Chapter 8 Summary

Joe shimmies quietly down the rope which hangs from his bedroom window into the dark night below. He has had over a year of practice with the rope, and manages it easily. In the stable, he unwraps his new suit. It is not quite as he left it, and Joe realizes with anger that McEachern has found the suit. Joe dresses quickly, already late because of the fuss over the missing heifer. He has forgotten to wind his new watch, but instinct tells him he is running late. As he traverses the lane behind the house, he expects at any moment to see his girl's car drive by. He checks his useless watch again, and glances back at the house, wishing that McEachern would discover his absence and try to stop him. Finally, he sees the glare of headlights as her car approaches...