Part 33 (1/2)
The little fellow did not need to be cautioned. Neither did he wait for the invitation to talk to the lonely girls.
”Wherever have you been?” he asked. ”Have you heard the news?”
”We haven't heard any _good_ news,” replied Rose sadly.
”Then I've got some fer you,” said the lad, shaking his manly little head. ”The diamonds is found and I got the boodle!”
”Oh!” gasped Nellie. ”Found! Then we--won't have to hide any more.
Where did you find them?”
The whistle of the excursion boat checked the boy's eager talk.
”Come on!” shouted the other lads to Andy. ”If you don't hustle, you'll get left!”
”Well, then I _will_ get left,” declared Andy. ”I'm going to stay right here with these girls--they're friends of mine.”
”Oh, no, Andy, don't,” begged Rose. ”Run along and catch the boat. We wouldn't know what to do with you, if you got left. Besides your mother would be scared to death. She would think you were drowned.”
Andy hesitated.
”Do go,” put in Nellie, jumping up and throwing her arms about the boy. ”I could just hug you to death, you have made us so happy. And you--look--just fine!”
”Run!” shouted the boys, as the whistle blew. ”That's the last call!”
”Run!” called Rose.
”Yes, do run!” pleaded Nellie.
Turning to give the girls a look so full of meaning that even Andy's bright eyes seemed overtaxed with the responsibility, the boy did run as fast as his legs could carry him.
”I'm afraid they will miss it,” murmured Rose, as the two sisters, now so changed in expression, watched the boys make their way through the sand.
”Oh, Rose! Aren't you happy!” exclaimed Nellie. ”Now we can do as we please.”
”But Aunt Delia might send us to the reform school for running away,”
mused the older girl.
”Oh, I can't think she would do that!”
”But think of all she has done! I am afraid to trust her.”
The tooting of the excursion boat could be heard as the vessel steamed out. Wistfully the girls looked over the broad expanse of water, out to the track made by the smoke from the _Columbia_.
”We might have gone back home,” sighed Nellie.
”I would rather stay here--I feel we have some friends. Those girls----”