Little Folks Astray Part 18

"Fie, Granny! Never mind what a boy like that says, when he is excited.

I know you too well to think you'd steal."

"The Lord bless you, mum," cried the old woman, all smiles again.

"And, Granny, I mean to come here next week, and I'll bring you some flannel and liniment for your rheumatism. Where shall I leave them if you're sick, and can't be here?"

"O, thank ye, mum; thank ye kindly. The ain't many o' the likes of you, mum. And if ye does bring the things for my rheumaty, and I ain't here, just ye leave 'em with the gyurl at this stand, if yer will."

"Did she give it back?" cried Horace, the moment his aunt appeared.

"No, my boy; how could she when she hadn't it to give?"

"But, auntie, I'm up and down sure I felt that wallet in my breast-pocket, when we came out of Dorlon's," persisted Horace. "I don't see how on earth that old woman contrived it; but I can't help remembering how she kept leaning forward when she talked; and once she hit square against me. And just about that time I was drawing out my handkerchief to wipe my nose."

"Yes, he did! He wiped his nose. And the woman tookened the money; I saw her do it."

"There, I told you so!"

"You saw her, Miss Policeman Flyaway?" said Aunt Madge. "And pray how did she take it?"

"Just so,--right in her hand."

"O, you mean the money for the b.u.t.ter-scotch, you little tease!"

"Yes," replied the child, with a roguish twinkle over the sensation she had made.

"Just like little bits o' flies," said Dotty. "Don't care how folks feel. And here's her brother ready to cry; heart all broken."

"Needn't be concerned about my heart, Dot; 'tisn't broken yet; only cracked. But how anybody could get at my pocket, without my knowing it, is a mystery to me, unless Granny is a witch."

"Horace, I pledge you my word Granny is innocent."

"And I'm sure n.o.body else could take it, auntie. The clerks at Dorlon's had no knowledge of the money; neither had any of the apple or pie merchants along the market. Things look darker for us, Prue; but I will give you the credit of behaving like a lady. And one thing is sure--the moment I get home to Indiana I shall send you back your money."

"Horace," said Aunt Madge, "I am very suspicious that you lost your purse in one of those cars, on the Brooklyn side."

"But, auntie, I tell you there couldn't anybody get at my pockets without my knowing it!"

"Just as Prudy told you you would, you lost it in that car," echoed Dotty. "Don't you remember what you said, Prudy?"

"That's right; hit him again," growled Horace.

"Now, Dotty," said Prudy, suppressing a great sob in her effort to "behave like a lady," "what's the use? Don't you suppose Horace feels bad enough without being scolded at?"

"Auntie don't scold, nor Prudy don't, 'cause he didn't mean to lose it," said Fly, frowning at Dotty, and caressing Horace, with her hands full of evergreens.

"Besides, he has lost more than I have," continued Prudy.

"Well, a trifle more! Fifty times as much, say. I shouldn't care a fig,--speaking figuratively,--only it was all I had to get home with."

"Don't fret about that," said Aunt Madge; "I'll see that you go home with as full a purse as you brought to my house."

"O, auntie, how can I thank you? But you know father never would allow that!"

"I could tell you how to thank me," thought Mrs. Allen, though she was so kind she would _not_ tell; "you could thank me by saying, 'Auntie, I've been a naughty boy.'"

But Horace had no idea of making such a confession as that. "The money'll come up," said he; "I'm one of the lucky kind. Let's see; wouldn't it be best to advertise?"

"Thieves won't answer advertis.e.m.e.nts," said Mrs. Allen.

"But, I tell you, auntie, I dropped that wallet. I could take my oath of it."

"Well, in such a case an advertis.e.m.e.nt is the proper thing. But, my boy, your positiveness on this subject is extraordinary. How could you drop the wallet? Do you keep it in the same pocket with your handkerchief?"

"On, no, auntie; right in here."

"And you haven't bought anything?"

"No, auntie; you wouldn't let me pay the car fare, or anything else. But still I must have taken out the wallet by mistake. You see I _know_ n.o.body's picked my pockets."

"Why, Horace, you just said Granny picked 'em."

"No, Dot, I didn't! I only spoke of the queer way she had of leaning forward."

"But you scowled at her sharp enough to take head off."

"If I were you, Dot, I wouldn't be any more disagreeable than I was absolutely obliged to.--Now, auntie, how much does it cost to advertise?"

"A dollar or so I believe."

"Well, if you'll lend me the money, I want to do it."

"To be plain with you, Horace, I really do not think it will be of the slightest use in this case; but I will consent to it if it will be any relief to your mind. We shall be obliged to cross the ferry again, for the advertis.e.m.e.nt ought to go into a Brooklyn paper."

"We are tired enough to drop," said Dotty; "and all these stars and things, too!"

"Yes, we are all tired; but we will leave you little girls at the ferry-house on the other side."

"But, auntie," said Prudy, anxiously, "I shouldn't really dare have the care of Fly. You know just how it is."

"Yes, I do know just how it is. Fly must walk, with her tired little feet, to the Eagle office, with Horace and me; or else she must make a solemn promise not to go out of the ferry-house."

"But I don't want to make a _solomon_ promise, auntie; I want to see the eagle."

Mrs. Allen sighed. She began to think she had undertaken a great task in inviting these children to visit her. Instead of a pleasure, they had proved, thus far, a weariness--always excepting Prudy. She, dear, self-forgetting little girl, could not fail to be a comfort wherever she went.