poor and proud-第24章
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was disposed to present herself to the artful girl; and soundly lecture her for the deceit and wickedness: but she wanted to see how the game was played。
〃Boo; hoo; hoo!〃 sobbed Ann Grippen; apparently suffering all the pangs of a broken heart; which could not possibly be repaired。
〃What is the matter; little girl?〃 asked a benevolent lady; attracted by the distress of Ann。
〃Boo; hoo; hoo!〃 cried Ann; unable to speak on account of the torrents of wo that overwhelmed her。
〃Don't cry; little girl; and tell me what the matter is;〃 continued the kind lady。
〃Boo; hoo; hoo! I fell down and broke all my candy;〃 sobbed Ann。
〃Poor child!〃 exclaimed the sympathizing lady。
〃My father'll beat me because I didn't sell it;〃 added Ann。
〃He is a cruel man。 Are you sure he will punish you?〃
〃Yes; ma'am;〃 groaned Ann。 〃He'll whip me almost to death if I don't bring home half a dollar。〃
〃You can tell him you fell down and broke the candy;〃 suggested the lady。
〃He won't believe me; he'll say I sold the candy and spent the money。 O; dear me。〃
〃You can show him the pieces。〃
〃Boo; hoo; hoo! Then he'll say I broke it on purpose; because I was too lazy to sell it; and then he'll kill meI know he will。〃
〃I will go and see him; and tell him about the accident。 Where do you live?〃
〃Down North Square。 He ain't to home now;〃 replied Ann; who was not quite prepared for this method of treating the subject。
〃Poor child! I pity you;〃 sighed the lady。
〃O; dear me!〃 cried Ann; exerting herself to the utmost to deepen the impression she had made。
〃How much do you want to make up the value of your candy?〃
〃Half a dollar。〃
〃There it is; poor child! If it will save you from abuse; you are welcome to it。〃
〃Thank you; ma'am。 It may save my life;〃 replied Ann; as she took the half dollar and put it in her pocket。
〃What an awful liar she is!〃 said Katy to herself; as the lady hurried on; probably much pleased with herself as she thought of the kind act she supposed she had done。
Katy was curious to know what her unworthy assistant would do next; and she followed her down Hanover Street; and saw her stop before the American House。 She could not believe that Ann would have the hardihood to play off the same trick again so soon; and she was very much surprised and very indignant when she saw her begin to cry with all her might; just as she had done before。 While the deceitful girl's eyes were covered with her apron; in the extremity of her grief; Katy contrived to get on the hotel steps behind her; so that she could see and hear all that passed。
〃What is the matter with that girl?〃 asked a gentleman; who presently appeared at the door; addressing another who was just behind him。
〃It is the broken candy dodge;〃 replied the second gentleman。 〃That trick has been played off a dozen times within a week。〃
〃What does it mean?〃 asked the first。 〃I don't understand it。〃
The second explained the trick; precisely as Katy had just witnessed it in Court Street。
〃Now; don't say a word;〃 he continued。 〃I have a counterfeit half dollar in my pocket; and you shall see how it is done。〃
With this announcement of his purpose; he accosted Ann; who told him about the same story she had told the lady; and he finally gave her the counterfeit half dollar; which Ann did not suspect was a bad one。
〃How abominably wicked she is;〃 exclaimed Katy; as she followed her up the street。 〃But I will soon spoil all her fun; and cut off her profits。 I will teach her that honesty is the best policy。〃
It was easier for Katy to resolve what to do than it was to do it; for the wicked girl could easily get her stock through another person。 As she walked up the street; Ann lightened her load by eating the pieces of broken candy; upon which she seemed to feed with hearty relish。 At a window in Court Street; Ann stopped to look at some pictures; when she was joined by another of the candy sellers; and they walked together till they came to an unfrequented court; which they entered。 Katy could hear enough of their conversation; as she followed them; to ascertain that they were talking about the tricks Ann had practiced。 In the court they seated themselves on a door…stone; and as they talked and laughed about the deceit; they ate the pieces of candy。
