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Show 160 Not Pa. Not anybody. So I did not do a bang-up job of it. "See you later," I said. .And I walked briskly away with Beans, I turned, after a few minutes, and looked for them. They were on the second deck, squeezing through the crowd to the rail, waving. Soon the river steamer blew its whistle. And slowly it moved from the dock. I felt another uncomfortable prick, only this time it was more like a hammer pounding. My head throbbed with pain, and I knew I could not ignore the message flashing there. But Beans interrupted, "'Well, what luck," he said, slapping my sore back, "My friend has arrived. Meet your new partner, Erickson." I turned and held out my hand. The man' s head was lowered, his eyes scrutinizing my new gold watch fob. When he raised his head, I looked directly into his small shifty eyes, not unlike those of a con man I had once known, "Partner," he said, grinning. I did not hear what either one of those men said next. I just heard my pa coming through loud and clear-as loud and clear as northern lights can flash in the sky. "Time to move on, Son, But not in that direction." |