Part 27 (1/2)

”We wanted him to put it in, and when they took up the collection, he wouldn't give it,” said Emerald. ”I tried to take it away from him and he swallowed it. The redhead teacher was awful scared, but I told her he was used to swallowing things and that you said he carried a whole department store in his insides.”

”Poor little Di,” said Silvia; ”it's the only way he has of keeping things away from you all.”

That night I saw to it personally that each and every Polydore was in his little bed. It should have aroused my suspicions that none of them rebelled, or had evinced the slightest degree of interest or curiosity when Beth and Rob announced their intention of going out for the evening.

At ten-thirty the lovers returned, bringing in Pythagoras, who was clad in his pajamas.

”Where did you pick him up?” I asked in astonishment.

”He picked us up,” said Beth.

”He was wise, maybe, in discovering where we were,” said Rob, ”but he fell down when he tried to work off the ghost screeches on us. We recognized them at once, and ran him down inside, so our party broke up.”

”Come here, Pythagoras,” I commanded.

He obeyed promptly and fearlessly.

”How did you know they were there, and when did you go over there?”

”I was playing over in our house today,” he replied, ”and I found one of Beth's hairpins with the little stones in, in the big chair, so I knew that was where they hid last night. As soon as you went down stairs tonight, I got out the window and slid down the roof and came over to scare them.”

”You've missed a lot of sleep the last few nights,” I said quietly, ”so you will have to make it up. You can stay in bed all day tomorrow.”

”Hold on, Lucien!” exclaimed Rob. ”Tomorrow's the big baseball game of the season, and I promised to take them all.”

”So much the better,” I said. ”He will learn to mind.”

Pythagoras looked as if he had been struck, and quickly put his arms across his eyes. In a moment his shoulders were heaving. At last I had found a vulnerable spot in the stoic, and I began to relent.

”See here, Pythagoras,” I said, ”if I let you up in time to go to the game, will you promise me something?”

”Anything,” came in a m.u.f.fled voice.

”Will you promise not to spy on Beth and Rob and keep Emerald and Demetrius from doing it?”

”Yes,” he promised quickly, his arm coming down and his face brightening. ”Sure I will, but I did want to hear what they said.”

”Why?” asked Rob interestedly.

”We're getting up a show, and Em is going to take the part of a girl and he spoons with Tolly, and we didn't know what to have them say to each other.”

”I'll rehea.r.s.e you on the play, and prompt you,” said Beth with a little giggle.

”Come on upstairs with me now,” I said to Pythagoras.

When I landed him at his door, he leaned up against me, and rubbed his cheek against my arm.

”Thank you for letting me go to the game,” he said.