"Little Ruth," wrote Doris, "cried bitterly when I told her that
you had gone and would not come back. She said that when you said
'good-bye' to her you promised to come back--and of course I had to tell
her that you would, just to make her happy. She has lost all interest in
the puzzle game since you left, but that queer watch that you gave her,
that has to be shaken before taken--and then not taken seriously--amuses
her quite a bit. She gets me to wind it up--her fingers are not strong
enough--and then she laughs as the hands race around. When they stop she
puts her finger on the hour and says, 'Pitty soon Pete come back.'
Little Ruth misses you very much."
Pete folded the letter and put it in his pocket. "From a friend of
mine," he said, flushing slightly.
Ma Bailey sighed, smiled, and sighed again. "You're just itching to go
see the boys. Well, run along, and tell Jim not to set up all night." Ma
Bailey rose, and stepping to the bedroom returned with some blankets.
"You'll have your old bunk. It's yours just as long as you want to stay,
Pete. And--and I hope that girl in El Paso--is a--a nice--sensible--"
"Why, Ma! What's the matter?--" as Mrs.
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