Still and all, the fact that Luke Shepard had been hurt quite dwarfed the Gypsy bracelet matter in Ruth’s mind. And in that of Agnes, too, of course.
In addition, the very next morning Mrs. Pinkney ran across the street and in at the side door of the Corner House in a state of panic.
“Oh! have you seen him?” she cried.
“Seen whom, Mrs. Pinkney?” asked Ruth with sympathy.
“Is Buster lost again?” demanded Tess, poising a spoonful of breakfast food carefully while she allowed her curiosity to take precedence over the business of eating. “That dog always is getting lost.”
“It isn’t Sammy’s dog,” wailed Mrs. Pinkney. “It is Sammy himself. I can’t find him.”
“Can’t find Sammy?” repeated Agnes.
“His bed hasn’t been slept in! I thought he was just sulky last night. But he is gone!”
“Well,” said Tess, practically, “Sammy is always running away, you know.”
“Oh, this is serious,” cried the distracted mother. “He has broken open his bank and taken all his money—almost four dollars.”