would weep, pink weak tears from her old thin eyes, that seemed to have
never done much else but weep. The thought turned and twisted in his
soul like an ugly curved knife and made him angry. Tears always made
him angry. And Miss Lynn--she would watch for him--! He had promised to
be there! And she would not understand--and there would come that
grieved look in her eyes. She would think--Oh, she would think he did
not _want_ to come, and did not _mean_ to keep his promise,
and things like that--and she would have to think them! He couldn't
help it, could he? He _had_ to come along, didn't he?

In the midst of his miserable reflections the car stopped dead on a
level place and with a cold perspiration on his forehead Billy peered
around him. They must have reached the top of a ridge, for the sky was
visible with the morning star pinned against a luminous black. Against
it a blacker shape was visible, half hid in trees, a building of some
sort, solid, substantial, but deserted.

The men were getting out of the car. Billy gripped the gun and dropped
silently to the ground, sliding as stealthily into the shadows of the
trees as if he had been a snake.

Pat, stepped heavily to the ground and began to give directions in a
low growl. Billy crouched and listened.

"Let's get him shifted quick! We gotta beat it outta here! Link, it's
up to you an' Shorty to get this car over the state line before light,
an' you'll have to run me back to the Crossing first, so I can be at
the station in time for the early train. That'll be _going some!_"

"Well, I guess _anyhow not_," said Link sullenly, "Whadda ya think