Part 31 (2/2)

Upon this the girl lifted her head and smiled faintly into the accusing face.

”Won't it be nice to have Pete help us move,” she said innocently.

Miss Upton's lips tightened. She dropped her arm, moved away, and put the droopy hat back in its box.

”You're heartless!” she exclaimed. There was such a peachy bloom on the girl's face. ”I won't waste my breath.”

”I love _you_,” said Geraldine, meekly and defensively.

”Ho!” snorted her good fairy, unappeased.

CHAPTER XIV

The Mermaid Shop

For the next few days Miss Mehitable had no time to worry over love-affairs. No matter how early she arose in the morning she found Pete arrayed in overalls sitting on the stone step of Upton's Fancy Goods and Notions, and when by the evening of the third day all her goods, wares, and chattels were deposited in the little shop at Keefeport, she wondered how she had ever got on without him.

On that very day Ben Barry received a threatening letter from Rufus Carder demanding the return of Pete, and he knew that no more time must be lost. He flew over to the Port that afternoon, and alighting on the landing-field which had been prepared near his cottage walked to the little shop near the wharf. Here he found Pete industriously obeying Miss Upton's orders in company with his idol, the whole quartet gay amid their chaos. Even Mrs. Whipp had postponed the fear of rheumatism and had learned how to laugh.

They had formed a line and were pa.s.sing the articles from boxes to shelves when the leather-coated, helmeted figure stood suddenly before them.

The effect of the apparition upon Geraldine with its a.s.sociations was so extreme as to make her feel faint for a minute, and Ben saw her face change as she leaned against the counter.

Miss Mehitable saw it too. ”Aha!” she thought triumphantly. ”Aha! It isn't so funny to break a body's heart, after all.”

”Well, Ben Barry,” she said aloud, ”why didn't you wait till we got settled?”

The aviator stood in the doorway, but came no farther.

”Because I have to take Pete away. I've had a _billet doux_ from Rufus Carder and he wants him.”

The dwarf rushed to his new master on quaking legs. ”Oh, Master! I won't go! I can't go.” He looked off wildly on the big billows rolling in.

”I'll throw myself in the sea.”

Ben put a hand on the boy's shoulder.

”Of course you won't go,” he said; ”but you want to brighten up your wits now and remember everything that will help us. We're going to the city to-night and begin at once to settle that gentleman's affairs.” He gave Geraldine a rea.s.suring look. ”I should like to take your father's letter with me,” he added quietly.

”But we mustn't get Pete into trouble,” she replied doubtfully.

”I'm not intending to show it. I want to familiarize myself with his handwriting. I expect to have an interview and perhaps there will be notes to examine.”

”But not at the farm,” protested the girl quickly. ”You'll not go near the meadow?”

”No; the cows have nothing to fear from us this time.”

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