k　we're　having。　So　what　do　you　say？　Act　like　a　grownup。　Promise　you'll　leave　after　Del。〃

He　thought　it　over。　And　after　a　moment　or　two；　a　look　came　into　his　eyes；　the　sort　of　look　a　fellow　gets　when　he's　just　had　a　good　idea。　I　didn't　like　it　much；　because　any　idea　which　seemed　good　to　Percy　wouldn't　seem　good　to　us。

〃If　nothing　else；〃　Brutal　said；　〃just　think　how　nice　it'd　be　to　get　away　from　that　sack　of　pus　Wharton。〃

Percy　nodded；　and　I　let　him　get　out　of　the　chair。　He　straightened　his　uniform　shirt；　tucked　it　in　at　the　back；　gave　his　hair　a　pass…through　with　his　b。　Then　he　looked　at　us。　〃Okay；　I　agree。　I'm　out　front　for　Del　tomorrow　night；　I'll　put　in　for　Briar　Ridge　the　very　next　day。　We　call　it　quits　right　there。　Good　enough？〃　〃Good　enough；〃　I　said。　That　look　was　still　in　his　eyes；　but　right　then　I　was　too　relieved　to　care。　He　stuck　out　his　hand。　〃Shake　on　it？〃　I　did。　So　did　Brutal。　More　fools　us。

4。

The　next　day　was　the　thickest　yet；　and　the　last　of　our　strange　October　heat。　Thunder　was　rumbling　in　the　west　when　I　came　to　work；　and　the　dark　clouds　were　beginning　to　stack　up　there。　They　moved　closer　as　the　night　came　down；　and　we　could　see　blue…white　forks　of　lightning　jabbing　out　of　them。　There　was　a　tornado　in　Trapingus　County　around　ten　that　night　…　it　killed　four　people　and　tore　the　roof　off　the　livery　stable　in　Tefton　…　and　vicious　thunderstorms　and　gale…force　winds　at　Cold　Mountain。　Later　it　seemed　to　me　as　if　the　very　heavens　ha