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valueless.
And all for a thousand apiece, Neale muttered, turning the pages of the book and finding more of the documents. Cracky, Aggie, theres a slew of them.
But shouldnt they be made out to somebody? Oughtnt somebodys name to be on them? asked Agnes, thoughtfully.
No, guess not. These must be unregistered bonds. I expect somebody once thought he was awfully rich with all this paper. It totes up quite a fortune, Aggie.
Oh, dear! sighed Agnes. I guess its true, Neale: The more you have the more you want. When we were so poor in Bloomingsburg it seemed as though if we had a dollar over at the end of the month, we were rich. Now that we have plenty all we really need, I spose I wish we were a little bit richer, so that we could have an auto, Neale.
Uh-huh! said Neale, still feasting his eyes on the engraved bonds. Cracky, Aggie! theres fifty of em.
Goodness! Fifty thousand dollars?
All in your eye! grinned Neale. What do you suppose they ever pasted them into a scrap-book for?
Thats just it! cried Agnes.
Whats just it?
A scrap-book. I didnt think of it before. They made this old album into a scrap-book.
Who did? demanded the boy, curiously.
Somebody. Children, maybe. Maybe Aunt Sarah Maltby might tell us something about it. And it will be nice for Tess and Dot to play with.
Huh! grunted Neale.
Of course thats it, added the girl, with more assurance. Its a scrap-book like a postcard album.
Huh! grunted Neale again, still doubtful.
When Mrs. MacCall was a little girl, she says it was the fad to save advertising cards. She had a big book full.
Well mebbe thats it, Neale said grudgingly. Lets see what else there is in the old thing.
He began to flirt the pages toward the back of the book. Why! he exclaimed. Heres some real stage money. See here!
Oh! oh!
Doesnt it look good? said Neale, slowly.
Just as though it had just come from the bank. What is it Confederate money, Neale? Eva Larry has a big collection of Confederate bills. Her grandfather brought it home after the Civil War.
Oh! these arent Confederate States bills theyre United States bills. Dont you see? cried Neale.
Oh, Neale!
But you can bet they are counterfeit. Of course they are!
Oh, dear!
Silly! Good money wouldnt be allowed to lie in a garret the way this was. Somebodyd have found it long ago. Your Uncle Peter, or Unc Rufus or somebody . What is puzzling me is why it was put in a scrap-book.
Oh! theyre only pasted in at the corners. Theres one all loose. For ten dollars, Neale!
Well, you go out and try to spend it, Aggie, chuckled her boy chum. Youd get arrested and Ruth would have to bail you out.
Its just awful, Agnes declared, for folks to make such things to fool other folks.
Its a crime. I dont know but you can be punished for having the stuff in your possession.
Goodness me! Then lets put it in the stove.
Hold on! Lets count it, first, proposed Neale, laughing.
Neale was turning the leaves carefully and counting. Past the tens, the pages were filled with twenty dollar bills. Then came several pages of fifties. Then hundred dollar notes. In one case which brought a cry of amazement to Agnes lips a thousand dollar bill faced them from the middle of a page.
Oh! goodness to gracious, Neale! cried the Corner House girl. What does it mean?
Neale, with the stub of a pencil, was figuring up the treasure on the margin of a page.
My cracky! look here, Aggie, he cried, as he set down the last figure of the sum. Thats what it is!
The sum was indeed a fortune. The boy and girl looked at each other, all but speechless. If this were only good money!
And its only good for the children to play with, wailed Agnes.
Neales face grew very red and his eyes flashed. He closed the book fiercely. If I had so much money, he gasped, Id never have to take a cent from Uncle Bill Sorber again as long as I lived, I could pay for my own education and go to college, too!
Oh! Neale! couldnt you? And if it were mine wed have an auto, repeated Agnes, and a man to run it.
Pooh! I could learn to run it for you, proposed Neale. But it was plain by the look on his face that he was not thinking of automobiles.
Say! dont lets give it to the kids to play with not yet, he added.
Why not?
I I dont know, the boy said frankly. But dont do it. Let me take the book.
Oh, Neale! you wouldnt try to pass the money? gasped Agnes.
Huh! think Im a chump?
I hope twill be a merry ain for my fower sweethearts, she said. Your Mrs. Mac must have a kiss from ever ain o ye, and she proceeded to take toll from the quartette.
Ye make ma heart glad juist wi the looks o ye, she added. And theres many and many a lonely heart beside mine ma Corner House bairns have made to rejoice. I thank God for ye, ma dearies.
Mrs. MacCall always spoke more broadly when she was moved by sentiment. She wiped her glasses now and prepared to descend to the kitchen when suddenly a chorus of voices broke out below the bedroom windows, in the side yard toward Willow Street.
Hech, now! what have we here? cried the housekeeper, going smartly to the window and throwing up the shade and then the sash. The sound poured in a full chorus of fresh young voices singing a Christmas carol.