Detective and mystery stories; Stone, Fleming (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
“There y’are, lady,” he said, grinning; “there’s yer paper!
Gimme a nickel, can’t yer? I ain’t got time hangin’ on me
hands!”
His big black eyes stared at Eunice, as she made no move toward a purse,
and he growled: “Hurry up lady; I gotta sell some papers yet. Think
nobuddy wants one but you?”
Eunice flushed with annoyance.
“Please pay him, Aunt Abby,” she said, in a low voice; “I--haven’t any
money.”
“Goodness gracious me! Haven’t five cents! Why, Eunice, you must have!”
“But I haven’t, I tell you! I can’t see Alvord, and Gus is too far to
call to. Go over there, boy, to that chauffeur with the leather
coat--he’ll pay you.”
“No, thanky mum! I’ve had that dodge tried afore! Pity a grand dame
like you can’t scare up a nickel! Want to work a poor newsie! Shame for
ya, lady!”
“Hush your impudence, you little wretch!” cried Aunt Abby. “Here,
Eunice, help me get my purse. It’s in my inside coat pocket--under the
rug--there, see if you can reach it now.”
Aunt Abby tried to extricate herself from the motor rug that had been
tucked all too securely about her, and failing in that, endeavored to
reach into her pocket with her gloved hand, and became hopelessly
entangled in a mass of fur, chiffon scarf and eyeglass chain.
“I can’t get at my purse, Eunice; there’s no use trying,” she wailed,
despairingly. “Let us have the paper, my boy, and come back here when
the owner of this car comes and he’ll give you a quarter.”
“Yes--he will!” shouted the lad, “and he’ll give me a di’mon’ pin an’ a
gold watch! I’d come back, willin’ enough, but me root lays the other
way, an’ I must be scootin’ or I’ll miss the hull show. Sorry!” The
boy, who had no trouble in finding customers for his papers, picked up
the one he had laid on Eunice’s lap and made off.
“Never mind, Auntie,” she said, “we’ll get another. It’s too
provoking--but I haven’t a cent, and I don’t blame the boy. Now,
find your purse--or, never mind; here comes Alvord.”
“Just fell over Mortimer!” called out Hendricks as the two men came
to the side of the car. “I made him come and speak to you ladies,
though I believe its holding up the whole performance. Let me present
the god in the machine!”
“Not that,” said Mr. Mortimer, smiling; “only a small mechanical
part of to-day’s doings. I’ve a few minutes to spare, though but a
few. How do you do, Miss Ames? Glad to see you again. And Mrs. Embury;
this brings back childhood days!”
“Tell me about Hanlon,” begged Miss Ames. “Is he on the square?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account