“Then you haven’t got the money?” said Jared, looking over Mrs. Smith’s head, as if he were questioning the wall.
“Money! Not a cent! Don’t bother me!” cried the dame flinging down the spoon, and searching the child’s mouth with her motherly finger. “What do I know about the store, with this little angel screaming like mad with the ache of her precious gums! There, there! mother knows they buse her darling! Oh, goodness! Kate Gorman, come here. I’m sure there’s one coming through just under my finger; look, now.”
Kate set down a saucer she was wiping, dried her hands hastily on the dish towel, and came forward beaming with expectation.
“Just turn her purty face to the light,” she cried, sinking on her two knees before the child, and peering into the mouth in which sobs and screams were half smothered. By gorry! and so it is, true enough! like the pint of a needle agin yer finger. There, now, the swate crathur will have some peace an’ quietness. “Boyce, go down an’ tell the master that it has come, and not stand gauking there.”
Boyce, who had been in no haste to go down, closed the door softly, and stood ruminating on the outside. Directly his face brightened with some new-born thought, and he entered the store with his usual manner.
“Mrs. Smith says she hasn’t took a cent from the draw, boss.”
“Hasn’t taken a cent from the drawer!” exclaimed Smith, excitedly. “Then where the thunder has that ten-dollar bill gone! I left three in that identical drawer not more en half an hour ago, and now only two is left. Who has been back of the counter since I went out?”
“Not a soul but me and Mrs. Smith’s new boy, Jim.”
Smith’s countenance fell. He went to the drawer again, drew it completely out from under the counter, turned it bottom up, with a bang, and once more searched every fragment of paper with care.
Then he remembered the countryman, who was waiting patiently, and assorting out some small bills, paid him in moody silence.