“The young scamp’s mighty lucky, then—mighty lucky!”
“But he has a broken leg—and he’s awfully sick,” said Nettie, her lips drooping at the corners as though she were about to cry.
“Tut, tut, tut! I’m awfully sorry miss. But——”
“And he’s had an awfully bad time,” broke in Helen. “Curly has. He’s ragged, and he has been ill-treated. And we saw him jump overboard and swim from that steamer before it reached Old Point Comfort, and he was picked up by a fishing boat. Oh! he is awfully brave.”
Mr. Ricketts stared and swallowed hard. He could not find voice to reply just then.
“And he saved that cat from drowning. Oh! I had forgotten that,” said Nettie, chiming in. “He really is very kind-hearted, as well as brave.”
“And,” said Ruth, from the stair above, “I am sure he never helped those men rob the Lumberton railroad station. Never!”
“My soul and body, ladies!” exclaimed the deputy sheriff. “You are sho’ more knowin’ about this yere boy from the No’th than I am. I only got instructions to git him—and git him I must.”
“Oh, Mr. Ricketts!” gasped Helen.
“Please, Mr. Ricketts!” begged Nettie.