“Ach! if I had madchens like you of my own yet!” she said, as she descended the porch steps, on her departure. Agnes gazed after her more seriously than was her wont. She did not even laugh at Mrs. Kranz, as Ruth expected. “And I believe she’s an old dear at that,” Ruth said, reflectively. “Maybe we can get her to help those little Italian children—if we can once get their parents to clean them up.” “Well!” breathed Agnes, finally. “I wasn’t thinking particularly about her—or of the Joe Maroni kids. I was just thinking that perhaps it is not always so nice to be rich, after all. Now! we didn’t have to worry about tenement house property, and the quarrels of the tenants, when we lived on Essex Street in Bloomingsburg.” CHAPTER XIII THE MARONIS It was on this day, too, that Agnes received a letter from Bloomingsburg. Kitty Robelle wrote a long and “newsy” letter, for Kitty had been one of Agnes’ most cherished friends. Kitty lived right next door to the house in which the Kenways had lived so long, so she had all the news to impart of the old neighborhood. One item interested the four Corner House girls immensely. “Little Tommy Rooney has run away and his mother can’t find out what’s become of him. He swapped his Indian suit with Patsy Link for a cowboy suit, and has been gone a week. The police, even, can’t find him.” “There now!” cried Tess. “What did I tell you? I _knew_ I saw him go past here in the rain.” “Oh, but, Tess,” said Ruth, “you can’t be sure. And how could he ever have gotten to Milton?” “I don’t know,” said the confident Tess. “But he’s here.” Dot agreed with her. “You know,” the latter said, gravely, “he said he was coming to Milton to shoot Indians.” “The foolish boy!” exclaimed Ruth. “Indians, indeed!” “Did he expect to eat them after he shot them?” demanded Agnes. “How would he live?” “Perhaps he’s hungry, poor boy,” said Ruth. “I wish you girls had run after him that day—if it was Tommy.” “He looked awfully ragged,” said Tess, with pity. “Boys must be a _naw_ful burden. Isn’t it lucky we haven’t any brothers to look after, Ruth?” “Very fortunate, I think,” agreed the oldest Kenway. “Well,” sighed Dot, “Tommy was a real bad boy, but Mrs. Rooney thinks just as much of him, I s’pose, as though he was a girl.” “Not a doubt of it,” chuckled Agnes. “And if we find Tommy, we’ll send him home to her.” Having made a promise to Mrs. Kranz, Ruth was not the girl to neglect its fulfillment. She was doubtful, however, whether or no she should first see Mr. Howbridge. The lawyer was a busy man; perhaps he would not thank her for bringing such complaints as this of the grocery store-keeper to his attention. Agnes said: “He’s got troubles of his own, you may be sure, Ruth. And, honest—I don’t see as Mrs. Kranz has any business to bring her complaints to us.” “But I said I’d see what I could do.”