But Stanley Reeves had seen Tim skate up and take Meg’s mittens which lay on the ice beside her. He was a splendid skater, was Stanley, and he easily overtook the grinning Tim.
“I owe you one licking, Tim, and now you’re going to get it,” said Stanley, dragging Tim back to where Meg and Bobby and the other children stood. “Hand over those mittens and say you’re sorry you took ’em!”
Tim mumbled something that sounded like “sorry.”
“Ask him if he gave Bobby the coal for Christmas in school,” said Bertrand Ashe suddenly.
“Did you?” asked Stanley, shaking Tim as though he hoped by that method to shake the truth out of him.
Tim nodded miserably.
“Then say you’re sorry,” ordered Stanley and again Tim mumbled an apology.
“All right. And here’s something to make you a better boy,” said Stanley turning the astonished Tim over his knee. And, being much older and a strong and athletic lad, he did manage to spank Tim thoroughly in spite of his shrieks and kicks.
Tim fled as soon as he was released and for at least two weeks gave his schoolmates and teachers no trouble at all. As Stanley said, someone ought to spank him often enough and he would probably be a very good child.
On their way home from the pond that afternoon, Bobby and Meg met the carpenter. Bobby had not seen Mr. Bennett since the day he accused him of setting fire to his shop. Now he stopped and held out his hand.