“But how?” he queried.
“Dolly brought it—she” (pointing towards the girl’s door)—“Dolly Rose.”
Mrs. Stickney came just in time to hear the story of the new name, and the dinner hour was full of unusual chatter and mirth.
CHAPTER III
THE ROBBERY ON THE TOP FLOOR
After his mother had returned to the factory, and his brother to school, Doodles found himself somewhat weary from the small excitement, and shortly he fell asleep.
The kitchen was very still. Stairway and hall were empty; the occupants of the top floor worked outside, and would not be home until six o’clock. Only dull sounds came from the stories below. Even Caruso drowsed on his perch. Moments, hours, were ticked off by the little brown clock on the shelf; yet Doodles did not awake.
At last somebody crept stealthily up the steep stairs. A girl in a lace-collared coat peered round the comer of the doorway, and as she saw the sleeping boy her beady eyes gleamed with triumph. Noiselessly she crossed the room, and reached out a hand to snatch the bird cage; but her quick movement roused the little prisoner, and he began to flutter wildly. For an instant the girl hesitated, glancing at Doodles, and the lad came to himself with a sharp cry.
Quickly realizing that his pet was in danger, he grasped the cage as she seized it, clinging to it manfully; but with brutal force she wrested his frail fingers from their hold, and put herself and her booty beyond his reach.
“I’ll learn ye!” she snarled. “It’s my bird—’t ain’t yours! There’s yer old money!” She flung a quarter on the table. It rolled away, and off to the floor; but she did not stop to pick it up. ‘Blue Stick’ knew I was only in fun when I let him take it, and he’d oughter brought it right back; everybody says so. Ye kin tell him he needn’t sneak round tryin’ ter git th’ bird again, fer he can’t have it!”