“Did you ever see such a bold little creature in all your life? Who would have thought she would dare come in here, right in broad daylight, and steal my spoons off the table? Why, it’s awful!”
“It’s lucky you caught her at it,” said the officer, “for she is as quick as a deer, and saucy enough, no doubt, but never mind, we’ll put the little jade where she won’t steal anything again for a day or two, at least.” He took her roughly by the shoulder in the attempt to lead her away.
“Oh, don’t be too hard on her, mother,” said a young man who had followed her into the room, “perhaps she did not know just how wicked it was.”
His fine eyes looked pityingly on the child, who could not have been more than ten years of age.
“Oh, nonsense, sir, that is too old a story. She is old enough to have some sense, the young gypsy. I have seen too many of these young burglars to be fooled by ’em. It won’t do to encourage ’em.”
“I’ll give you a ‘V’ if you will let her go.”
“Why, Scott,” said Mrs. Wilmer, “are you crazy? Indeed you must do nothing of the kind.”
“By no means,” said the policeman. “She mustn’t be let go to do the same thing without a lesson to teach her what it means.”
The child turned her large black eyes full upon the face of the young man. Every feature of his face was indelibly stamped upon her memory in that one searching glance.