Cap’n Davies himself halted before the door and nodded to the women inside. Back of him stood the men Sidney had met that morning at Rockman’s and back of them Mr. Dugald, smiling, and back of him many others, curious and excited. What ever had happened!
Cap’n Davies wore his most important air.
“I’m here to see one Lavender Green and one Sidney Romley.”
“Phin Davies, you know Lav Green’s flat on his back,” retorted Miss Letty brusquely but smiling. It seemed to Sidney, standing close to Trude, that everyone was smiling.
Mr. Dugald pushed into the room.
“Doctor Blackwell says that it won’t hurt Lav for me to carry him in!” And without another word he rushed off to Lav’s room and returned almost instantly with the boy in his arms. He put him carefully in Aunt Achsa’s rocker and then stood close to him.
Cap’n Phin cleared his throat an extra number of times. Having done this to his satisfaction he drew a blue slip of paper from a leather pocketbook and held it high.
“In the name of Truro and Wellfleet counties I take great pleasure in presenting to Lavender Green and Sidney Romley this reward for the capture of—”
He never did finish his speech. His voice was drowned in loud hurrahs that echoed and reechoed down the lane and brought Gran’ma Calkins and Mart and Tillie Higgins in a great hurry to Achsa Green’s.
Sidney’s face flamed.