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After a minute or two the Corner House girl crept forward. Some of her usual courage returned to her. Her heart beat high and her color rose. She bit her lower lip with her pretty, even teeth, as she always did when she labored under suppressed excitement, and tiptoed to the end of the piled up ties.
The voices were louder here more easily distinguished. There were two of them a young voice and an old voice. And in a moment she discovered something that pleased and relieved her. The young voice was a girls voice Agnes was quite positive of that.
She thought at once: No harm can come to me if there is a girl here. But who can she be, camping out in the snowy woods?
In another moment she would have stepped around the corner of the pile of ties and revealed herself to the strangers had not something that was said reached her ears and that something was bound to arrest Agnes Kenways attention.
A book full of money.
The young voice said this, and then the other spoke, it seemed, doubtingly.
Again came the girls voice with passionate earnestness:
I tell you I saw it! I know twas money.
It dont sound reasonable, and the mans husky voice was plainer now.
I tell you I saw it. I had the book in my hand.
Why didnt you bring it away and let me see it? demanded the other.
Id ha done it, Pop, if Id been let. He had it in his bag in his room. I got in and had the book in my hand. Its heavy and big, I tell you! He came in and caught me messin with his things, and I thought hed lam me! You know, Neale always was high tempered, added the strange young voice.
Agnes was powerless to move. Mention of money in a book was sufficient to hold her in her tracks. But now they were speaking of Neale ONeil!
Whered he ever get so much money? demanded
so would you
No, I wouldnt. Thats sneaky, snapped the other.
How about your finding out about the book of money you spoke of? asked Agnes, boldly. Didnt you do anything sneaky to find out about that ?
The other started and dropped the stick. The man sat down suddenly. It was plain, even to usually unobservant Agnes Kenway, that her remark had startled both of them.
I was alone and lost, Agnes went on to explain. I was trying to reach Mr. Bob Buckhams farm, and a wolf chased me
A wolf! interrupted the youthful tramp. Now I know youre telling a wicked story.
It was. Or something, said Agnes, stoutly. I was scared. Then I saw your smoke.
Why didnt you walk right in and speak to us instead of snoopin?
Youd have snooped, flashed back Agnes, with some heat. I was alone, and I was afraid of tramps
Well, were tramps, said the boy, stooping and picking up the dropped stick.
Not the kind I am afraid of, Agnes replied, trying to smile.
The boy would not be pacified, but the man said, shakingly, from his seat on the log:
We wouldnt hurt you, girl. Put down that stick, Barney. This is my son, Barney, and Im Asa Scruggs. Im a joey when Im in luck, and Barney hes a trapeze artist. Hes good.
Oh, Pop! shrilled the youthful trapeze artist, mights well tell the truth this time. Shes nothing but a girl herself.
And thats what you are! cried Agnes, with excitement.
Yes. Im Barnabetta, not Barney, Scruggs. Nice name, isnt it? scoffed the strange girl. My mother was Pennsylvania Dutch; thats where I got my name, Barnabetta. But its safer to travel as a boy, so Im Barney on the road. Besides, skirts would be in the way, climbing in and out of rattlers.
Oh, what fun! gasped Agnes. Do you and your father always travel this way?
You bet we dont! Not when we have an engagement. Weve ridden in Pullman cars havent we, Pop?
The man nodded. He did not say much but watched Agnes with eyes that, in a child, the girl would have thought expressed terror. Barnabetta was much the stronger character of the two, the Corner House girl was positive.
But where are you traveling now? asked the interested Agnes.
Were aimin on gettin South, miss. Theres tent shows there all winter long, said the man, plaintively. Ive been laid up with my ankle, and its too late to get any bookings worth while through the usual vaudeville agencies. We been workin for Twomley & Sorbers Herculean Circus and Menagerie; but of course theyre in winter quarters now at Tiverton. Thats where I got hurt right at the end of the season, too.
Agnes brain was working busily. Twomley & Sorbers at Tiverton. Tiverton was where the letter was postmarked that had taken Neale ONeil away from home so strangely. The talk she had just overheard assured her that these two circus performers had been conversing about Neale and the old album full of money and bonds that he had taken away with him.
But she caught the disguised Barnabetta watching her very sharply. That girls black eyes were like glittering steel points. They seemed to say: How much does this girl who listened guess how much does she suspect how much does she know?
Weve got to work up some kind of patter to go with our act if we strike a job, said Barnabetta, still with her eyes fixed on the Corner House girl. Youve got to have something new if you expect to put any act over these days. Pops a good joey