Part 20 (1/2)

”His wanting the Handbook, too,” said Mr Ellsworth, quietly, ”had a certain ring to it”

”Did you ever take a squint at that Handbook of his, Chief?”

”No,” said Mr Ellsworth, s wanly; ”I'm not as observant as you, Roy”

”He has siht”

”His mind is not complex,” said Mr Ellsworth, half-heartedly, ”yet he's ais literal to Tom, Chief; he sees only two colors, black and white”

There was another pause

”Why don't you eat a little soht, Roy I can't If that thing is true--if there's no explanation, why, then ht” His voice almost broke ”Tom is either no scout at all or else----”

”Or else he's about the best scout that lives,” interrupted Roy ”Will you ever forget how he looked as he stood there? Hanged if I can! I've seen pictures enough of scouts--waving flags and doing good turns and holding staves and looking like trim little soldiers----”

”Like you, Roy,” s like that! Did you notice his mouth? His----”

”I know,” said Mr Ellsworth, ”he looked like a martyr”

”Whenever you see a picture of a scout,” said Roy, ”it always shohat a scout can do with his hands and feet; he's tracking or signalling or so like that _There_ was a picture that shows the other side of it You never see those pictures in the books

Cracky, but I'd like to have gotten a snap-shot of him just as he stood there with his mouth set like the jaws of a trap, his eyes tenthat battered old Handbook”

”I'lad you dropped in, Roy, it cheers hed Roy ”I' about you; I'm selfish I'ot _my_ reputation to look after That's all _I_ care about”

Mr Ellsworth s out the truth about this between now and to- I may have to trespass even, but _I_ should worry What are _you_ going to do?”

”Nothing to-night In the et hi to do?”

”I decline to be interviewed,” Roy laughed

”Well, don't you get into any trouble, Roy”

After the boy had gone, Mr Ellsworth picked up his own copy of the _Handbook for Boys_, and looked with a wistful s the red flags It always reminded him of Roy