Bobby had to stand on his tiptoes to draw this, and the chalk screeched piercingly as he bore on it heavily. But the high hat really did look like the one Mr. Hornbeck wore.
“Now some funny little legs, and he’s done,” announced Bobby, drawing two wavering lines that had to serve the figure for legs. 108
“Come on now,” urged Meg. “Mother will be looking for us. Rub it out, Bobby. Suppose Miss Mason found it in the morning?”
“The janitor cleans the boards every night,” replied Bobby indifferently.
“Rub it out,” insisted Meg. “It would be mean if some one found it and blamed you.”
The spirit of mischief seized Bobby. He picked up the eraser as if to do what Meg asked, then dropped it and took up a piece of chalk.
“This is Old Hornbeck,” he scrawled under the picture, the words running downhill across the board.
A noise at the door caused them all to look around. There stood Mr. Hornbeck!
Luckily Bobby stood before the drawing he had made, and quick as a flash Meg darted forward. Slipping in behind her brother, she managed to rub the sleeve of her dress over the writing and smudged the greater part of the picture. Bobby, who had stood as if paralyzed, the chalk in his fingers, turned and with a sweep of the eraser blotted out the rest. 109
“What are you children doing here?” demanded Mr. Hornbeck severely.