Do you wonder I said I
would do almost anything to get the money?"
Jed's hand patted the knee sympathetically.
"Sho, sho, sho!" he exclaimed. "Have you heard from him since?"
"No, I wrote him that I was paying as fast as I could and that if
he communicated with my employers that would end any chances of his
ever getting more. He hasn't written since; afraid of stopping the
golden egg supply, I presume. . . . But there," he added, "that's
enough of that. Jed, how could you do it--just for me? Of course
I had come to realize that your heart was as big as a bushel
basket, and that you and I were friends. But when a fellow gives
up four hundred dollars of his own money, and, not only does that,
but deliberately confesses himself a thief--when he does that to
save some one else who, as he knew, had really been a thief and who
he was pretty sure must have stolen again--why, Jed, it is
unbelievable. Why did you do it? What can I say to you?"
Jed held up a protesting hand.
"Don't say anything," he stammered. "Don't! It's--it's all
foolishness, anyhow."
"Foolishness! It's--oh, I don't know what it is! And to sacrifice
your reputation and your character and your friendship with Captain
Hunniwell, all for me! I can't understand it."
"Now--now--now, Charlie, don't try to. If I can't understand
myself more'n half the time, what's the use of your strainin' your
brains? I--I just took a notion, that's all.
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