"You'll get your money," he said. "I'm going to look for a job as soon as I go out from here. Don't you be afraid of that. You won't lose anything."
Her reply came so suddenly that it startled
Peter. She jumped from her chair and stamped her foot angrily.
"Oh!" she cried, clinching her fists, while all her anger blazed in her face. "Hain't you insulted me enough? Get out of my house! Don't you ever come back!"
Peter put on his hat. He paused when his hand was on the door-knob, his face deathly white.
"If you ever get sick, Jane," he said, "you can leave word at George Rapp's Livery stable. I'll come to you if you are sick," and he went out, closing the door softly.
Buddy was waiting where Peter had left him.
"I'm making a funny snake for you, Uncle Peter," he said.
"Well, I should think you were!" said Peter, summoning all his cheerfulness. "That's just the funniest old snake I ever did see, but you better let Uncle Peter have your jack-knife now, Buddy. We'll get along."
He gathered the boy, who obediently yielded the knife, into his arms.
"I'm going to see Aunt Jane, now," said the boy contentedly.
"No, I guess we won't go see your Aunt Jane to-day, Buddy," said Peter, holding the boy close. "Put your head close up against Uncle Peter's shoulder and he can carry you better. You ain't so heavy that way."
Buddy put his head on Peter's shoulder and crooned one of Booge's verses contentedly. They walked a long way in this manner, toward the town. From time to time Peter shifted the boy from one shoulder to the other, and once or twice he allowed him to walk, but not far. He wanted to feel Buddy in his arms.
"I shouldn't wonder," said Peter as they entered the outskirts of the town, "if I had to go on a trip right soon. I can't seem to think of any way out of it."
"I like to go on trips with you, Uncle Peter," said Buddy.
"Well, you see, Buddy-boy," said Peter, "this here trip I can't take you on, so I've got to leave you with a man--a man that looks a good deal like that kazoozer man, but you mustn't be afraid of him, because all he is going to do is to take you for a ride in a horse and buggy out to where you'll stay. It may be some time before I see you again, but I want you should remember me. I guess you will, won't you?"