The Poor Little Rich Girl

man's, and upon it the footlights beat so strongly that each feature was startlingly vivid. But it was not the fact that she saw on

ow cold, her flesh creep. "Oh,

y, inch by inch. And there sounded a

Ah!" said he with something of pride, yet as if to himself. "He realizes that t

, began to threaten in a most terrifying way. "Now, young Miss!" she cried. "Now, you

hear. She was sick with apprehension. "I guess I won't

ging cudgel, and visored cap. It was like those dreaded figures that patroled the Drive-yet how different! For as the Policeman came on, h

natural merino socks showed where his trousers fell away from his shoes. His

. For precisely as Thomas had d

rgot to be anxious for her own safety. (What a marvelous L

two, will you?" he inquired. "This Officer will probably want to discuss the prices of eyes. You see,

id of him?" stammered G

ed, surprised. "W

ashamed. "N-n-not

delicious feeling of security! And this feeling grew as she watched

e) were streaming with tears, tears which, naturally enough, ran from the four corners of his eyes, down across hi

had filled her with terror were the saddest of

d the little old gentl

e-heeing loudly-and straightening out any number of wrinkles. "Oh, ain'

hing. She was sober to the point of pitying. For though he looke

egs held together, and swaying from side to side rhythmically, lik

Man-Who-Makes-Faces, brandishing the c

! Oh, dear!" And still weeping copiously, so that his forehead glis

ed him loitering beside the walled walk. "What makes his club shine so?" she had asked Jane, whispering. "Eh?" whispered Jane in return; "what else than blood?" The

ne had added when Gwendolyn turned scared

s coat-tails had uncovered his trouser-pockets. And as he halted,

cer," she said. "Can't you let your feet come down? Then y

too. (She noted that it was blue.) "But I am up the right way," he answered, "Oh, no! It isn't that!

gentleman; "but I firmly believe that, yo

ceman, bitterly. "Would anot

akes-Faces spoke with some

ed from one to the other.

ead against his night-stic

ped up and down i

e the little old gentleman. That Bird again! And it

y merged in

s people things," she ventured-to be

"Aye," he answered. "That's the one.

st, "He's a tattletale!" she charged, and

"That's why the Police can't get along without him," he declared. "And, oh, her

ned. "Do you mean t

ined the little old gentleman,

him around the whole country hunting gossip-when he ought

ndolyn wondered w

Policeman, "and everything she does-" H

xpression of guilt

do," he went on, i

in an injured tone. "H

lf a quick half-turn. "You've see

e nervously. "It ain't the s

staken," he declared. "Did he have

mp of salt," said Gw

eman. "And the bumpy forehead is fro

ike that Bird," she said. "And I don't believe he

(He said it proudly.) "The squirrels and the robin-redbreasts, and the spa

he looked sidewise at Jane, reflecting that th

protect old,

ces. "You protect old people, eh? W

ficer promptly. "I guess you didn't

d gentleman suddenly

the trees and the flowers and the fountains. Also, the statues. There's the Gene

e more she was beginnin

"I look after the

ane's always told me that you grab little boys and girls

denied Jane

do carry 'em

know,"-in

ged the little

l-board. "I'm the man," said he, "that takes

g accusing eyes, pointing an accusing finger, "So!" she breathed. "Y

-accidentally-- she turned aside her grinning front face and gave the others a glim

ndolyn, triumphantly.

e any of the articles there displayed. "Yes, I've taken a lot of lost little ki

her joy at finding that here was another friend,

my fath-er and moth-er

-tai

as you came," said th

chain from a button-hole of his coat. He swung

had often seen selling at street corners (out of show-cases that went on wheels). More than once she had longed, and in vain, to stop at one of these show-cases and purchase. Now she suddenly remembered ha

the Policeman on her left, and Jane trailing behind, doing a one-tw