Wait and Hope Part 21

"With this boy's help we can. Don't trouble yourself to invent excuses. You have been suspected for some time."

"The boy lies," said Smithson fiercely.

"If he does it will be found out. Come along with me."

Much against his will, Smithson walked arm-in-arm with the detective. Ben was notified to be in attendance at court the next morning, at ten o'clock, to testify against his new friend.

"I am more of a greenhorn than I thought," Ben said to himself.

"Who would have thought such a polite young man was a counterfeiter!"

About four o'clock Ben went up-town to Mr. Manning's boarding-house, and remained there till the merchant arrived.

Chapter XIII

A Curious Old Lady

The next morning Mr. Manning introduced Ben to his temporary ward, a bright, attractive little girl, who seemed to take an instant fancy to our hero.

"Is he my brother?" she inquired of Mr. Manning.

"He is going to be your brother, if you like," was the smiling reply.

"I am glad of it," said the little girl, putting her hand confidingly in Ben's.

Ben was not much used to girls, never having had a sister, but it occurred to him that he should find it very pleasant to have Emma in the house.

"Are you willing to leave the city and go home with your new brother?" asked Mr. Manning.

"Yes," said Emma promptly. "When are we going?"

"This afternoon. You will sail on a big boat, and then ride on the cars. Shall you like that?"

"Ever so much," said Emma, clapping her hands. "You will take care of me, won't you?" appealing to Ben.

"Oh, yes, I'll take care of you," said Ben manfully.

"I think you had better go to Boston on the Fall River line," said Mr.

Manning. "That will give you nearly all night on the boat, and you can have a comfortable night's rest. Indeed, I think you may as well remain on board till the half-past-six train starts. That will get you into Boston about nine o'clock, in time for a late breakfast.

What time can you go to Milltown?"

"There is a train at half-past ten."

"That will answer very well. Now, if you will come down-town with me, I will engage pa.s.sage for you."

Ben accompanied Mr. Manning to the office of the steamers, and pa.s.sage tickets were obtained and paid for.

At four o'clock, Ben and his young charge were seated in the showy cabin of the immense Sound steamer which plies between New York and Fall River.

As the two were chatting, an old lady, evidently from the country, looked attentively at them. She was old and wrinkled, and, from time to time, took a pinch of snuff from a large snuff-box which she took from the pocket of her dress.

"What is your name, little gal?" she inquired at last.

"Emma," answered the child,

"Come and kiss me," said the old lady.

Emma surveyed the old lady critically, and answered bluntly, "I don't want to."

"Come and kiss me, and I'll give you the first cent I find on the currant bushes," said the old lady coaxingly.

"I don't want to," answered Emma again.

"Why don't you want to?" asked the old lady, with a wintery smile.

"'Cause you're old and ugly, and put snuff up your nose."

answered Emma, who had not yet learned that the truth is not to be spoken at all times.

The old lady gasped with wrath and amazement.

"Well, I never did!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, you did," said Emma, understanding her to say that she never took snuff. "I saw you do it a minute ago."

"You are a bad, wicked little gal!" said the old lady, in high displeasure. "You're spoiled child."

"No, I ain't," said Emma, angry in turn. "Don't you let her call me names," she added, speaking to Ben.

Ben found it difficult not to laugh at the old lady's discomfiture; but he felt called upon to apologize for his young charge.

"I hope you'll excuse her, ma'am," he said. "She's only a little girl."

"How old is she?" asked the old lady abruptly.

"Five years old."

"Then she'd orter know better than to sa.s.s her elders," said the old lady snappishly. "She's badly brung up. Is she your sister?"

"No, ma'am."

"Is she any kin to you?"

"No; I'm her guardian."

The old lady adjusted her spectacles, and surveyed Ben from head to foot in a scrutinizing manner.