CHAPTER IX
THE LIVE WIRE
"Who is this young gentleman or lady?" Dr. Clay asked of Pearlie Watson one day when he met her wheeling a baby carriage with an abnormally fat baby in it.
"This is the Czar of all the Rooshia," Pearl answered gravely, "and I'm his body-guard."
The doctor's face showed no surprise as he stepped back to get a better look at the czar, who began to squirm at the delay.
"See the green plush on his kerridge," Pearl said proudly, "and every stitch he has on is hand-made, and was did for him, too, and he's fed every three hours, rain or shine, hit or miss."
"Think of that!" the doctor exclaimed with emphasis, "and yet some people tell us that the Czar has a hard time of it."
Pearl drew a step nearer, moving the carriage up and down rapidly to appease the wrath of the czar, who was expressing his disapproval in a very lumpy cry.
"I'm just 'tendin', you know, about him bein' the czar," she said confidentially. "You see, I mind him every day, and that's the way I play. Maudie Ducker said one day I never had no time to play cos we wuz so pore, and that started me. It's a lovely game."