“I am sure of it,” agreed Mr. Smith warmly, “and I want to give him a chance to make up for that candy without paying me a cent. I guess he will want all his money by and by for school or for something else. I should be glad to help him earn something at the hotel.”
“Tom would like that, I know,” said Mr. Thornton, much pleased. “He is very handy with boats. I trust my children out with him every day.”
“Is that so?” cried Mr. Smith. “The very thing! I’ll get him to row the ladies back and forth from the yacht. I’d like to see Tom.”
“I think we shall find him playing with the other children,” said Mr. Thornton. “Will you come with me?” (You see, Mr. Thornton did not know that Tom was an outlaw.)
The two men went along the cliff to Beech House. It was empty except for the dolls and the Teddy Bear which Rose and Susan had left there when they went to look for the treasure. Then they went on until they came to the pirate cave. But Kenneth and Charlie were playing there alone.
“Where is Tom?” asked Mr. Thornton. “This gentleman wants to see him.”
“I don’t know,” said Kenneth.
“He doesn’t play with us any more,” added Charlie.
“Why not?” asked Mr. Thornton. But the boys looked at each other and were silent. They were not going to tell tales.
“We know all about the unlucky mosquito,” said Mr. Thornton. “Tom was sorry, and told Mr. Smith the whole story himself. He gave his five dollars to pay for the candy.”