I was always deadly afraid
something'd happen, and I didn't want to get connected up with Jim.
But I've been careful. There's not a line o' writing anywhere, and
the man that sold the stuff for me in Jersey City is close as wax."
"But your friends--" Lindsay was wrung with an angry pity.
"I don't care for much of anybody but Jim," said the man.
Caroline was moving restlessly about in the dining-room again.
Lindsay shook himself nervously.
"Of course, this is very awkward for me," he began, "I mean--I--oh,
the devil! You know what I've got to do, of course?"
The man looked appealingly at him. "You've got it all back," he said
quickly, "and you know Jim--"
"Yes, plague take it--I know Jim," the boy muttered, "we all know
Jim."
"Known well, isn't he?" the man inquired eagerly, "there's no
cleverer scholar there, much cleverer, I mean, is there?"
Lindsay shook his head. "Not that amounts to anything," he said
shortly.
"I'll bet there's no better fellow there than Jim--none of the big
bugs?"
"There is no better fellow anywhere," said Lindsay.
Caroline tapped fretfully on the door. "Aren't we ever going, Lin?"
she begged; "it's all put back."
"Yes, yes, in a minute!" he answered, and turned to the man.
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