Mrs. Stickney listened to her boy’s story with growing joy, until when he repeated the chief’s message she dropped into a chair and hid her face in her hands.
“What in the world’s the matter?” gasped Blue.
“Why, she’s so happy!” piped Doodles, tears trickling down his flushed cheeks.
“And you too!” rallied his brother. “Well, if you folks ain’t the queerest! Don’t catch me cryin’ on this!” He swung the bill in uncontrolled glee, stopping abruptly to ask his mother what he should buy for supper.
He came home with parcels that set Doodles excitedly guessing what they could be, and when a grapefruit—his especial delight—was uncovered, the small boy broke into a hurrah that checked on her lips the mother’s remonstrance at Blue’s extravagant purchase. But with the marketman’s receipt in her hand, and the chief’s two messages in her heart, thankfulness outweighed all else.
Granny remained for a cup of tea, and the meal was as merry as four happy people and a blithe mocking bird could make it.
CHAPTER X
“COMFORT YE, COMFORT YE MY PEOPLE”
The chief of police was right. In less than a week Mrs. Stickney was back at her bench in the Big Shop, and things were going on as before the strike.
Dolly Moon’s note came while Doodles was alone. Granny O’Donnell fetched it upstairs. It was not often that there were any letters for the Stickneys, but on occasion Granny was always ready.