Part 9 (2/2)
”Yes.”
”Come on, then!”
”No--”
”What you scared of him for?”
”He's a great man.”
”But he's my Papa.”
”He don't want to be bothered with little boys.”
”Yes, he does, too. He hears everything I've got to say to him.”
”Ain't you skeered of him?”
”No!”
Robbie seized John's hand again and before he could draw back dragged him to his father's side.
Lee turned the friendliest smile on John's flushed face and won his confidence before a word was spoken.
”Well, Robbie, what's your handsome little friend's name?”
”John Doyle, Papa.”
”Your father lives on the farm just outside our gate, doesn't he?”
”Yessir,” the boy answered eagerly.
His embarra.s.sment had gone. But it was hard to begin his story. It had seemed easy at first, the need was so great. Now it seemed that he had no right to make the request he had in his heart.
He hung his head and dug his big toe in the gravel.
Robbie hastened to his rescue.
”John wants to tell you something, Papa,” he began tenderly.
”All right,” Lee cheerfully answered as he drew one boy within each arm and hugged them both. ”What can I do for you, Johnnie?”
”I dunno, sir. I hope you can do somethin'.”
”I will, if I can. I like to do things for boys. I was a little boy once myself and I know exactly how it feels. What is it?”
Again the child hesitated.
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