“But you had company?” said Agnes, rather pertly.
“Eh?” returned Mrs. Bobster, setting the broom behind the hall door. “Oh, yes! I don’t never kalkerlate ter be alone many evenings.”
“Is he here now?” demanded Neale, laughing.
“Who? Him? No,” said the widow, calmly. “He’s bashful. He went out jest as you young folks come in. Sit right down, children, an’ I’ll find a pitcher of milk an’ some cookies.”
The Corner House girls and Rosa—to say nothing of Neale O’Neil—were amazed. They looked at each other wonderingly as the widow bustled out to the pantry.
“I’d give a penny,” murmured Rosa Wildwood, “to know who her mysterious friend is.”
[CHAPTER XXII—THE YARN OF THE “SPANKING SAL”]
The wooden-legged clam digger, Habakuk Somes, seemed suddenly to have acquired a great interest in Tom Jonah.
He appeared almost every day at the tent of the Corner House girls and did his best to become friendly with the dog. Tom Jonah grew used to his presence, but he would allow no familiarities from the dilapidated waterside character.
The girls thought “Kuk” Somes only queer; the boys “joshed” him a good deal. Nobody minded having him around, considering merely that he was a peculiar fellow, and harmless.