"I thank
you just the same, for inviting me to join your circle, but I really
feel that I must find this man Jake and get away."
"Well, young man," now abetted Mr. Brewster, "do as you think best, but
that won't prevent you from riding over to Pebbly Pit any day you can
get away from work, and having dinner with us."
The young man was surprised at such hearty hospitality shown an utter
stranger, but he had heard of western generosity and he now felt that
he had met such types of westerners. Just now, Mr. Simms called out
quickly: "There goes Jake! Hey, _Jake!_ Ah say--J-A-K-E!"
The man called Jake halted as he was crossing the muddy road, and
looked towards the group which stood in front of Simms' office. Simms
waved his wide-brimmed hat to denote that he was wanted, so the driver
turned and slouched along the side of the road until he was within a
few feet of the lawyer, before the latter explained.
"We-all got a fine young Tenderfoot here, for you, Jake, and Ah just
wanted to warn you to handle him with care or these pretty gals of
Pebbly Pit will call you to account for him. Boys are scarcer than
hen's teeth, since the war, you know, and our gals are having a hard
time raking the country to find such a swain as young Evans."
Mr. Simms' frivolous talk made the girls smile, and Kenneth Evans began
to feel more at ease. But Jake was replying to the attorney's
explanation, and he listened to what was said.
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