Всего за 5.99 руб. Купить полную версию
Ruths mind was filled with suspicion regarding Neale now. Knowing his longing for independence, why should she not believe that seeing a chance to obtain a great sum of money with no effort at all he had fallen before the temptation and run away with the old album and its wonderful contents?
Ruth knew there was a fortune in that old and shabby volume which must have lain long in the garret of the old Corner House. If one of the notes was good, why not all the others and the bonds, too?
She opened her purse and withdrew the folded ten-dollar bill. At the same moment another banknote fell to the ground another of the same denomination.
Oh! she said aloud. Thats the bill Mr. Howbridge gave me when he went away, saying I might need something extra.
She picked it up. It was folded exactly like the other one; but it never entered Ruths mind that she might have handed Mr. Crouch the wrong bill to examine.
Ruth replaced the banknotes in her purse and walked home with a face still troubled. She could take nobody into her confidence least of all Agnes regarding the missing album. It might be, of course, that Neale ONeil had only hidden away the old book until his return. Possibly it was perfectly safe, and Neale ONeil might have no more idea that the money was good than had Agnes.
But oh! if Mr. Howbridge were only at home! That was the burden of Ruths troubled thought.
She went into the house, her return not being remarked by the younger children. Upstairs Agnes was at her dresser putting the finishing touches to her hair and her frock in readiness for dinner.
Whats that? she asked Ruth, as the latter put down her purse and likewise the torn envelope Mr. Con Murphy had given her.
Oh! ejaculated Ruth. I must have brought it away with me.
Brought what away with you and from where? demanded Agnes, picking up the paper. Then in a moment she cried: Why! its addressed to Neale by his circus name, Neale Sorber. Whered you get it, Ruth?
I saw Mr. Murphy, the older sister confessed. He thinks that the letter that came in this envelope was the cause of Neales going away so suddenly.
Goodness! its some trouble about his uncle, said Agnes. How Neale hates to be called Sorber, too!
That isnt his uncles writing, Ruth said.
Of course it isnt, the second sister replied scornfully. Mr. Bill Sorber doesnt write at all. Dont you remember? Thats why he thinks it so foolish for Neale to want an education. But its somebody Uncle Bills got to write for him.
Agnes practical explanation could not be gainsaid. She did not connect for a moment the disappearance of the old album with Neales sudden flight from Milton. The bonds and banknotes pasted into the big volume she had found in the garret gave Agnes not the least anxiety. But she looked closely at the envelope.
Wish Mr. Murphy had found the letter, too, she said. Then we could have learned what made that horrid boy run off so.
Tiverton, Humph! Wheres Tiverton? Thats where this letter was mailed. Seems to me somebody said Tiverton to me only lately, murmured Agnes.
Ruth did not hear her, and Agnes said no more about it. But after she had retired that night and was almost in dreamland in that state twixt waking and sleeping when the happenings of the day pass through ones mind in seemingly endless procession suddenly Agnes sat up in bed.
Oh! I know where Ive heard of Tiverton before, she whispered shrilly in the darkness. Thats where Mr. Howbridge has gone to see his sick brother. Say, Ruth!
Ruth was asleep. And by morning Agnes had forgotten all about the matter. So the coincidence was not called to the older sisters attention.
CHAPTER XI SOME EXCITEMENT
Petunia was very, very black, and monstrous fat! Her father often mournfully wondered huccome she so brack, when he was only mahogany brown himself and Petunias mother had been light favahed, too.
Nevah did see the lak ob her color, declared Uncle Rufus, shaking his grizzled head. Wen she was a baby we couldnt fin her in de dark, ceptin her eyes was open, or she was a-bellerin.
The Corner House girls all liked Petunia Blossom, and her family of cunning piccaninnies. There was always a baby, and in naming her numerous progeny she had secured the help of her white customers, some of whom were wags, as witness a portion of the roll-call of the younger Blossoms:
Yaasm, Miss Tessie. Alfredias home takin car ob de baby. Burne-Jones Wistler he de artis lady named an Jackson Montgomery Simms, done gone tuh pick up wood, where dey is buildin dat new row ob flats. Gladiola, shes jes big nuff now tuh mess intuh things. I tol Alfredia to keep an
Oh! gasped Dot and as she usually did when she was startled she grabbed up her Alice-doll and hugged her to her bosom.
I I dont know, declared Mabel, looking rather scared now. Honest, Mamma I havent seen him.
Hes been kidnapped! Thieves! Gypsies!
The poor mothers shrieks might have been heard a block. Neighbors came running. Milton had only a small police force, but one of the officers chanced to be within hearing. He came, heard the exciting tale, and galloped off to the nearest telephone to let them know at headquarters that there was a child mysteriously missing.