He laughed at that. “I don’t imagine the pirates will come ashore tonight,” he joked. “It is too beautifully clear for their black deeds, so I guess your treasure will be safe,” he ended pleasantly.
“Oh, there’s little Nicky, Dads,” Barbara exclaimed, as Nicky did emerge from behind some boxes that were piled at the side of the fisherman’s cottage. “I must speak to him.”
Dr. Hale pulled his car up as short as his brakes allowed, and Nicky stood for a few moments as if waiting for them to reach him. Then, suddenly and without a cause which could be thought of by Barbara, he turned, ducked behind the boxes again and was as completely out of sight as if they had never seen him.
“I wonder what he did that for?” Babs exclaimed in astonishment.
“He didn’t want to see you, evidently,” replied Dr. Hale, throwing his car into gear again.
“Those youngsters can’t be depended upon,” said Miss Davis sagely. “They have no one to teach them anything so they pick up what is wrong.”
“Not Nicky,” defended Barbara. “He’s a fine little fellow.”
“Do you know him so well?” queried the woman, in surprise.
“Yes, I do,” stoutly declared Barbara. “And I know him to be—just splendid,” she finished, after an agitated pause.
“You see, Miss Davis,” said Dr. Hale politely, “my daughter is something of a philanthropist. She is always doing something for the neglected ones,” and he continued to talk in that strain for some minutes. But Barbara was not hearing a word he said.