〃There;〃 said Ann; 〃I have made a dollar and ten cents this afternoon。 You don't catch me walking all over the city for twenty…four cents; when I don't get but eight of that。〃
〃I ain't so smart as you;〃 modestly replied Julia Morgan; the other girl。
〃You'll learn;〃 said Ann; as she took out her money and exhibited the two half dollars。
〃I don't think people would believe me; if I should try that game。〃
〃Try some other。 I think I shall; for I've about used up the broken candy game。〃
〃What other?〃
〃I have one;〃 replied Ann; prudently declining to divulge her secret; 〃and when I've tried it; I'll tell you all about it。〃
〃Why don't you try it now?〃
〃I would if my candy wasn't broken。〃
〃I will let you have mine。〃
〃Then I will。〃
〃Give me fourteen cents。〃
〃I will when I've done with it。〃
〃No; you don't;〃 laughed Julia; who justly inferred that if Ann would cheat one person; she would another。
But Ann was so much interested in the experiment that she decided to give the fourteen cents; and took the candy。 Katy wondered what the new game could be; and wanted to see her carry it out; though her conscience smote her for permitting the lady to be deceived; when she could have unmasked the deceit。 She resolved not to let another person be deceived; and followed the two girls into State Street; as much for the purpose of exposing Ann's wickedness; as to learn the trick she intended to play。
〃Now you go away;〃 said Ann to her companion; as she placed herself on the steps of the Merchants…Bank。
It was nearly dark by this time; and as there were but few persons in the street; Ann did not commence her part of the performance till she saw a well…dressed gentleman approach; whereupon she began to cry as she had done twice before that day。
〃Boo; hoo; hoo! O; dear me! I shall be killed!〃 cried she; so lustily; that the well…dressed gentleman could not decently avoid inquiring the cause of her bitter sorrow。
〃I haven't sold out;〃 sobbed Ann。
〃What if you haven't? Why need you cry about it?〃 asked the stranger。
〃My mother will kill me if I go home without half a dollar。〃
〃She is a cruel woman; then。〃
〃Boo; hoo; hoo! She'll beat me to death! O; dear me! I only got ten cents。〃
〃Why don't you fly round and sell your candy?〃 said the gentleman。
〃I can't now; the folks have all gone; and it's almost dark。 O; I wish I was dead!〃
〃Well; well; don't cry any more; I'll give you half a dollar; and that will make it all right;〃 and he put his hand in his pocket for the money。
〃Don't give it to her;〃 said Katy; stepping out of the lane by the side of the bank。 〃She has deceived you; sir。〃
〃Deceived me; has she?〃 added the stranger as he glanced at Katy。
〃Yes; sir。 She has got more than a dollar in her pocket now。〃
〃Don't you believe her;〃 sobbed Ann; still prudently keeping up the appearance of grief 。
〃How do you know she has deceived me?〃 asked the stranger; not a little piqued; as he thought how readily he had credited the girl's story。
〃Because I saw her play a trick just like this twice before this afternoon。 She has two half dollars in her pocket now; though one of them is counterfeit。〃
〃What do you mean by that; Katy Redburn?〃 demanded Ann; angrily; and now forgetting her woe and her tears。
〃You speak very positively;〃 said the gentleman to Katy; 〃and if what you say is true; something should be done about it。〃
〃She is telling lies!〃 exclaimed Ann; much excited。
〃We can soon determine; for here comes a policeman; and I will refer the matter to him。
At these words; Ann edged off the steps of the bank; and suddenly started off as fast as she could run; having; it seemed; a very wholesome aversion to policemen。 But she made a bad mistake; for; not seeing in what direction the officer was approaching; she ran into the very jaws of the lion。
〃Stop her!〃 shouted the gentleman。
The policeman laid a rude hand u