“Hal! come here a minute. I want to speak to you.”
When the boy reached her side she asked:
“Have you got any money?”
“Just a few dollars in the savings bank,” replied Hal.
“My case exactly. Maybe Mr. Barriscale will want money damages. If he does, don’t you ask your father for the cash, nor your mother. Do you hear me? I won’t give you the money. Don’t dream it! But I guess I can fix it up so you can earn some. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Aunt Sarah, and thank you; but I wouldn’t——”
“Yes, you would. You do as I tell you. Now go on about your business.”
She turned and swept up the street, and Hal and Slicker again took up the line of march toward the Barriscale mansion. Avoiding the busy streets, they went a roundabout way, until, at last, they reached their destination. There they lifted the broken marble from the wagon and, each boy carrying his portion, they deposited it on its base at the rim of the fountain from which it had been so rudely removed the night before.
No one about the premises intercepted or interfered with them. Apparently no one saw them save one passer-by who stopped for a moment to watch them curiously, and then, with a quizzical smile on his face, went on about his business.
“Well,” said Slicker, when they had returned safely to the sidewalk, “what’s the next move?”