"Aboud dot girl I dalked to you aboud on our vay to Coney. You see now you have a tshob, it seemed like ve might do somesing for her."
Katie dropped all trace of banter.
"I'll tell you how it is, Hermann," she said, and she did tell him.
As soon as she had secured her place, she had determined to help. At present much financial assistance was impossible, and employment there was none. It would be dangerous, moreover, to all concerned—not least of all to Violet—for the girl to make a dash for liberty in any manner that would give to Rose a chance to secure vengeance through her friends the police. But Katie was decided, and Carrie at once agreed, that, could the escape be arranged, Violet might at least be sheltered in Katie's room until some work should be found for her.
"All I want to know, Hermann-boy," concluded Katie, "is however in the world we're goin' to get word to her."
"Dot's chust vat I vanted fer to tell you aboud," said Hermann. "You know Conrad Schultz. He's now got my route vith de brewery-vagon. De stable's chust two doors round de corner. I've explained to him, und he'll slip a note to Miss Violet the first dime he sees her."
"We'll write to-night," said Carrie.
"An' I'll hand it to him on my way to work in th' mornin'," added Katie. "Now you run along or you'll be docked."
Hermann assented, smiling. He turned to the door, fumbled with the knob, and dropped his cap. Katie, a steaming cup of coffee in one hand, stooped to recover it just as Hermann himself bent forward. In the presence of a third person, the German felt a sudden thrill of courage.
"Ach, but you're a goot girl, Katie!" he cried. "Und here's a liddle revard fer it!"