So I went back up the trail with my suitcase, pausing at the bend to take one last look at the blue lake. I walked into the village and caught a bus that took me down to where I could get a bus for Baltimore.
I rode along in the back of the big bus and I could touch with my fingers the spots of pain that Johnny’s hard fist had made on my face. They were spots that only hurt on the inside, not on the outside. The bus rumbled along and I watched the lights of the little towns and thought of how the people in the houses had something that they didn’t even know about. They’d never know how a grey train can pick you up and chug along with you for a ride that’s so long that you’re afraid to get off it.
Johnny took me in when I needed it, and I didn’t know how it had all come out until, after I sent my address, I got a note in Barney’s childish handwriting. It was forwarded to me in Jacksonville where I was taking care of a parking lot. It said, Joe has quit the ring. I thought you would like to no that. He and Sis are getting married in four months and Joe has went back to school. Johnny is still soar at you for what you did and he thinks Joe would have been champ but I no he is glad Joe has quit the ring. Maybe I can make him understand some day what you did. Jug got the crown as you no and Johnny has made him quit. He bought an annuity but he is not the same old Jug which is to bad. Please keep letting me no where you are if you move to another place. Joe has lost that mean streak after the lickings. Maybe some day Johnny will want you back. I do, anyhow. Your pal — Barney.
And so I’ve been in a lot of towns and they all look alike. Maybe, one of these days, I’ll get that word from Johnny. He better not wait too long, though; because once you’ve taken a ride on that old grey train, it’s awful easy to get back on for another ride.