Part 17 (1/2)
NED'S STORY
”Eels couldn't have done that slicker!” commented Ephraim, in surprise. For, behold! his arms were empty and the flash of twinkling legs along the garden path pointed whither his charges had fled. ”Here they were and here they aren't, and whatever scared them that way is more than I can see.”
Indeed, though he shaded his eyes with his hand and made a prolonged examination of the outlook, nothing different from ordinary was visible; and, after a moment's reflection, he sought Aunt Sally and reported:
”Well, Mrs. Benton, I 'low I'm doomed to that dose of picra, for I--I---- You see----”
”Ephraim Ma'sh, where's them children?”
”That's just exactly what I'd like to know myself, neighbor.”
”Huh! You needn't go 'neighborin'' me, if that's all you're worth.
Tryin' fool capers like a boy, ain't you? Think it was terr'ble clever to cut strings that I'd took the trouble to tie and then settin' them youngsters free. Well, all I have to say is that you've done more harm than you can undo in a hurry, and that's the true word,” retorted the indignant matron, beating a bowlful of eggs as she would have enjoyed beating him just then.
Ephraim crossed the kitchen and laid one hand on her shoulder, saying:
”Come, Sally, let's quit chasing about the bush. There's something more in this nonsense than appears, and if you're a true and loyal friend to this family I'm another as good. Two heads are better than one, you know----”
”Even if one belongs to a silly old feller like you? H'm Ephraim, you're right! There is somethin' more'n shows outside. That candy was a bait, a trap, a lure, a--anything you choose; and I do hope the little fellers are safer'n I fear they be. If I catch 'em again, for their good----My suz! Here they're comin' back of their own free will and wonder ain't ceased!”
Indeed, as swiftly as they had scampered away, the lads were returning and burst into the kitchen, crying with what little breath they had left:
”Aunt Sally, lock me up! Lock us up tight! Quick--quick! I seen him!
He'll do it! My mother says Antonio always does do things, he does!
Quick, quick!”
”Lock up, quick!”
Ned and the echo swung round behind the matron's capacious person and rolled themselves in the folds of her full skirt, which performance hid them from the view of anyone outside and as effectually interfered with her movements.
But she had now caught something of their excitement, and their appeal to her protection had promptly banished her last trace of anger against them.
”So I will, lambies, so I will. You just keep on a steppin' backwards and I'll do it, too, and first we know we'll get to that nice pantry where we stayed last night. I've got the key to that, even if 'tis rusty from not bein' often used, and I'll defy anybody to get it away from me.”
Still beating her eggs as if nothing uncommon were happening, the housewife retreated toward the door in question, and slipping one hand behind her opened it without turning her head. She was instantly relieved of the drag upon her skirts, and quietly shut the door again upon her self-imprisoned charges. Then she drew a long breath, and exclaimed:
”Well, sharpshooter, what do you think of that?”
”Looks as if you couldn't have been so very hard on them, else they'd never come back.”
”I ain't a-flatterin' myself. That was a 'Hobson's choice.' But----”
”But they must have been badly frightened to have done it.”
”Yes, Ephraim, they are, and I am. I'm so stirred up I don't know whether I've beat these eggs all one way, like I ought, or forty-'leven different ones, like I ought not. I'm fl.u.s.tered. I'm completely fl.u.s.tered, and that ain't often my case.”
”Picra!” sympathetically suggested the old man.
Aunt Sally's eyes snapped, and she smiled grimly, as she retorted: