew what he wastalking about. I’ll bet you’ve put on ten or fifteen pounds since westarted.”

  “I guess I have gained a bit,” answered Dan. “Anyhow, I surely feelfine and dandy. But I’m sorry it is all over; I’d like to turn aroundand do it all over again, wouldn’t you?”

  “Yes, if it wasn’t for school,” replied Nelson. “Say, I’ll see you atthe football game, won’t I? And you promised to come up over Sundaysome time.”

  “I’m going to. Only I mustn’t let the fellows know it or they’ll throwme out. Personally, Nel, I can stand the disgrace, but----”

  “Oh, dry up! We’re going to beat you at football this fall. Hillton’sgoing to have the finest team that ever----”

  “Was beaten by St. Eustace,” laughed Dan.

  Whereupon the argument waxed warm, and for a mile or more they talkedfootball with all the enthusiasm customary when two live, manly,American boys get together in the autumn weather.

  They had covered about half the distance to Barrington when the rattleand rumble of a heavy farm wagon coming along behind warned them to theside of the road. As they got out of the way Nelson glanced carelesslyaround. Then he gave a shout that attracted the attention of Bob andTom, who were some fifty yards ahead, and brought them scurrying back.The farm wagon came to a halt, and in the next instant Nelson and Danwere clambering up and shaking hands with Jerry Hinkley.

  Jerry was back in his farm clothes, but for all of that he presenteda different appearance to-day than on the occasion of their firstmeeting. Perhaps his clothes were a little neater and cleaner; surelyhis hair no longer looked like an overgrown mop, but was well cut andsmoothly brushed. There was no doubt that Jerry was a very good-lookingboy. But I think the principal change lay in his expression. To-day helooked smilingly confident, self-assured, as though knowledge of hiscapabilities had found him at last, and he was eager to prove them.Much of his former diffidence, however, remained, and he shook handswith the Four, and answered their delighted greetings with smilingembarrassment. Then they were all climbing into the wagon, Jerry’s waybeing theirs.

  “Say, just look at Barry, will you,” said Bob. “He’s making friendswith the horses.”

  And sure enough the terrier was leaping at the noses of the twobig sorrels and whining delightedly. And the horses evidentlyreciprocating the sudden affection, were bobbing their heads down tohim as he leaped about. Dan called to him and lifted him into thewagon, where he scurried industriously about, sniffing and sneezing andpawing at the litter of dusty straw and chaff.

  “Where are you going?” asked Jerry as he chirped to the horses.

  “We were going to see you,” answered Nelson. “Isn’t it odd we shouldhave found you like this? Where have you been?”

  “Just down the road a piece. I was delivering a load of grain for Mr.Osgood.”

  “Does he live near here?” asked Tom.

  “About a mile beyond,” answered Jerry. “I’d like for you to stop andsee him. I--I been telling him about you.”

  “Of course we’ll stop,” said Nelson. “Besides--” He paused and lookedinquiringly at the others. They nodded.

  “Go ahead,” said Bob.

  “Fire away,” added Dan.

  “Besides,” Nelson resumed, “we’ve got something to tell you. I guess wemight as well tell it now.”

  So, clinging to the seat to keep from being shaken off, he told Jerryof the arrangements they had made for his future, and finally of Mr.Cozzens’s offer of a situation at St. Alfred’s. And when it was allover, and Tom and Bob and Dan had each added eager and unnecessaryexplanations, Jerry still sat silent, his eyes fixed on the ears of theoff horse. They waited a moment. Then,

  “Look here, Jerry, it’s all right, isn’t it?” asked Dan anxiously.Jerry nodded.

  “Good,” breathed Dan relievedly. “I was afraid you--er----”

  “I ain’t said nothing--I mean anything--because I don’t know what _to_say,” Jerry finally remarked, with a quick, embarrassed glance atNelson. “I--I----”

  He faltered and stopped.

  “Don’t say a word,” returned Nelson. “It’s all right.”

  “But I
want you all to know that--that I’m very much obliged. It--it’smore than that, only I can’t just say it. I--I don’t know why youfellows have been so good to me.”

  Bob laughed uneasily.

  “You’re such a good fellow, Jerry, we wanted to help you,” he said. “Wehaven’t done anything much, though; the hardest part is left for you,old chap. But I think you’re going to make good, Jerry; we all thinkthat; so don’t you disappoint us.”

  “I won’t!” answered Jerry almost savagely. “I’m going to make youfellows glad you did it, see if I don’t!”

