Chester
approached him, and in a wheedling voice said:
"Will you give a poor orphan lad a small piece of money, sir?"
The hand of Uncle John, ever generous, immediately went into his pocket,
and he placed a franc in the boy's hand.
At that moment one of the hotel officials, perceiving the two dirty lads,
and mistaking them for street urchins, approached.
"Were these little beggars annoying you, sir?" he said to Uncle John.
"I'll have them kicked into the street."
"Oh, let them alone," said Uncle John, but the official, mumbling that it
was against the rules of the hotel, summoned a porter and ordered him to
throw the lads out.
"Are you going to let them kick us out, Uncle John?" asked Chester,
in English.
Uncle John turned quickly, and walked straight up to him. Stooping he
gazed searchingly into his face and then turned to Hal. With an
exclamation he waved aside the porter and grasped each lad by the arm.
"You young rascals!" he said. "Don't you know you have worried your
mothers nearly to death.
Pages:
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281