Page:St. Nicholas - Volume 41, Part 1.djvu/274

248 The boy returned his gaze firmly. "I must be going.”

“All right,” said Nate, with sudden willingness. “Here, I ‘ll help you.”

The boy’s eyes flew wide open with surprise; then, slowly flushing, he let them drop. “I know,” He mumbled, “that I “ve been a lot of trouble—and expense. But [ mean to repay it.”

“Don’t mention it,” responded Nate, heartily. “You ‘re welcome, I ’m sure. But I don’t like to keep fellers in my house that don’t want to stay. Come, let me help you up.”

The boy looked at him first suspiciously, and then, as Nate met his look steadily, with a touch of resentment, “How do you know that I don’t want to stay?” he demanded.

“You said you wanted to go,” replied Nate, undisturbed. “Come—up she goes!”

He lifted the lad’s shoulders as he spoke, and turned him in bed. Clumsily the boy swung his feet out of bed, found the floor, and slowly rose. He stood for a moment, apparently asking himself if he were steady, and then took a step forward. But instantly he cried out, and had not Nate caught him, would have fallen.

Nate lifted him, laid him in bed, and covered him over. Then he looked at him quizzically. “Goin’ far?”

“My ankle ’s hurt!” exclaimed the boy.

"Of course,” answered Nate. "What for do I rub it three times a day? Clean dislocated when we got you home. But don’t fret. It ’s almost back to its natural size, and before long you can hobble about. I ’ve made a crutch for ye.”

Turning his face aside, the lad closed his eyes; but from under their lids trickled two tears.

“There. there!” soothed Nate, kindly. “Stick it out! It won’t be very much longer.”

“I thought,” said the boy, huskily, “that you wanted to get rid of me.”

“Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat!” cried Nate. “I thought the same of you. Well, then, ain’t we square?”

The boy nodded. But then he murmured: “I ought to be going.”

“Where?" demanded Nate.

Still with his eves closed, the boy shook his head. “Just going.”

Nate sat down upon the side of the bed. “I s’pose you ‘ve got an appointment somewhere, or with some one. Can’t [ send for him to come to you?”

“No,” said the other. “It is n’t that.”