“Can’t you carry out your plan?” asked Clapp, soberly, fearing he was to be left out in the cold.

“I’ve formed a new one.  Instead of going to California, which is very expensive, we’ll go out West, say to St. Louis, and try our fortune there.  What do you say?”

“I’m agreed.  Can Luke go too?”

“Yes.  I’ll take you both out there, and lend you fifty dollars each besides, and you shall pay me back as soon as you are able.  Will you let your friend know?”

“Yes, I’ll undertake that; but when do you propose to start?”

“To-morrow morning.”

“Whew!  That’s short notice.”

“I want to get away as soon as possible, for fear the old lady should change her mind, and want her money back.”

“That’s where you’re right.”

“Of course you must give up your situation at once, as there is short time to get ready.”

“No trouble about that,” said Clapp.  “I’ve hated the business for a long time, and shall be only too glad to leave.  It’s the same with Luke.  He won’t shed many tears at leaving Centreville.”

“Well, we’ll all meet this evening at the hotel.  I depend upon your both being ready to start in the morning.”

“All right, I’ll let Luke know.”

It may be thought singular that Ferdinand should have made so liberal an offer to two comparative strangers; but, to do the young man justice, though he had plenty of faults, he was disposed to be generous when he had money, though he was not particular how he obtained it.  Clapp and Luke Harrison he recognized as congenial spirits, and he was willing to sacrifice something to obtain their companionship.  How long his fancy was likely to last was perhaps doubtful; but for the present he was eager to associate them with his own plans.

CHAPTER XXI.

Harry is promoted.

Clapp re-entered the printing office highly elated.

“Mr. Anderson,” said he to the editor, “I am going to leave you.”

Ferguson and Harry Walton looked up in surprise, and Mr. Anderson asked,—­

“Have you got another place?”

“No; I am going West.”

“Indeed!  How long have you had that in view?”

“Not long.  I am going with Mr. Kensington.”

“The one who just called on you?”

“Yes.”

“How soon do you want to leave?”

“Now.”

“That is rather short notice.”

“I know it, but I leave town to-morrow morning.”

“Well, I wish you success.  Here is the money I owe you.”

“Sha’n’t we see you again, Clapp?” asked Ferguson.

“Yes; I’ll just look in and say good-by.  Now I must go home and get ready.”

“Well, Ferguson,” said Mr. Andersen, after Clapp’s departure, “that is rather sudden.”

“So I think.”

“How can we get along with only two hands?”