True to the Law Read Online Free PDF

just made that up,” said Rabbit.
    “Did not.” Finn scooped the fallen beanbag off the floor and held out one hand for the other two.
    Disgusted, Rabbit dropped them on the floor for Finn to pick up. “Robby Fox and I asked her this morning if there was anything we could do for her after school and she said no.”
    “She needs my help tomorrow,” Finn said. “You and Robby just asked too early. She didn’t give me anything special to do today.”
    Rabbit put the toe of his shoe on one of the beanbags when Finn stooped to pick it up. “Maybe because you were too busy writing ‘I am surely sorry for making Prissy Taylor squeal like a piglet.’ I bet you misspelled most of the words just so you could keep Miss Morrow busy correcting you.”
    Finn tugged on the beanbag and pulled it free. Rabbit promptly stepped on the other one. “So what if I did? She was real kind about it. You just wish you’d thought of giving Prissy’s hair a good yank. Robby Fox probably wishes he did too. You both looked real jealous when Miss Morrow told me to stay. I would have wrote my apology on every slate if she’d asked.” He glanced sideways at his grandfather. “A man’s gotta pay for his pleasure.”
    Rabbit set his fists on his hips. “You didn’t even like her when she came to town. You musta told everyone she came here to bedevil you.”
    Finn didn’t deny it. “Well, you said it, too, and besides, I changed my mind since then.” He grabbed one corner of the beanbag still held captive beneath Rabbit’s shoe and yanked hard. The stitching gave way as he freed it and dozens of small white beans spilled out. They bounced and rolled across the floor.
    Jeff Collins shook his head. “Now, didn’t I just see that coming? Get a broom, boys. And a dustpan. I’m not asking your granny to fix that bag either. About time you two learned your way around a needle and thread.”
    Rabbit and Finn glared at each other but neither pointed a finger. Finn placed the two good beanbags on the counter for safekeeping and slunk off behind his brother to get the broom and dustpan in the back room.
    The station agent was still shaking his head when the door leading to the train platform opened. He extended his arm, palm out, warning Cobb Bridger when he stepped past the threshold. “Have a care you don’t get beans underfoot. I don’t reckon there’s anything more graceless than a grown man going down on his backside.”
    “And few things more amusing.”
    “That’s what I was thinking.”
    Cobb examined the floor for evidence of what caused the mishap. His glance fell on the split leather beanbag and then the two bags on the counter. “Rabbit and Finn are around, I gather.”
    “In the back, getting the proper implements for cleaning up.” He sat up and adjusted his spectacles. “What brings you here, Mr. Bridger?”
    Cobb carefully picked his way to the counter. He hefted one of the beanbags. “Always surprises me how many beans one of these can hold. Your grandsons are learning to juggle?”
    “Rabbit’s got the knack of it. Finn’s learning.”
    Nodding, Cobb set the bag down and leaned an elbow on the countertop. The caped shoulder of his duster brushed against the receipt book that Collins had pushed to the side. “I want to send a letter to someone in Chicago. About how long will it take to get there?”
    “Well, if it’s speed you’re after, I can send it over the wire. It’d have to be short, though. You pay by the word and every word is dear.”
    “No, I prefer a letter for this.”
    “Then it would take about three days express train, weather permitting, and upward of six days regular mail coach.”
    “That’s faster than I thought.”
    “Yes, sir. The country’s shrinking. I hear Montana Territory will be a state soon. Maybe next month. Wyoming can’t be far behind. Seems like the railroad is swallowing us up. Hard to know what speed will bring next. I’m taking deliveries all the time from Chicago and