At last, she came down to earth.
“What we need is food and shelter for the poor little wretches. Oh, Johnny, I can’t tell you—”
“Don’t need to,” interrupted Johnny, “I soldiered in this God-forgotten hole for nine months. Tell me what we can do first and fastest.”
“Well, there’s a great empty hotel down in the street St. Jacobs. It has a wonderful dining-room, big enough for a thousand women and children. We can rent it for gold.”
“For gold,” said Johnny, setting a sack of gold on the table.
“Then we can get rice and sweet potatoes from China by ship, for gold.”
“For gold,” again echoed Johnny, banging three heavy sacks on the table.
“Oh, aren’t you the Midas!” exclaimed Mazie, clapping her hands.
“But, Johnny,” she said presently, “there’s one more thing. It’s hard, and I’m afraid a bit dangerous. Rice and sweet potatoes are not enough for starving people.”
“I’ll say not.”