Presently he went on: "Three hundred miles! Six days for Poly to come
with the current; nine days to go back! Fifteen days at the best!
Anything might happen in that time. . . . Poly said no danger from any
of the men there. But some one might come down the river! . . . If
wishing could bring an aeroplane up north!"

After a silence: "I wish I could get my best suit pressed! . . . It's
two years old, anyway. And she's just come in; she knows the
styles. . . . Lord, I'll look like a regular roughneck!"


Next morning when Peter Minot threw open the door of the store he found
the note pinned to the door-frame. It was brief and to the point:


DEAR PETE:

You said I ought to go by myself till I felt better. So I'm off.
Don't expect me till you see me. Charge me with 50 lbs. flour, 18 lbs.
bacon, 20 lbs. rice, 10 lbs. sugar, 5 lbs. prunes, 1/2 lb. tea, 1/2
lb. baking powder, and bag of salt. Please take care of my dog. So
long! A. D.

P. S.--I'm taking the dog.


Peter, like all men slow to anger, lost his temper with startling
effect. Tearing the note off the door and grinding it under foot, he
cursed the runaway from a full heart.