But Nan was more observant than her chum. There were other children in the car besides this little fellow. In fact, in the seat but one behind the French woman and her baby, a girl of six or seven years was clinging to the seat-back and staring with hungry eyes at the broken food in the box.
"Gracious!" gasped Bess, seeing this little one when Nan had nudged her and pointed. "Gracious! that's the picture of Famine, herself."
She seized one of the greasy little pies and thrust it into the child's hands. The latter began devouring it eagerly. Bess saw other hungry mouths open and eager hands outstretched.
"Oh, Nan!" she almost sobbed. "We've got to give them all some. All the poor little children!"
Her chum did not try to curb Bess Harley's generosity. There was not much of the food left, so there was no danger of over-feeding any of the small children who shared in the generosity of the chums. But when the last crumb was gone they found the conductor at their elbows.
"Well, girls!" he exclaimed grimly. "Now you've done it, haven't you?"
"Done what, sir?" asked Bess, rather startled.
"You've given away all your own lunch. What did I tell you? I warned you to take care of it."
"Oh, sir!" cried Nan. "We couldn't have eaten it, knowing that these little folks were so hungry."
"No, indeed!" agreed Bess.