Part 2 (1/2)
The sight of the bills and coin brought doubt to the sceptic. ”Say,” he demanded, his eyes burning with avidity, ”does youse mean dat? Dere oin't no crawl in dis?”
”No. How much were they worth?”
The boy hesitated, and scanned her face, as if he were measuring the girl more than he was his loss. ”Dere wuz twinty _Joinals_” he said, speaking slowly, and his eyes watching her as a cat might a mouse, ”an'--an'--twinty _Woilds_--an'--an' tirty _Telegrams_--an'--an'--” He drew a fresh breath, as if needing strength, shot an apprehensive glance at the roundsman, and went on hurriedly, in a lower voice, ”an' tirty-five _Posts_--”
”Ah, g'long with you,” broke in the policeman, disgustedly. ”He didn't have mor'n twenty in all, that I know.”
”Hope I may die if Ise didn't have all dem papes, boss,” protested the boy.
”You deserve to be run in, that's what you do,” a.s.serted the officer of the law, angrily.
”Oh, don't threaten him,” begged Miss Durant.
”Don't you be fooled by him, mum. He ain't the kind as sells _Posts_, an'
if he was, he wouldn't have more'n five.”
”It's de gospel trute Ise chuckin' at youse dis time,” a.s.serted the youngster.
”Gospel Ananias--!” began the officer.
”Never mind,” interrupted Miss Durant. ”Would ten dollars pay for them all?”
”Ah, I know'd youse wuz tryin' to stuff me,” dejectedly exclaimed the boy; then, in an evident attempt to save his respect for his own acuteness, he added: ”But youse didn't. I seed de goime youse wuz settin' up right from de start.”
Out of the purse Constance, with some difficulty, drew a crisp ten-dollar bill, the boy watching the one-handed operation half doubtingly and half eagerly; and when it was finally achieved, at the first movement of her hand toward him, his arm shot out, and the money was s.n.a.t.c.hed, more than taken. With the quick motion, however, the look of eagerness and joy changed to one of agony; he gave a sharp cry, and, despite the grime, the cheeks whitened perceptibly.
”Oh, please stay quiet,” implored Miss Durant. ”You mustn't move.”
”Hully gee, but dat hurted!” gasped the youngster, yet clinging to the new wealth. He lay quiet for a few breaths; then, as if he feared the sight of the bill might in time tempt a change of mind in the giver, he stole the hand to his trousers pocket and endeavoured to smuggle the money into it, his teeth set, but his lips trembling, with the pain the movement cost him.
Not understanding the fear in the boy's mind, Constance put her free hand down and tried to a.s.sist him; but the instant he felt her fingers, his tightened violently. ”Youse guv it me,” he wailed. ”Didn't she guv it me?”
he appealed desperately to the policeman.
”I'm only trying to help put it in your pocket,” explained the girl.
”Ah, chase youseself!” exclaimed the doubter, contemptuously. ”Dat don't go wid me. Nah!”
”What doesn't go?” bewilderedly questioned Miss Durant.
”Wotcher tink youse up aginst? Suttin' easy? Well, I guess not! Youse don't get youse pickers in me pocket on dat racket.”
”She ain't goin' to take none of your money!” a.s.serted the policeman, indignantly. ”Can't you tell a real lady when you see her?”
”Den let her quit tryin' to go tru me,” protested the anxious capitalist; and Constance desisted from her misinterpreted attempt, with a laugh which died as the little fellow, at last successful in his endeavour to secrete the money, moaned again at the pain it cost him.
”Shall we never get there?” she demanded impatiently, and, as if an answer were granted her, the carriage slowed, and turning, pa.s.sed into a porte-cochere, in which the shoes of the horses rang out sharply, and halted.
”Stay quiet a bit, mum,” advised the policeman, as he got out; and Constance remained, still supporting the urchin, until two men with a stretcher appeared, upon which they lifted the little sufferer, who screamed with pain that even this gentlest of handling cost him.
Her heart wrung with sympathy for him, Miss Durant followed after them into the reception-ward. At the door she hesitated, in doubt as to whether it was right or proper for her to follow, till the sight of a nurse rea.s.sured her, and she entered; but her boldness carried her no farther than to stand quietly while the orderlies set down the litter. Without a moment's delay the nurse knelt beside the boy, and with her scissors began slitting up the sleeves of the tattered coat.