Атлант расправил плечи

           Theytriedtofollowhimonce,throughthecold,pre-morningdarkness,buttheygaveitup;noonecouldtrackhimwhenhedidnotwanttobetracked.

           Afterawhile,Mrs.Taggartbegantoworryanddecidedtoinvestigate.Sheneverlearnedhowhehadmanagedtoby-passallthechild-laborlaws,butshefoundFranciscoworking—byanunofficialdealwiththedispatcher—asacallboyforTaggartTranscontinental,atadivisionpointtenmilesaway.Thedispatcherwasstupefiedbyherpersonalvisit;hehadnoideathathiscallboywasahouseguestoftheTaggarts.TheboywasknowntothelocalrailroadcrewsasFrankie,andMrs.Taggartpreferrednottoenlightenthemabouthisfullname.Shemerelyexplainedthathewasworkingwithouthisparents’permissionandhadtoquitatonce.Thedispatcherwassorrytolosehim;Frankie,hesaid,wasthebestcallboytheyhadeverhad."I’dsureliketokeephimon.Maybewecouldmakeadealwithhisparents?"hesuggested."I’mafraidnot,"saidMrs.Taggartfaintly.

           "Francisco,"sheasked,whenshebroughthimhome,"whatwouldyourfathersayaboutthis,ifheknew?"

           "MyfatherwouldaskwhetherIwasgoodatthejobornot.That’sallhe’dwanttoknow."

           "Comenow,I’mserious."

           Franciscowaslookingatherpolitely,hiscourteousmannersuggestingcenturiesofbreedinganddrawingrooms;butsomethinginhiseyesmadeherfeeluncertainaboutthepoliteness."Lastwinter,"heanswered,"Ishippedoutascabinboyonacargosteamerthatcarriedd‘Anconiacopper.