“Yes,” replied Dora solemnly, holding out a big envelope, “and it even hasn’t a stamp on it. Marked ‘official business.’” One would think it were a death notice the way Dora intoned that.
“Oh!” cried Babs grabbing the paper from her hands. “Quick, give it to me! I know——”
“Don’t scratch me like that,” snapped Dora. “Surely, your old Aunt hasn’t died and left you that money——”
“What Aunt? What money?” Babs didn’t know what she was saying, and she didn’t care. She had the letter and was making tracks for the secrecy of her own room.
Poor Dora! Disappointed again! Barbara Hale was not the girl she used to be. There had been a time when she read her letters under Dora’s very eyes. But now——
Up in her room Barbara was reading that letter from Washington, in a perfect spasm of excitement. The spasm kept her still, and she made her eyes read the words in spite of their rebellion. They wanted to blink, to wink, to flicker, to flirt with the words. Eyes will act like that when you press them too hard.
Babs was reading. And the “letter head” was from the secretary of the United States. It informed Miss Barbara Hale that her letter recommending Nickolas Marcusi for bravery had been received, and an account of the incident had been fully investigated. The little boy was certainly worthy of official commendation, the letter stated, for not only had he done a brave act and suffered physical pain in doing it, but he had set an example of bravery and nobility such as boys of this great country would do well to appreciate. “Therefore——”
Barbara stopped reading. She wanted to know it all so badly she just feared to find it out; she hated to have the secret a secret no longer. Raising her violet eyes to her ceiling, always such a homely ceiling but now seemingly heavenly, she drew in a sharp breath.
“Nicky!” she whispered ecstatically, “you do deserve it. You have worked so hard!”
Again she followed the precious words. Yes, Nicky would be recommended for bravery and the whole affair was to be brought to the attention of the President.