  Nelson clapped him on the shoulder.

  “That’s the way to talk, Jerry! And if you can get that place at St.Alfred’s it’ll make a lot of difference. Why, you can learn any amountthere this winter, and have your board and room besides. Mr. Cozzenssaid it wouldn’t be awfully easy, you know, plenty of work and allthat; but you’ll have time for lessons and study, all right.”

  “I don’t care how hard the work is,” answered Jerry. “I can do it.Only----”

  “Only what?” asked Bob as he hesitated.

  “Only I don’t know as I ought to go. You see, I engaged with Mr. Osgoodfor all winter.”

  “Oh, he will let you off,” said Nelson. “We’ll see him and tell himjust how it is. That’ll be all right, Jerry.”

  “I hope so,” said Jerry. “There’s the farm now; that’s his house, thewhite one yonder.”

  Evidently Mr. Osgood was one of the progressive sort. Everything aboutthe place, from the busy windmill to the big white house with its wideverandas and well-graveled walks, was scrupulously neat and clean, anda general air of prosperity pervaded it. And when they had rattled upthe driveway to the barn, and the owner of the premises appeared beforethem, they discovered him to be just such a man as his place indicated.He was middle-aged, tall, and muscular looking, with a pair of humorousand kindly blue eyes which sparkled brightly from his tanned face. Theboys liked him on the instant, and Nelson decided that he would nothave much difficulty in securing Jerry’s release.

  They tumbled out of the wagon, and were introduced by Jerry. Mr. Osgooddeclared heartily that he was very glad to meet them, especially as hehad heard so much about them from Jerry, and was in the act of shakinghands all around when an interruption occurred. The interruptionwas in the form of Barry, who, released from the wagon, had spent amoment in running excitedly about the ground, and now was leapingenthusiastically upon the farmer, whining and barking joyously. Mr.Osgood stopped and looked down. Then an expression of deep surpriseoverspread his face.

  “Well, I’ll be switched!” he said slowly. “Where under the sun did youcome from, Laddie?”

  There was a moment of silence save for the terrier’s franticexplanations. Jerry, unhitching the horses, paused and looked at Dan.Dan’s face was a study. He was striving very hard to keep from lookingmiserable. Finally,

  “Is that your dog, sir?” he asked.

  “It surely is,” answered Mr. Osgood. “He disappeared about two or threeweeks ago. May I ask where you found him?”

  So Dan, eagerly assisted by the others, recounted the tale of theterrier’s rescue and subsequent adventures, and the farmer listenedinterestedly. Then,

  “Well, that’s what I call a plucky piece of work,” he said admiringly,“and I’m much obliged to you. I hadn’t had Laddie long, but I wasgetting mighty fond of him when he disappeared. And I’m glad to get himback.” He hesitated. “I advertised in the Barrington paper and offeredten dollars reward, and so--if you don’t mind taking it----”

  But Dan shook his head.

  “I’d rather not, sir,” he muttered. “Barry’s made it up to me lots oftimes. I--we--got quite fond of him, sir.”

  “I s’pose you did,” said the farmer thoughtfully, eying Dan. “I’msorry,” he added simply.

  “What’s his name, sir?” asked Tom.

  “His full name’s Forest Lad, but I call him Laddie. He used to belongto a Mr. Hutchinson who has a place about a mile from here and raisesdogs. They say Laddie got a prize once at some show in New York, but Idon’t know for sure. He got sick in the spring, and one day when I wasover at the Hutchinson place with some grain I admired him, and Mr.Hutchinson said I could have him if I thought I could cure him. I saidI guessed all he needed was plenty of fresh air and exercise--he was ina run over there, with a fence around him--and so I took him. And itdid cure him too. Now, I guess Laddie got sort of homesick one day, andstarted out for Hutchinson’s. The place is closed up this summer--thefamily’s in Europe, I think--and it’s likely that when Laddie gotthere he didn’t find anyone around. Maybe he thought he’d sort of waitawhile. I guess that’s how you happened to run across him.”

  “I guess so,” Dan agreed.

  “I want you boys to stay to dinner,” continued the farmer. “It’ll beready in about half an hour. And if Jerry’s through with the team hemight show you around. Maybe you’ve never seen an up-to-date farm, eh?”

