"Well, all he ever wants is what Mom wants," said Beany.
"I guess that's so too," said Porky, "but perhaps some of those officers will have some other plans for them."
He looked down at the child on his arm. Already he felt a tenderness for the starved, sickly little creature who had trusted him.
"One apiece," he said, looking at Beany.
"One's a girl, though," said Beany.
Porky wanted to be fair.
"That's so," he said. "Well, we can draw straws to see which has to take her."
"Straws nothing!" said Beany. "She came to me, so she is mine. Darned if I know what to do with a girl, though! Can't teach her to play ball or marbles, and besides that she can't be a Boy Scout."
"Well, she can be a girl one. You know they have 'em, and if she can't play ball she can learn to swim and dive and ride and shoot, and it will be pretty handy to have her round the house when it comes to buttons and things. Mother must get tired sewing for three of us."
"Wonder how long it takes 'em to grow up to button size," said Beany, studying the tiny bundle in his arms.