Chapter XIII. Jack Has a Mystery

knowit.He'ssogood-naturedhe'salwayspromisingtodothingsforpeople,andhastoomuchplucktogiveupwhenhefindshecan't.Lethimalone,anditwillallcomeoutsoonenough,”answeredFrank,wholaughedathisbrother,butlovedhimnonethelessforthetenderheartthatoftengotthebetterofhisyounghead. ButforonceFrankwasmistakenthemysterydidnotcomeout,andJackworkedlikeabeaverallthatweek,asorderspouredinwhenJillandAnnetteshowedtheirelegantcardsfor,aseverybodyknows,ifonegirlhasanewthingalltherestmust,whetheritisabowonthetopofherhead,apeculiarsortofpencil,orthelatestkindofchewing-gum.Littleplaydidthepoorfellowget,foreveryspareminutewasspentatthepress,andnoinvitationcouldtempthimaway,somuchinearnestwasourhonestlittleFranklinaboutpayinghisdebt.Jillhelpedallshecould,andcheeredhislaborswithherencouragement,rememberinghowhestayedathomeforher. “Itisrealgoodofyoutolendahand,andI'meversomuchobliged,”saidJack,asthelastorderwasstruckoff,andthedrawerofthetype-boxheldapileofshiningfiveandtencentpieces,withtwoorthreequarters. “IlovetoonlyitwouldbenicerifIknewwhatwewereworkingfor,”shesaiddemurely,asshescatteredtypeforthelasttimeandseeingthatJackwasbothtiredandgrateful,hopedtogetahintofthesecret. “Iwanttotellyou,dreadfullybutIcan't,becauseI'vepromised.” “What,never?” “Never!”andJacklookedasfirmasarock. “ThenIshallfindout,forIhaven'tpromised.” “Youcan't.” “SeeifIdon't!” “Youaresharp,butyouwon'tguessthis.It'satremendoussecret,andnobodywilltellit.” “You'lltellityourself.Youalwaysdo.” “Iwon'ttellthis.Itwouldbemean.” “WaitandseeIcangetanythingoutofyouifItry”andJilllaughed,knowingherpowerwell,forJackfounditveryhardtokeepasecretfromher. “Don'ttrypleasedon't!Itwouldn'tberight,andyoudon'twanttomakemedoadishonorablethingforyoursake,Iknow.” JacklookedsodistressedthatJillpromisednottomakehimtell,thoughsheheldherselffreetofindoutinotherways,ifshecould. Thusrelieved,JacktrudgedofftoschoolonFridaywiththetwodollarsandseventy-fivecentsjinglinginhispocket,thoughthedeargoldcoinhadtobesacrificedtomakeupthesum.Hedidhislessonsbadlythatday,waslateatrecessintheafternoon,and,assoonasschoolwasover,departedinhisrubberboots“totakeawalk,”hesaid,thoughtheroadswereinabadstatewithaspringthaw.Nothingwasseenofhimtillaftertea-time,whenhecamelimpingin,verydirtyandtired,butwithareposefulexpression,whichbetrayedthataloadwasoffhismind.Frankwasbusyabouthisownaffairsandpaidlittleattentiontohim,butJillwasontenter-hookstoknowwherehehadbeen,yetdarednotaskthequestion. “Merry'sbrotherwantssomecards.Helikedherssomuchhewishestomakehislady-loveapresent.Here'sthename”andJillhelduptheorderfromHarryGrant,whowastobemarriedintheautumn. “Mustwaittillnextweek.I'mtootiredtodoathingto-night,andIhatethesightofthatoldpress,”answeredJack,layinghimselfdownupontherugasifeveryjointached. “Whatmadeyoutakesuchalongwalk?Youlookastiredasifyou'dbeentenmiles,”saidJill,hopingtodiscoverthelengthofthetrip. “Hadto.Fourorfivemilesisn'tmuch,onlymylegbotheredme”andJackgavetheailingmemberaslap,asifhehadfounditmuchinhiswaythatdayfor,thoughhehadgivenupthecrutcheslongago,herathermissedtheirsupportsometimes.Then,withagreatyawn,hestretchedhimselfouttobaskintheblaze,pillowinghisheadonhisarms. “Dearoldthing,helooksallusedupIwon'tplaguehimwithtalking”andJillbegantosing,assheoftendidinthetwilight. Bythetimethefirstsongendedagentlesnorewasheard,andJacklayfastasleep,wornoutwiththebusyweekandthewalk,whichhadbeenlongerandharderthananyoneguessed.Jilltookupherknittingandworkedquietlybyfirelight,stillwonderingandguessingwhatthesecretcouldbeforshehadnotmuchtoamuseher,andlittlethingswereveryinterestingifconnectedwithherfriends.PresentlyJackrolledoverandbegantomutterinhissleep,asheoftendidwhentoowearyf