  So Mr. Osgood excused himself, and Jerry took them in charge. Barry,for Dan was always to remember the terrier by that name, elected togo with them, much to Dan’s delight, and acted as though he was guideinstead of Jerry. There was much to interest them, and they weren’tnearly through when the bell rang for dinner, and they had to hurryback to the house. They found quite a company assembled in the diningroom, for besides Mr. Osgood there was his wife and two daughters, anelderly lady whose relationship wasn’t quite plain, Jerry, and fourother farm hands. So they made quite a tableful when all were seated.It was a bully dinner, to quote Tom--and Tom was a bit of an authorityon such things--and they ate heartily. And presently Nelson brought upthe subject of Jerry and Mr. Cozzens’s offer, and their host listenedin silence. Nelson painted in vivid colors the advantages to accrueto Jerry, and when he was through, the farmer ate for a minute insilence. Finally,

  “Well, I’m sorry to lose Jerry,” he said thoughtfully, “but I’m notgoing to stand in his way. I didn’t get overmuch education myself,but I’m not fool enough to think it’s unnecessary. I guess if I’d hadmore of it I might have arrived where I am to-day a good deal earlier.So Jerry does just as he wants to in this matter. But if he takes myadvice he will go to this school you tell about. What say, Jerry?”

  Jerry maintained an embarrassed silence for a moment. Then,

  “I think I’ll go, sir, if it ain’t putting you in no hole,” he replied.“Leastways, I’d like to see Mr. Cozzens and talk it over with him.”

  “Right you are! You’d better go over to-morrow morning. And then if youdecide to stay I’ll send your things over to you. But you must let meknow right away so’s I can get some one in your place. Help isn’t easyto find this time of year.”

  “Thank you, sir,” answered the boy gratefully. “I’ll write to youto-morrow afternoon if I don’t come back.”

  [As a matter of fact, Jerry didn’t come back. He stayed at St.Alfred’s, and never regretted it for a moment. But all this has nothingto do with the present story.]

  After dinner the boys completed their tour of inspection, and thenmade ready to depart. Dan had been looking pretty downhearted, and whenthe time came to take leave of Barry he didn’t feel much better. Theyshook hands with Mr. Osgood, were cordially invited to come again, andthen turned to Jerry.

  “Good-by, Jerry,” said Bob. “Don’t get discouraged if the work seemshard at first. It’s going to be a tussle, but you can do it.”

  “That’s so,” said Tom, shaking hands. “Just you bu-bu-bu-buckle down toit, Jerry. Remember we’re bu-bu-back of you!”

  “Good-by,” said Dan. “And good luck.”

  “Good-by, Signor Danello,” answered Jerry with a shy effort atpleasantry. “I--I’m sorry about--the dog.”

  Dan nodded and moved away.

  “I’ll write to you now and then,” said Nelson, “and tell you aboutthings at school--our school, Jerry--so you can keep your courage up.And you’ll write to me, won’t you?”

  “Yes,” Jerry replied eagerly. “On
ly--I ain’t a very good writer,Nelson.”

  “That’s all right; neither am I, I guess. Good-by. Good-by, Mr. Osgood!And thanks for letting Jerry off.”

  “Good-by,” echoed the others.

  The Four turned down the walk to the gate. Barry, who during theproceedings had been manifestly uneasy, now pricked his ears andwatched Dan’s departure with alert interest. Once he turned and lookedinquiringly at Mr. Osgood. The farmer returned his look with a smileand a wink. Perhaps Barry understood that, like Jerry, he was free tochoose for himself. For after one indecisive moment he gave a bark andflew down the walk as hard as he could go. He caught Dan at the gate,and leaped ecstatically about him. Dan, his lips trembling, waved himback and tried to tell him to go home. But the words wouldn’t come. Boband Nelson and Tom watched, silently sympathetic. Barry ran into theroad and turned, his tail wagging fast, as though asking, “What are youwaiting for? Aren’t we all here?”

  “Barry,” muttered Dan miserably, “I can’t take you, old chap. Youaren’t my dog any more. You--you’ll have to go home.”

  Then footsteps crunched on the gravel, and Dan turned to find Mr.Osgood smiling kindly into his eyes.

  “I gave him his choice,” said the farmer, “and he’s made it. He’s yoursif you want him, my boy.”

  Three hours later the Four--or should I say the Five?--were standing onthe deck of the little steamer watching the Long Island shore recedeacross the waters of the Sound. The boat’s nose was pointed toward NewYork--and school and study and hard work. But every face there showedhappiness and contentment. For, being healthy and sensible, theyknew that study and hard work stand just as much for enjoyment as dovacation days. And of all in the group there on the deck the happiestwas Dan, unless--well, unless, possibly, it was Barry!

  THE END