The Traitor (Dixon, 1907)/Book 2/Chapter 6
ONE by one the boys engaged in the masquerade at the Judge's the night of his death slipped out of Independence from various nearby stations and left for the West. An hour before the time for Billy's train going North John went to his room for a chat before saying good-bye.
Billy had begun to unpack his trunk.
John seized his arm.
"What's this—what's the matter?"
"I'm not going!" he snapped.
"Why not?"
"I've found out that you may be put on trial for your life."
"Well, what's that got to do with your education?"
"You're just packing me off to get me out of danger."
"Suppose I am?"
"I'm not going to sneak out of trouble and leave you to stand for what I've done."
"I'm responsible, my boy."
"You're not. You tried to keep me out of it. I got Steve Hoyle to take me in. I knew what I was doing. I was a headstrong fool."
"Because you've been a fool is no reason why you should keep it up. Don't talk any more nonsense. Hurry—put your clothes back in that trunk—you must catch this train."
"No!" was the dogged answer.
John put his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"You must do it for me, Billy. I'm trying to make good my failure. I ought to have been both father and mother to you. I was neither—I didn't know how—forgive me! I let you slip away. It seems to me now it would have been very easy for me to have taken you by the hand, and with a jolly word or two and a little pains and a little friendly comradeship, I could have kept you out of trouble. I'm heartsick over it, boy. You must let me atone in this way. You can do no good by staying. You'll be in the way when trouble comes. You'll promise me now, because I ask you—won't you?"
The boy choked back a sob.
"I'll go on one condition"
"Well?"
"If you get in trouble about this thing, that you'll let me know."
John grasped his hand:
"I promise you."
Mrs. Wilson and Susie accompanied them to the station. As the train signalled to pull out Billy shook hands with Susie awkwardly and tried to take leave of her mother in the same way, but Mrs. Wilson broke down, threw her arms around his neck and sobbed:
"Billy, darling, you're my own sweet boy—I love you—I love you! You'll write to me every week—won't you?"
Billy promised, disengaging himself in evident embarrassment and trying to hide his tears.
Moved by a sudden impulse Susie smiled, drew Billy's head down and kissed him.
"For the high honour you once paid me. I shall expect great things of you, Billy."
As the train started, he gripped John's hand:
"Remember, we stand together. We are Grahams—I'll hold you to your promise!"
John saw Ackerman join Susie and caught the sudden flash of his keen eye.
He touched his lip in sign of warming to Billy and waved his hand.
"I'll remember! Good luck!"