Chapter 1: Section 6: Page 52: Line 140 (933)

 Randolph had a sympathetic look.

* * * * * * * * * *

Randolph is probably about to explain how the Chums of Chance are constantly having to move on as well. He may paint it as an issue of living in a balloon and having to take missions all over the world. But I'm sure he's really thinking about how, as an angel, he was required to leave Heaven for his mission on Earth. That's speculation on my part but it's based on evidence!

Remember, my theory is that Randolph is based on Blake's character Orc in America a Prophecy (and other works). He's a fallen character (as in Lucifer!) who symbolizes rebellion and freedom. Orc manages to get Americans to rise up in revolution and bring down their oppressors. From what I've seen so far, Against the Day takes a strong pro-union stance and most of the main characters are sympathetic to the poor and working class.

Chapter 1: Section 6: Page 52: Lines 138-139 (931-932)

 "I'll be gone by then. They're sending me west, fellows, and I guess it's so long."

* * * * * * * * * *

Lew's lighting out for the Territory. It's against his will but wasn't it, technically and historically, against almost everybody's will to light out for the Territory? I'm not saying it wasn't a choice but, I mean, was it really?! Leaving civilization and everything you knew to make your way into the chaos of the unknown? Gotta be a lot more to it than Free Will. Like that family in The VVitch. Not only did they "light out for the Territory" from England because their religious beliefs basically forced them out but then they lighted out for an even further Territory when they were banished from town. Forces conspire to drive people westward which often means those driven westward are the best of the bunch because the status quo was their only enemy and chaos, their only friend.

Anyway, that's my belief, being from the West Coast!

Chapter 1: Section 6: Page 52: Line 137 (930)

 "Still some weeks till the fair closes," said Randolph.

* * * * * * * * * *

Randolph, not realizing he's speaking to a terminally ill person, declares there is still plenty of time left to do the things they love. Not that Lew made himself particularly clear (nor is he terminally ill. That was a metaphor!).

The fair ended on October 30th, 1893 so according to Randolph's timeline, we must currently be in late September or early October.

Chapter 1: Section 6: Page 52: Line 136 (929)

 His presence made it no easier for Lew to impart his news, but he did manage at last to blurt, "Doggone but I'm going to miss this."

* * * * * * * * * *

I suppose there are some lines that I could easily skip past without comment but then what would be the worth of this project? It's lines like these, when I feel I have nothing to research or any mediocre insight to give, where I usually just write a sonnet!

Lew did, at last, manage to blurt, "Doggone!"
To indicate that which he could not speak,
His words become a jumble of frog spawn
Replaced by euphemistic blasphemy.

Long gone, his past, a vagary through sin
Occluded by dense mists of mystery.
His wife, his friends, his place of time within. . .
At most, a phantom ache, lost history.

Future, now cast, by Nate's paranoid stones.
Denver Heaven? Or a possible Hell?
Leaving a life well loved for an unknown
Unclear to all 'cept waiting time to tell.

"Doggone but I am going to miss this."
The present lament for all who exist.

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 Lew's detective reflexes warned him of something deeply evasive about this personable academic, which he guessed the boys were aware of, too, though it was their business what to make of it.

* * * * * * * * * *

"something deeply evasive about this personable academic"
Vanderjuice obviously feels shame for working with Scarsdale Vibe but could Lew be sensing something more than that? Vanderjuice's envy of Tesla's mind and ability has led him to work with Scarsdale Vibe against the good of mankind. If he's willing to do that, what else might he be willing to do? How might he be manipulating the boys and what ends does he have them working towards?

"which he guessed the boys were aware of"
Randolph was certainly aware that Heino wasn't being entirely truthful about his reasons for being in Chicago but it doesn't seem Randolph's suspicion of Heino went much further than that. It was because Heino was acting so out of character that caused Randolph to worry. For now, I'll assume Heino has everybody's best interest in mind but he's stumbled into a dangerous association with Scarsdale too deep from which to extricate himself. I know how history has turned out and the world doesn't have free energy so I'm not holding out hope that Scarsdale Vibe is somehow defeated in his machinations.