Parnassus on Wheels | Page 8

good for a free meal. It's amazing how little
most of the country folk know about books, and how pleased they are
to hear good stuff. Down in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania...."

"Well, how about the horse?" I said hastily, seeing him about to embark
on an anecdote. It wasn't far short of eleven o'clock, and I was anxious
to get started.
"It might be well to take along some oats. My supply's about
exhausted."
I filled a sack with oats in the stable and Mr. Mifflin showed me where
to hang it under the van. Then in the kitchen I loaded a big basket with
provisions for an emergency: a dozen eggs, a jar of sliced bacon, butter,
cheese, condensed milk, tea, biscuits, jam, and two loaves of bread.
These Mr. Mifflin stowed inside the van, Mrs. McNally watching in
amazement.
"I tank this bane a queer picnic!" she said. "Which way are you going?
Mr. McGill, is he coming after you?"
"No," I insisted, "he's not coming. I'm going off on a holiday. You get
dinner for him and he won't worry about anything until after that. Tell
him I've gone over to see Mrs. Collins."
I climbed the little steps and entered my Parnassus with a pleasant thrill
of ownership. The terrier on the bunk jumped to the floor with a
friendly wag of the tail. I piled the bunk with bedding and blankets of
my own, shook out the drawers which fitted above the bunk, and put
into them what few belongings I was taking with me. And we were
ready to start.
Redbeard was already sitting in front with the reins in hand. I climbed
up beside him. The front seat was broad but uncushioned, well
sheltered by the peak of the van. I gave a quick glance around at the
comfortable house under its elms and maples--saw the big, red barn
shining in the sun and the pump under the grape arbour. I waved
good-bye to Mrs. McNally who was watching us in silent amazement.
Pegasus threw her solid weight against the traces and Parnassus swung
round and rolled past the gate. We turned into the Redfield road.
"Here," said Mifflin, handing me the reins, "you're skipper, you'd better

drive. Which way do you want to go?"
My breath came a little fast when I realized that my adventure had
begun!


CHAPTER FOUR
Just out of sight of the farm the road forks, one way running on to
Walton where you cross the river by a covered bridge, the other
swinging down toward Greenbriar and Port Vigor. Mrs. Collins lives a
mile or so up the Walton road, and as I very often run over to see her I
thought Andrew would be most likely to look for me there. So, after we
had passed through the grove, I took the right-hand turn to Greenbriar.
We began the long ascent over Huckleberry Hill and as I smelt the
fresh autumn odour of the leaves I chuckled a little.
Mr. Mifflin seemed in a perfect ecstasy of high spirits. "This is
certainly grand," he said. "Lord, I applaud your spunk. Do you think
Mr. McGill will give chase?"
"I haven't an idea," I said. "Not right away, anyhow. He's so used to my
settled ways that I don't think he'll suspect anything till he finds my
note. I wonder what kind of story Mrs. McNally will tell!"
"How about putting him off the scent?" he said. "Give me your
handkerchief."
I did so. He hopped nimbly out, ran back down the hill (he was a spry
little person in spite of his bald crown), and dropped the handkerchief
on the Walton Road about a hundred feet beyond the fork. Then he
followed me up the slope.
"There," he said, grinning like a kid, "that'll fool him. The Sage of
Redfield will undoubtedly follow a false spoor and the criminals will

win a good start. But I'm afraid it's rather easy to follow a craft as
unusual as Parnassus."
"Tell me how you manage the thing," I said. "Do you really make it
pay?" We halted at the top of the hill to give Pegasus a breathing space.
The terrier lay down in the dust and watched us gravely. Mr. Mifflin
pulled out a pipe and begged my permission to smoke.
"It's rather comical how I first got into it," he said. "I was a school
teacher down in Maryland. I'd been plugging away in a country school
for years, on a starvation salary. I was trying to support an invalid
mother, and put by something in case of storms. I remember how I used
to wonder whether I'd ever be able to wear a suit that wasn't shabby and
have my shoes polished every day. Then my