"Now, now, little girl, don't cry! You're all worn out."
"She—she was always there to stand by me in—in a pinch."
"Honest, Miss Sadie, you look just like a pretty little ghost. What you need is some spring air, girlie, some spring air for a tonic. Wouldn't I just love to take you all by your little self down the river to-night on one of them new Coney boats, where we could be—right quiet. Say, wouldn't I?"
"No—no!"
"I wanna talk to you, Miss Sadie. Can't you guess? I wanna get you all by yourself and talk to you right in your little ear."
'"Shh-h-h! You mustn't talk like that."
"That's the only way I have of trying to tell you how—how I feel, Miss
Sadie—dearie."
'"Shh-h-h!"
"When I call you that it means—well, you know, dearie, you know. That's why I wanna take you to-night, dearie, all by your little self and—"
"No, no, Mr. Meltzer! I can't leave her alone like that. I promised I would never leave her alone in the dark if—if I could help it."