Betty Gordon in Washington; Or, Strange Adventures in a Great City

u,

g, and running to the window she saw Bob disappe

There always is something to find fault about. I hope Bob will keep his tem

Betty's irrepressible sense of humor pictured the dog (the Peabodys kept no dog because the head of the house considered that dogs ate more than they were worth) tucking his tail between his legs

cowl and set his burden down with a crash that spilled some o

f ham, which left nothing but the fried potatoes and bread for Bob's breakfast. "T

e hand basin. This habit of "washing up" at the kitchen sink while a meal was in progress always thoroughly disgusted Betty, and Bo

abody grumbling. "Born in the poorhouse, you're in a fair way to die there. I

the roller towel, lost h

s sake, shut u

, for ordinarily he slouched his way around, he sprang from his chair, r

yelled, as Bob started for the door. "You come back here and sit down. Whe

chair at the table. Ethan continued to eat stolidly, a

inarily loquacious that morning. "I'll find something for you to do this afternoon that'll keep yo

ted about the sale, for she had set her heart on going. There were few pleasures open to her as a member of the household at Bramble Farm, and, with the excepti

helper went out of the house to begin the field work for the d

in the pantry, st

end of the lane. I'm sick of being knocked around, and I think Jim

tured Betty. "You know what a scene he wil

said Bob ungrac

rp retort. Bob was badgered enough without a contribution from her

at night, ready for work the next day. He could not have selected a meaner job, for the hay loft was stifling in the heat of the midday sun which beat down on t

clean frock. Mrs. Peabody manifested so little interest in her activities that the girl anticipated n

irl pulled on her hat, "I wish you'd see if Grimshaw has any meat scraps. Joseph might get me a bit the ne

several times at Mrs. Peabody's request and nothing had ever come of it. But she agreed to go to Grimshaw's i

skirt and white middy met him at the end of the lane road. "The sale starts at one sharp, you

armer's wife who invited them to "hop in," an invitation which they accepted gratefully. She was going to the Faulkner vendue, she informed the

ext fall," she said happily, "and that ingra

f buildings set slightly in a hollow, they found teams and automo

and she hastened away, worried lest the ingrain carpet be so

. She followed Bob up to the front porch of the house where the household effects

ve Betty room, allowed the person standing next to him to see the girl's fa

n shook hands cordially, and kept a fr

as one who knows he brings pleasant news. "The Benders are d

seeking the advice of the fine young police recorder who had been so good to them

ole house. Rest of the stuff is nothing but trash. That antique dealer from Petria is here, too, and

e faded overalls. The dealer, of course, knew that Bob must represent some buyer, but he could not decide for whom he was bidding, and so was in the dark as to how high his opponent would go. Ha

een as it was, failing to see the doctor in the crowd. "Let him have it, and I'll buy it from him fo

r to his request for the buyer's name Bob said clearly, "Doctor Guer

em-she and Bob went out to the barn and watched the horses and cows, wagons, harnesses and farm machinery sold. It was an absorbing and colorful scene, a

be milking this minute. Oh, Bob, let's not go hom

d Bob soothingly. It must be confessed that the knowledge of the little sum o

hurried down the road Betty tried her best to master her dread of the coming interview. She had not a doubt but that

t the barnyard gate, a