When they reached the spot where Mrs. Pettijohn stood with Billy, still partly swathed in his blanket, in her arms, it was to find that Deacon Nocker was demanding the possession of the little fellow.
“Give him to me, Mrs. Pettijohn!” he was saying, holding out his arms entreatingly. But the woman shook her head, for she could not see why she should surrender any child to a man who had always been known to detest all young people.
“Why should I do that, Mr. Nocker?” she told him, aggressively. “You know nothing about children, and I’ve raised seven in my day. Besides, excuse me for saying it, but you’re really the last one in all Cliffwood I’d want to hand this little darling over to just now. He’d break his heart crying just to look at your face.”
“But you don’t understand, Mrs. Pettijohn,” urged the excited deacon, still with arms extended; “Billy and I are already good friends. We have been together every day for weeks now. He knows me, and cares a lot for me. My house is close by, and he can have everything he needs; yes, and his mother too, if she will accept of my hospitality. Billy, come to me, my fine boy, won’t you?”
Billy evidently recognized the old gentleman, for he did make some sort of half movement in the arms of the tailor’s wife. Just then Tilly herself pounced upon them.
Mrs. Pettijohn realized who the little woman was, and she readily surrendered the child to her motherly care. Fiercely, Tilly strained him to her heart, at the same time covering his sweet face with burning kisses! Then she would hold him off to gaze anxiously as though still half filled with dread lest she discover some hideous mark where the cruel tongues of fire had licked his tender skin.
Billy put his arms about her neck again and again. Of course, he was too young to know what all this fuss was about, but the smoke smarted his eyes so that the tears had been running down his cheeks, and he was looking unusually charming in the eyes of the eager deacon.
Dick laid a hand on the arm of his chum. For the time being both of them apparently forgot all about the burning house, and the hustling firemen who had finally succeeded in getting a line of hose to work. Both lads were intensely interested in the little drama that was being played before their eyes, and with which they had had so much to do.
The deacon hovered close by. Evidently, he was only waiting to repeat that generous offer of his as to a harbor for the two who were without a roof to cover them. Dick wondered what Mrs. Nocker would say, now that she found herself face to face with the hard-hearted old man who had written her that cruel letter.
One of the women had been thoughtful enough to fetch the blanket along which Dick threw from the window before allowing little Billy to drop. This she wrapped the best she could about Tilly, now shivering with the chill air; so that as she stood there she looked not unlike some Indian squaw carrying her papoose in her arms.