Всего за 5.99 руб. Купить полную версию
The ten dollar bill Ruth had had examined at the bank that morning was one she had taken out of the old volume!
CHAPTER X WHAT MR. CON MURPHY DID NOT KNOW
For were awful intrested in Sammy, Dot explained. Im intrested because hes going to be a pirate, and Tess is intrested because he gave her a goat.
You children stay across the street where you are, commanded the busy doctor, getting briskly into his automobile. Youre quite near enough to me. This is my last call and Im going home now to fumigate my clothing.
Oh, dear me! cried Dot, has Sammy scarlet fever and quarantine, both?
Huh? said the doctor, trying his starter. Then he laughed. I should say he had. And you children must stay away from there. Its bad enough to have one scarlet fever patient on Willow Street. I dont want an epidemic.
That last puzzled Dot a good deal. She went back into the house very soberly when the doctor drove away.
Mrs. MacCall, she asked, what is a epidermis? Dr. Forsyth doesnt want one.
Well, thats no skin off your nose,
He was troubled in his mind, Miss Ruth. I kin see you are troubled in yours. Kin old Con help ye? asked the cobbler, shrewdly.
I dont know, Ruth said, all of a flutter. I am dreadfully anxious about Neale ONeils going away so abruptly.
Hes a smart boy for his age. Hell get into no trouble, I belave.
Im not so much disturbed by that thought, admitted Ruth. I am really selfish. I want to see him. Agnes let Neale take something we found in our garret, on Christmas Eve, and and well, its something valuable, I believe, and I must show it to Mr. Howbridge as soon as possible.
Something vallible, is ut? observed Mr. Murphy, with his head on one side.
I I have reason to believe so, replied Ruth, with hesitation.
What is it? was the cobblers direct question.
A a sort of scrap-book. An old album. A big, heavy book, Mr. Murphy. Oh! it doesnt seem possible that Neale would have taken it away. Have you seen it anywhere about, sir?
He brought it home Christmas Eve, ye say? was the noncommittal reply.
That is when Agnes let him have it yes, said the girl, earnestly.
I did not see him when he came home that night. I was abed. I told ye he got a letter. I left it on his bureau when I went to me own bed. Shure, he might have brought in an elephant for all Id knowed about it afther I got to sleep, declared the cobbler, shaking his head. Old Murphy-us himself, him as was the god of sleep, niver slept sounder nor me, Miss Ruth. He must have been the father of all us Murphies, for we were all sound sleepers, praise the pigs!
Perhaps the book is in his room, Ruth said, with final desperation.
A big book, is ut?
Oh, yes, sir. Have you seen it?
I have not. But Ill go up and look for ut this instant, Mr. Murphy said, rising briskly.
Ruth told him carefully what to look for as far as the outside of the volume appeared. She devoutly hoped he would not be curious enough to open it.
For no matter who really owned the old album and to whom its wonderful contents would be finally awarded the oldest Corner House girl felt herself to be responsible for the safety of the book and its contents. How it came in the garret, why it was hidden there, and who now had the first right to it, she did not know; but Ruth was sure that the odd find was of great value and that it would be a temptation to almost anybody.
Neale might have gone away for an entirely different reason; yet he had the treasure trove in his possession last, and Ruth would not feel relieved until she had recovered it.
In five minutes Con came downstairs again, but without the book.
I seen nawthin of the kind, he said. But heres the envelope of the letter he resaved.
He handed it to Ruth. The address was written by a hand that certainly was not used to holding a pen. The scarcely decipherable address was to Mist. Nele O. Sorber.
Shure the postman skurce knew whether to bring it here, or no, Mr. Murphy explained.
I I would like to take this, Ruth said slowly.
Shure ye may. I brought it down ter ye, said Mr. Murphy, taking up his hammer once more.
But where do you suppose he could have put that book of ours? Ruth asked, faintly.
Shure, maam, I dunno. Would he be takin it away wid him to read?
Oh, but could he? gasped Ruth. It was heavy.
So was his bag heavy. I knowed by the way he carried it. And I see its few of his cloes he took, by the same token, for they are all hangin in his closet, save the ones hes got on.
Ruths thoughts fairly terrified her. She got up and was scarcely able to thank Mr. Murphy. She had to get out into the air and recover her self-control.
Neale! The boy whom they had befriended and helped and trusted! Under temptation, Neale had fallen!
For Ruth knew well how the ex-circus boy disliked taking money from his Uncle Bill Sorber, or being beholden to him in any way. Neale worked hard very hard indeed for a boy of his age in order to use as little as possible of Mr. Sorbers money.
Sorber held Neales long-lost father in light repute, and could not understand the boys desiring an education and wishing to be something besides a circus performer. To the mind of the old circus man it was an honor to be connected with such an aggregation as Twomley & Sorbers Herculean Circus and Menagerie. And Neales father had left the company years before in search of a better fortune.