Then the man took something from under the front seat cushion of the car and handed it to Brother Lu.  Hugh could not be positive, but he rather fancied it was a packet of folded papers.

Plainly, then, there was a conspiracy afloat.  Brother Lu was other than he pretended to be, and he was undoubtedly hatching up some sort of plot that had connections with the peace of mind of the two simple Hosmers who had taken him in on the strength of his claim to blood relationship.

Hugh was quivering more than ever now, and his breath came in gasps as he continued to keep his eyes glued on the two figures not so far away.  He wished that he were gifted with hearing keen enough to pick up what they were saying in such low tones, for then he would know everything; but this was out of the question, and he must await the subsequent turn of events.

It might have been noticed, however, that the boy’s eyes glistened as with a growing delight, from which it was easy to judge that he did not see anything so very terrible in these strange actions on the part of the reformed tramp.  Indeed, Hugh acted very much as though inclined to “shake hands with himself,” as Thad was so fond of saying, when he had cause for self-congratulation.

How long they were carrying on that conversation!  Once another car showed up down the road, and Hugh chuckled to notice how deftly Brother Lu assumed an humble attitude, just as though he might have simply halted to ask a question of the lordly chauffeur of the big and comfortable car.

“He’s a dandy, that’s all I can say,” muttered the amused boy, who on his part stood there as the other car whirled past, as if he might be looking for something he had lost; but on the contrary, the opposite was really the truth, because Hugh had made a great discovery and a “find” in the bargain.

Now apparently the earnest conversation between chauffeur and Matilda’s roving good-for-nothing brother had come to an end.  The man entered the car again, turned in the road with the cleverness that comes from long handling of a touring machine, and, with a last respectful salute, his hand going to his cap military fashion, sped down the road, heading toward Scranton.

Brother Lu stood there as if lost in meditation.  Hugh, still watching closely, and making up his mind to have it out then and there, because he could not stand the weighty load of suspense any longer, was sure the other must be in a merry frame of mind, for he laughed several times, and even slapped his hand against his thigh in a way he had, as if to emphasize his thoughts.

“Oh, you sly rascal!” Hugh was saying as he continued to observe all these significant things.  “I’m beginning to size you up for what you are, all right.  But just think how Thad will be stunned when I tell him all about my adventure!  Why, he’ll almost believe he’s asleep, and dreaming it.  There, I do think he’s turning around as if he meant to come back this way.  That suits me O.K., because I won’t have to chase after him.”