Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/425

 Carlton to enter upon his chosen work in Colorado this fall.”

“Guess ye thought of everything,” admired Abner. “Now as ye two want to be alone and chin I’ll go over and eat a snack.”

“We have even thought of that,” smiled Thaxter. “You two will accompany Stanley and me back to my private car, where we will see what Josef, my chef, has good for dinner.”

“Supper,” mechanically corrected Abner, his eyes glistening.

“We’ll make it a combination of both,” laughed Stanley.

“See here, my son,” whispered Bub aside, “I don’t want to go down there. I’m not use to that sort of thing. I’d feel ashamed.”

“Quit that,” sternly ordered Stanley. “By the same line of argument I shouldn’t have gone north to feel ashamed of my greenness. To the car you go and Josef will give Abner a meal that he’ll remember ever after. I know Josef of old, and he’ll be that tickled to see me that he’ll throw on all the style at his command.”

“I ain’t just dressed fer polite company,” Abner was beginning to remonstrate, but Thaxter caught his arm and led him to the door, saying: