When the train for the East pulled out at eleven o'clock that night David was aboard. He positively had refused to take back any of the money he had lent to Mrs. Braddock, preferring to borrow from Joey and Casey. Christine kissed him good-by at the station. "I know that my father struck you, David," she whispered, as she put her hand to his cheek. "That won't prevent your coming back, will it? You will come, won't you?" "As surely as I am alive," he said fervently. There were tears in his eyes as the train rolled away. He had said good-by to all of them--to Joey and Ruby and Casey, and they had wished him good luck with that complaisant philosophy which was theirs by nature. Some one sat down beside him in the seat. He looked up. "I guess I'll go part ways with you," said Artful Dick Cronk comfortably. "I want you to do me a favor. Take this money and step into the little inn there in your town and pay the woman what I owe her. I forgot to settle when I left. She was a very good woman. I never trim a woman, good or bad." Primarily, Dick Cronk was traveling with David because his brother had disappeared from the snack stand early in the evening. The watchful pickpocket scented trouble. Before joining David in the coach, he traversed the length of the train to assure himself that Ernie had not slipped aboard in the darkness for the purpose of doing evil to the Virginia boy when least expected. He was satisfied that Ernie was not aboard, but it was now necessary for him to go on to the next station before leaving the train. "I owe her five dollars and sixty cents. Tell her to keep the change. I hear you're coming back soon to visit the--er--show. Let me put you onto Colonel Grand. He's a good loser, that old boy is. He's terrible disappointed because you've squared yourself with the law. He had something up his sleeve for you, but this spoils it all. But you noticed that he took it very pleasantly--polite and agreeable cuss, he is, when he has to be. Maybe you'd like to know what his game was." "I think I know, Dick." "Nix. I guess not. You were to do him a great favor before long. You were going to run away with Christie Braddock!" David started. "You are mistaken," he cried indignantly. "I wouldn't think of such a thing." "Just the same, kid, that's what he had it fixed for you to do, and you couldn't ha' got out of it. He's a wonder, he is. That's the only way he could get rid of Christie; and, with Christie gone, Mrs. Braddock's spirit would be smashed. He's going to get rid of Tom Braddock purty soon. Tom don't know it, but his days with this show are numbered." "What a cold-blooded devil he is!" cried David. "Hot-blooded's what I'd call him." CHAPTER XIII THE SALE