Who could have sent it? He caught up the card and turned it over.
“With the gladdest wishes of the Salvation Army.”
“Captain Bligh! dear Captain Bligh!” he murmured, and gazed lovingly at the gift.
That it was not brand-new, Doodles never guessed, and he would not have cared if he had known. It was his wheel chair! In those first moments of ecstasy the boy longed for his mother and Blue to help him bear his bliss.
The wheels were tempting. He rolled himself back and forth, he ventured across the room, he went around the table both ways! How easy it was! Presently he was in the dim bedroom, exploring every corner as if he had never seen it before. He was brought to a sudden stand between the bed and the bureau, but finally managed to back out of the narrow place without harm. After that he was more careful; it would never do for Blue to catch him in such a predicament.
As soon as the brother’s footstep was heard, Doodles wheeled himself in front of the doorway, and sat motionless, pale with excitement.
“Where’d yer get it?” Blue had stopped on the upper step, and stood staring.
“Guess!” laughed the other.
“Captain Bligh.”
“Oh, you’re a splendid guesser!” admired Doodles, and promptly plunged into an account of the last hour.