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Meshech Little's wife followed suit, and then Peleg Bidwell's and a lot of other women of the people, amid the uproarious plaudits of the crowd, which became deafening as Resignation Ann Poor, Zadkiel's wife, elbowed her way through the pack and clasping the helpless Perez against her bony breast in a genuine bear's hug, gave him a kiss like a file.
Colonel Dodd put in his nephew as chief clerk, and old Peleg is a figure-head, smoking his pipe in the back office and resting his wool-tipped boots on his desk. Oh, I know the bunch of 'em, sir. I can tell you the inside of things. Young Dodd takes orders from his uncle and runs the treasury.
"Oh, I know you well enough. I've heard you were the most pigheaded teacher they ever had at Putnam Hall," rejoined Dick warmly. "I shall take pains to let Mrs. Stanhope know what they think of you, too." "Was he discharged?" asked Dom. "He told mamma that he had left of his own accord." "He was discharged," answered Dick, who had got word through Peleg Snuggers.
An hour later Peleg Snuggers started away from Putnam Hall with his prisoner. Aleck looked the picture of misery as he sat on a rear seat, his wrists bound together and one leg tied to the wagon seat with a rope. "Dis am a mistake," he groaned. "I aint guilty nohow!" Some of the boys wished to speak to him, but this was not permitted. Soon the turnout was out of sight.
"Hi, don't you do nuthin' of the kind," cried Peleg Snuggers, in new alarm. "My feet are warm enough!" But there was no help for it, and in a twinkling off came his shoes and his socks followed. "I ain't a-goin' to have my feet warmed!" groaned the utility man. "You are worse nor heathens! Lemme go!" He struggled violently, but the cadets placed him on the grass and sat on him.
The last named was now able to express himself in English and, though he was still reserved in his bearings toward the people in general, his friendship for Peleg and Israel had strengthened with every passing day. "I never know such man like your father," said Henry to Israel. "He is the best man that ever lived!" broke in Peleg enthusiastically.
"I shall try to be there," promised Peleg, as the scout passed on to make further arrangements for the meeting, and the two boys resumed their task. It was a serious assemblage of men that met the following noon. After accepting the chair, Colonel Henderson said: "I shall ask the Reverend John Lythe, our pioneer preacher, to address the Throne of Grace."
As soon as Daniel Boone saw Peleg and the two men approaching with their burden, his plan instantly changed. Summoning the young scout, he said, "Send all the rest of them back to the settlement as fast as they can go. You and I, lad, are the only ones prepared, so we are the only ones who can protect these men." "Will the Indians leave?" inquired Peleg in a low voice.
One morning, some days later, Peleg Hopkins came in with a grin and said, "The's some folks eout in front wants you to come eout an' see 'em." "Who are they?" asked John, who for the moment was in the back room and had not seen the carriage drive up. "The two Verjoos gals," said Peleg with another distortion of his freckled countenance.
"You are so so hard-hearted, Peleg. Boohoo! I want to go back home!" And Tom began to sob. This was too much for the driver, and his face fell. "Don't you mind me, Master Tom," he said softly. "I didn't mean nothin', indeed, I didn't. You're all right. I like you better'n any of 'em." "Oh, dear!" burst out Larry Colby. "Just to hear that!"
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