Part 19 (2/2)
He set out on a run again for the front veranda, dragging her after him.
The girl did not cry, although she was certainly badly frightened by the storm.
They reached the door of the big house, saturated. Here Mr. Steele turned to her again.
”Who are you? What are you doing around here, anyway?” he demanded.
”Ain't-ain't this the place where they got a bunch of fresh air kids?”
asked the girl.
”What?” gasped Mr. Steele. ”I should say not! Are you one of those young ones Caslon has taken to board to the annoyance of the whole neighborhood? Ha! what were you doing trespa.s.sing on my land?”
”I ain't neither!” returned the girl, pulling away her hand. ”You lemme be.”
”I forbade any of you to come up here--”
”I ain't neither,” reiterated the girl. ”An' I don't know what you mean.
I jest got there. And I'm lookin' for the place where the fresh air kids stay.”
In the midst of this the door was drawn open and Mrs. Steele and some of the girls appeared.
”Do come in, Father,” she cried. ”Why! you're soaking wet. And that child! bring her in, whoever she is. Oh!”
Another flash of lightning made them all cower-all but Ruth Fielding, who had crept forward to look over Mrs. Steele's shoulder. Now she dashed out and seized the bedrabbled looking stranger by the hand.
”Why, Sadie Raby! who'd ever expect to see you here? Come in! do let her come in out of the storm, Mrs. Steele. I know who she is,” begged Ruth.
CHAPTER XVI-THE RUNAWAY
Madge said, in something like perplexity: ”You _do_ pick up the strangest acquaintances, Ruth Fielding. She really does, Ma. But that has always been Ruth's way.”
Mrs. Steele was first disturbed over her husband's condition. ”Go right away and change into dry garments-do, Father,” she urged. ”You will get your death of cold standing there. And shut the door. Oh! that lightning!”
They had to wait for the thunder to roll away before they could hear her again, although Mr. Steele hurried upstairs without another glance at the bedrabbled child he had brought in out of the storm.
”This-this girl must go somewhere and dry herself,” hesitated Mrs.
Steele, when next she spoke. ”My! isn't she a sight? Call one of the maids, someone--”
”Oh, dear Mrs. Steele!” exclaimed Ruth, eagerly, ”let me take Sadie upstairs and look after her. I am sure I have something she can put on.”
”So have I, if you haven't,” interposed Helen. ”And my clothes will come nearer fitting her than Ruth's. Ruth is getting almost as fat as Heavy!”
”There is no need of either of you sacrificing your clothes,” said Mrs.
Steele, slowly. ”Of course, I have plenty of outgrown garments of my own daughters' put away. Yes. You take care of her if you wish, Ruth, and I will hunt out the things.”
<script>