Ralph had one strong sheet-anchor.

On his return from Lewisburg on Monday Bud had handed him a note, written on common blue foolscap, in round, old-fashioned hand.
It ran: "Dear Sir: Anybody who can do so good a thing as you did for our Shocky, can not be bad.

I hope you will forgive me.

All the appearances in the world, and all that anybody says, can not make me think you anything else but a good man.

I hope God will reward you.