"I confess," I said, "that I have thought you were giving me a
prescription you knew nothing about. I beg your pardon for my unbelief."
He smiled, and broke his cigar ash into the tray at his elbow.
"I wouldn't miss my annual trip into Eden for a year's income," he said.
"It is during those thirty days I store up life and energy for the
remaining three hundred and thirty-five."
Then we fell to discussing my departure, and there followed an hour's
talk on ways and means. By eleven o'clock I had a list of everything I
could possibly need which would contribute to my comfort or well being.
But there was one thing more; one supreme thing. All that evening I had
been trying to speak it, and couldn't. Now we were sitting side by side
at the table where we had made my list, and suddenly courage came. I
clasped the ham-like hand lying close to mine, and looking steadily and
beseechingly into my friend's eyes, said:
"'Crombie, go with me! I don't mean go to stay. I'm not such a
miserable, snuffling coward as that. But companion me there--show me the
way--help me get established. Two days--not longer. That country is new
to me. Cedarton would take me for an escaped lunatic if I should apply
at a livery stable for a wagon to take me and my effects to a shack
which used to stand on the slope of Bald Knob. Don't you see? The people
know you, and a word from you would fix it all right. I'm your patient.
But more than that, 'Crombie, is having your good old self with me. Just
come to the shack with me, help me place my things, hearten me up by
your good man-talk, make me believe and _know_ that I am on the right
track. Just two days. Won't you do it, 'Crombie?"
I knew that I was asking a great deal, probably more than I should. It
would seem that it was enough for one man to show another where bodily
salvation lay, without taking him by the hand and leading him to it. And
forty-eight hours from town now meant a monetary loss to the man beside
me. But God made men like Abercrombie Dane for other purposes than money
getting.
Now he gave me the sweetest smile I have ever seen on any face except my
mother's, as he laid his other huge hand over mine.
"Yes, I'll go with you, my son," he said.