"See that man who is shouting at the clerk?"
"I hear him," admitted Bobby, screwing up her eyes and peeping
through the curtains. "What do you suppose he is arguing about?"
"That," announced Betty, unintentionally dramatic, "is Joseph
Peabody!"
The girls had heard about Joseph Peabody, a little from Betty, and
more from Bob, who had spoken freely to their father. They knew about
his miserly nature and they were acquainted with the fact that he
believed Bob had stolen something that did not belong to him. The
real story of the unrecorded deed both Bob and Betty had told only to
Mr. Littell. It was characteristic of Bobby's loyal nature that her
first thought should be for Betty.
"You don't suppose he is down here after you, do you?" she
whispered, clutching Betty by the elbow in a sudden panic. "Oh,
Betty, suppose he wanted to drag you back to Bramble Farm?"
Betty had to laugh, in spite of the anxiety she was feeling.
"He has no authority over me," she explained. "Besides, he would
have no earthly use for me if my board wasn't paid in advance." Her
face clouded involuntarily as the thought of her missing uncle thus
came to her mind. "No," she went on, "I'm terribly afraid that he is
here looking for Bob.
Pages:
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195