“Oh, dear,” she fretted, half chuckling, “what children you are!” She sat down and ate what Blue ladled out for her—she did not know whether it was much or little, her mind was too distracted and her eyes too misty. But the boy knew, and felt that he could better go hungry than his mother.
Mrs. Stickney went out early on her forlorn errand, her heart full of prayer for work. If nothing could be obtained to-day, she must try to get a little more credit at the market—enough to bridge over this crisis. After that—well, perhaps the strike would end! And, sighing, she trudged on.
Blue decided daringly to stay away from school, and hunt for work. He had not suggested such a thing to his mother, well knowing her sanction would be hard to win. He reasoned, however, that this was an extreme case, and that he must earn some money before night. Five hours of extra time would give him a greater chance, and he resolved to take it.
“Are you very hungry, kiddie?” he queried as he took up his cap.
“Oh, no!” smiled Doodles. “I had a good breakfast; didn’t you?”
“Capital!” lied Blue. “But I’m goin’ to get yer something better to-day—see if I don’t!”
“What you going to get?” coaxed Doodles.
“I d’n’ know yet—depends on how much I earn.” He went off whistling, for the sake of the little brother who must not guess that the pantry was empty.
Along the warehouses, beyond the school district, Blue kept his truant way; but nobody was in need of an errand boy in that quarter, and after nine o’clock he turned back towards the market section. Here he met a man who was looking for somebody to hold his horse.
“He’s a leetle bit afraid o’ them autos,” the countryman explained, and the boy well earned his five cents in the full quarter of an hour that he spent in quieting the nervous animal.