Part 18 (1/2)

There was no doubt but that the girl was in rather a dubious state of mind over it, but the silver dollar clinched her resolution, and she walked firmly off, without a backward glance in the direction of the gurgling Samuel Saul, which was the alliteral name of the yellow bundle.

Ethelwyn and Beth, after a further consultation, took him to the attic.

They considered it providential that Sierra Nevada was a.s.sisting in the laundry, and that the coast was therefore free from all observers.

Samuel Saul was rocked in the cradle in which the ancestors of the children, as well as themselves, had been rocked, and he, well contented with the motion and not ill pleased with his surroundings, presently fell into a delicious slumber.

”'Rockabye baby on the tree top,'” came from the open attic window, and floated down to Joe currying Nink.u.m, and to 'Vada, Mandy, and Aunt Sophie in the laundry.

Joe smiled at the cheerful refrain, and 'Vada, sure that they were in no mischief, mopped her dripping brow, and went on with her work.

Watching Samuel Saul's peaceful slumbers grew a little monotonous after a while, so Beth descended to the kitchen for a plate of cookies and a gla.s.s of water, and leaving this substantial luncheon beside their sleeping charge, they went down-stairs and for a while played on the piano with more strength than anything else. After that they took more cookies and went over to play with Bobby.

Bobby, making a chicken yard out of wire netting, was delighted to have a.s.sistance, and they telephoned for Nan, who speedily joined them.

”Mother's gone to town to-day to see your grandfather, who owns a bank, Bobby,” said Ethelwyn.

”I expect it's on account of his losing a whole lot of money,” rejoined Bobby, standing on tiptoe on a box to pound in a nail.

”Where did he lose it? Were there holes in his pockets?” asked Beth, unrolling the wire at Bobby's order.

”On change,” said Bobby, with his mouth full of nails.

”Our money is in your grandfather's bank, and the Home money and Grandmother Van Stark's. I hope he hasn't lost anybody's but his own,”

said Ethelwyn anxiously.

”You're not very polite,” said Nan.

”Well I do, but if he lost only change, prob'ly it's his own, and mother's gone to give him some more.”

”Pooh!” said Bobby, ”it's not--”

But before he could say anything more, excited voices were heard, and four black and s.h.i.+ning faces appeared over the top of the fence, while a guilty eye looked through a knot-hole farther down.

”Has you all seen anything of a low down black pickaninny which is los'?” This remark came from 'Vada.

”Which is _stole_,” corrected a mountain of flesh, quivering with wrath.

”Is it Samuel Saul?” asked Ethelwyn.

”It is so; will you projus him?” asked the mountain.

”He's in the attic asleep; his sister sold him to us for a present to Bobby and Nan--”

”O let's see him,” cried Nan, with lively interest.

”You all is gwine to leab him alone--” began the mountain, when Mandy turned ponderously in her direction.

”Will you, Martha Jane Jenkins, please kindly rec'lect dat you is 'sociatin' wid quality now, an' take a good care how you talk, though sholy it may be de fus time dat you has ebber been in good sa.s.sity--”