The Poor Little Rich Girl

, though she wanted to turn and flee beyond the reach of those big, clutching han

His look was perturbed. "My! My!" he exclaimed under

wendolyn slipped her trembling fingers into his. "She

e suddenly started forward-with a great boisterous hop and skip. Her front face

she commanded harshly. "Why, he'l

ront of her, barring her way, and shielding Gwendol

ently. "Well, who is it t

ean th

sed grin. "I mean the Bird," she br

ird that had repeated tales against her father! And now he was tattling on her! She saw

ess!" she sai

-tails. Now he leaned down. "We must get rid of her," he

replaced by a dark look. "I'll have you know this chil

ground resolutely-and swung the cu

seven, and she's grown-up." And to Gwendoly

e would, she could not speak. Her lips seemed dry.

n to the other table and picked up an oblong leather case (a case exactly like the gold-mounted one in which Miss Royle kept her spectacles

tly. "There's that stiff up

her case against her palm, than her fear, an

don't need you," she said firmly. "'Cause I'm seven years o

hat front countenance took on a silly simper. And she put her t

one. "And you ask me that, Miss? Why, what should

d pointing a toe, stepping to the left and pointing a toe; setting

Jane was doing!) After observing the other's antics for a moment, she tossed her

o-Makes-Faces, snapping his finge

ce of that big braid?" she called-between her tortoise-shell teeth.

n frowned across the table at her. "I'll quote you no prices

was examining the different things on the bil

a coat-tail. "Can't we run

r-oom-

ho-Makes-Faces, not st

n't k

nd Gwendolyn took a more

speak very low: "We shan't be able to steal awa

an see 'e

her eyes from one face to the ot

" whispered

ou up. For it's my opinion that her

answered doubtfully. "You see she's been

"And if it's a fact, you

r-oom-

face grow suddenly small-to the size of glinting pin-point

have that braid, old

your saucy tongu

hee!" she titter

. Now, at the same moment, both witnessed an extraordinary thing: As Jane chuckled, she lifted one stout arm so that

with each chuckle, from the top of her red head

ese days you'll laugh on the other side of your face." (Which made Gwendolyn wish that it was not impolit

ently. Then dancing near, "Come!" she

he wagged his head significantly. "It's evident, Miss Jan

self upset by what he had said

y," he went on. "And when we do-! Because your account with him

?" demanded Jane. "A

t once she was a little apprehensive on her own account-rememberin

egan timidly, "do you mean the P

lecting some pay for me now-from a dishonest fellow who di

three wrinkles in the black sateen! And Gwendolyn, watching closely, saw that while the front face of her nurse was all a-gr

advantage already won. "Now," said he, "perhaps you'll be willing to come along q

ow of tiny electric bulbs with frosted shades, each resembling an incandescent toadstool. (She remembered having once caught a glimpse of something similar in a store-window.) These tiny lamps were set close together on short stems, precisely as white stones

parently for no reason whatever, to grace a rear seat along with the chauffeur. Seated in a box, close to the curved edge of the stage, she had seen the soft glow of the footlights. But for some reason which she could not fathom, the footlights had always been carefully conceal

he lines of footlights. "You're ju

other," answered the Man-

she cried. "Indeed, you won't! Not while I'm a-takin' care o

ursery, times when, Miss Royle and Jane disagreeing about her, each pulled at an arm and quarreled. For here was th

ands!" he shouted excitedly

result he sought. For instantly all three began going in

the perspiration was standing out upon her forehead. "

dolyn's cry was as shrill. "

he Man-Who-Makes-Faces. And to Gwendo

watch as she went. "Help! Help!" she sh

. One wrist was still in the grasp of the little old gen

tle old gentleman. He, too, wa

ed. It was long

-the soft pad, pad of running paws, the hushing sound of wing

polka. "Turn a stone! Turn a sto

old gentleman. "Oh, don't le

mu

ize do?" yelled

-Faces. "You've seen stones in rings,

a small stone, and sent it sp

took hold of the lip-case. Then leaning against the little old gentleman, h