“‘Anne and I stood and glared at my poor twin just as though dropping a purse were a disgrace which could never come to us even when escaping from Miss Green. I informed her of a fact which she has known for eighteen years—namely, that twenty dollars, the amount in the purse, 79 might be a trifle to some, but was colossal in the eyes of a minister’s family. Anne was less scathing, but by no means charitable. Poor Jess, on the verge of tears, suggested that instead of scolding her we’d better look for the purse, which we proceeded to do without success.
“‘Thereupon Anne counted her money, my honors in German of course being a constant help. A twenty mark piece—five dollars; a ten mark piece—two dollars and a half; and some change amounting to four marks or another dollar. Eight dollars and fifty cents in all, and three persons, who had had no breakfast, must be transported to Berlin!
“‘“It’s impossible!” said Anne.
“‘“It’s got to be done!” said I.
“‘“If I have to beg on the streets, it shall be done!” cried Jess, so loudly that every one in the station looked in our direction.
“‘“How much are the tickets?” asked Anne. “Mother said to go second-class in Germany.”
“‘“I’ll see,” said I officiously, and started toward a blue-capped official in a cage. 80
“‘“You’d best hurry,” cried Anne. “The train goes in twenty minutes.”
“‘I smiled upon the somber man in the cage and asked in my best and clearest English how much the tickets were. A blank stare was his only answer. He understood no English, and to save my life I could think of no German. I stammered and stammered but with no success, and in a few seconds a fat German lady with six children and a dog had unceremoniously pushed me out of the way. I tried another official and another with the same result. A helpless feeling seized me. I looked at the clock. Five minutes out of the twenty gone! I ran back frantically to Jess and Anne, snatched the little red dictionary, and was off again in search of still another official. This time I was understood, bad as was my German, but I couldn’t understand, so things were as hopeless as ever.
“‘Ten minutes before train time I returned desperate to my twin and Anne, and confessed that honors in German were of no assistance whatsoever. We gazed at one another blankly 81 Money gone—hope gone—what should we do? At that moment Jess darted away. Our first thought was that she had spied Miss Green, and was leaving us to our fate for revenge; but a moment later we saw that she had seized upon a tall man, who had been quietly crossing the platform. Her impudence was appalling! She grabbed the man by the arm without a word of explanation, and literally dragged him toward us. I don’t think she had spoken to him at all until she reached Anne and me.