And father had to laugh,but Mr.Pryor went out,and slammed the door,until I looked to see if it had cracked from top to bottom;but we didn't care if it had,we were so happy over having Leon back.
I went and picked up the money and carried it to father to put away,and that time he took it.But even then he didn't stop to see if he had all of it.
"You see!"I said,"I told you----"
"You did indeed!"said father."And you almost saved our reason.
There are times when things we have come to feel we can't live without,so press us,that money seems of the greatest importance.This is our lesson.Hereafter,I and all my family,who have been through this,will know that money is not even worth thinking about when the life and honour of one you love hangs in the balance.When he can understand,your brother shall know of the wondrous faith his Little Sister had in him.""Maybe he won't like what you and mother thought.Maybe we better not tell him.I can keep secrets real well.I have several big ones I've never told,and I didn't say a word about the Station when Leon said I shouldn't.""After this there will be no money kept on the place,"said father."It's saving time at too great cost.All we have goes into the bank,and some of us will cheerfully ride for what we want,when we need it.As for not telling Leon,that is as your mother decides.For myself,I believe I'd feel better to make a clean breast of it."Mother heard,for she sobbed as she bathed Leon's feet,and when his eyes came open so they'd stay a little while,he kept looking at her so funny,between sips of hot milk.
"Don't CRY,mammy!"he said."I'M all right.Sorry such a rumpus!Let him fool me.Be smart as the next fellow,after this!Know how glad you are to get the money!"Mother sat back on her heels and roared as I do when I step in a bumblebee's nest,and they get me.Leon was growing better every minute,and he stared at her,and then his dealish,funny old grin began to twist his lips and he cried:"Oh golly!You thought _I_helped take it and went with him,didn't you?""Oh my son,my son!"wailed mother until she made me think of Absalom under the oak.
"Well,I be ding-busted!"said Leon,sort of slow and wondering-like,and father never opened his head to tell him that was no way to talk.
Mother cried more than ever,and between sobs she tried to explain that I heard what the traveller man had said about how bad it was to live in the country;and how Leon was now at an age where she'd known boys to get wrong ideas,and how things looked,and in the middle of it he raised on his elbow and took her in his arms and said:"Well of all the geese!And I 'spose father was in it too!But since it's the first time,and since it is you----!Go to bed now,and let me sleep----But see that you don't ever let this happen again."Then he kissed her over and over and clung to her tight and at last dropped back and groaned:
"My reputation,O my reputation!
I've lost my reputation!"
She had to laugh while the tears were still running,and father and Laddie looked at each other and shouted.I guess they thought Leon was about right after that.Laddie went and bent over him and took his hand.
"Don't be in quite such a hurry,old man,"he said."Before you wink out I have got to tell you how proud I am of having a brother who is a real Crusader.The Lord knows this took nerve!
You're great,boy,simply great!"
Leon grabbed Laddie's hand with both of his and held tight and laughed.You could see the big tears squeeze out,although he fought to wink them back.He held to Laddie and said low-like,only for him to hear:"It's all right if you stay by a while,old man."He began to talk slowly.
"It was a long time before I caught up,and then I had to hide,and follow until day,and he wasn't so very easy to handle.Once I thought he had me sure!It was an awful load,but if it hadn't been for the good old gun,I'd never have got him.When we mixed up,I had fine luck getting that chin punch on him;good thing I worked it out so slick on Absalom Saunders,and while old Even So was groggy I got the money away from him,took the gun,and stood back some distance,before he came out of it.Once we had it settled who walked ahead,and who carried the money and gun,we got along better,but I had to keep an eye on him every minute.
To come through the woods was the shortest,but I'm tired out,and so is he.Getting close I most felt sorry for him,he was so forlorn,and so scared about what would be done to him.He stopped and pulled out another roll,and offered me all of it,if I'd let him go.I didn't know whether it was really his,or part of father's,so I told him he could just drop it until I found out.Made him sweat blood,but I had the gun,and he had to mind.I was master then.So there may be more in the roll I gave father than Even So took.Father can figure up and keep what belongs to him.Even So had gone away past Flannigans'
before I tackled him,and I was sleepy,cold,and hungry;you'd have thought there'd have been a man out hunting,or passing on the road,but not a soul did we see 'til Pryors'!Say,the old man was bully!He helped me so,I almost thought I belonged to him!My!he's fine,when you know him!After he came on the job,you bet old Even So walked up.Say,where is he?Have you fed him?"Laddie looked at father,who was listening,and we all rushed to the door,but it must have been an hour,and Even So hadn't waited.Father said it was a great pity,because a man like that shouldn't be left to prey on the community;but mother said she didn't want to be mixed up with a trial,or to be responsible for taking the liberty of a fellow creature,and father said that was exactly like a woman.Leon went to sleep,but none of us thought of going to bed;we just stood around and looked at him,and smiled over him,and cried about him,until you would have thought he had been shipped to us in a glass case,and cost,maybe,a hundred dollars.
