"_Now_, you see, you dented that," said Tom.
"A lot _I_ care. Gee, I'd like to call the whole thing off--that's what
I'd like to do. I'd do it for two cents."
"Well, I've got two cents," said Tom, "but I'm not going to offer it.
_I_ say, let's make the best of it. I've seen you holding your sides
laughing at Pee-wee. You said yourself he was a five-reel photoplay all
by himself."
Roy drew a long breath and said nothing. He was plainly in his very
worst humor. He did not want Pee-wee to go. He, too, wanted to be alone
with Tom. There were plenty of good turns to be done without bothering
with this particular one. Besides, it was not a good turn, he told
himself. It would expose Walter Harris to perils---- Oh, Roy was very
generous and considerate of Walter Harris----
"If it's a question of good turns," he said, "it would be a better turn
to leave him home, where he'll be safe and happy. It's no good turn to
him, dragging him up and down mountains till he's so dog-tired he falls
all over himself--is it?"
Tom smiled a little, but said nothing.
"Oh, well, if that's the way you feel," said Roy, pulling the cord of
his duffel bag so tight that it snapped, "you and Pee-wee had better go
and I'll back out."
"It ain't the way I feel," said Tom, in his slow way. "I'd rather go
alone with you. Didn't I say so? I guess Pee-wee thinks he's stronger
than he is. _I_ think he'd better be at home too and I'd rather he'd
stay home, though it's mostly just because I want to be alone with you.
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