Part 7 (1/2)

”Oh! I didn't irl! What is your name? I'll help you find your cousin”

”My naushi+n' over me I kno you feel I'd feel just the saer!” exclai, under his breath ”There is philosophy for you”

But Jessie felt hurt that Ae child She took Henrietta's griirl to the side steps where they could sit down

”Now tellBonwit Boulevard,” said Jessie

”Do you wear these pants all the ti Jessie's overalls ”I believe I'd like to wear 'e like little Billy Foley's rompers”

”I don't wear them all the time,” said Jessie, patiently ”But about Bertha?”

”She's my cousin She lived with us before Mo happened there where she worked I guess I don't knohat it was But Bertha wrote to me--I can read written letters,”

added the child proudly ”Bertha said she was co out to see me this week And she didn't come”

”But why should you think----”

”Leerly ”That woman that hired Bertha ca to find Bertha She said Bertha'd run away froht to run away

Didn't she?”

”I don't know I suppose so Unless the wo,” confessed Jessie, rather puzzled

”Bertha wasn't no more adopted than I am Mrs Foley ain't adopted me

I wouldn't want to be a Foley And if you are adopted you have to take the name of the folks you live with So Bertha wasn't adopted, and she had a right to run away But she didn't get to Dogtown”

”But you think she ht have come this way?”

”Yep She's never been to see town So she maybe lost her way Or she saw that wo to see if anybody seen her,” said the child, getting up briskly ”I guess you folks ain't, has you?”

”I ahtfully ”But ill be on the lookout for her, honey You can coain and ask me any time you like”

The freckle-faced child looked her over curiously ”What do you say that for?” she demanded ”You don't like irl,” (she said this rather grudgingly) ”even if you do wear overalls”

”Why! I want to help you,” said Jessie, soht way of speaking

”You got a job for uess I'd rather work for you than for the Foleys”