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Updated: May 26, 2025
Across the room Rat-it-all, on hands and knees, had pulled open the door of the fatal cupboard, and had thrust in head and shoulders, exploring. "There's a loose piece of flooring here, Mr Pamphlett. New, by the looks of it." There was a sound of boards being shaken and thrown together in a heap. "Queer old cache here below. . . . Steady, now . . . wait till I turn my bull's-eye on it!
For the present you want to know what has become of the money: and I've a strong suspicion this child can tell us, if she chooses to confess. If not " he raised a minatory forefinger and shook it at 'Beida "well, it's fortunate I brought the constable, who will know how to act." "Will I?" said Rat-it-all, scratching his head.
Her face blanched as she looked around the bedroom; at Builder Gilbert, standing, wash-jug in hand; at Mr Pamphlett, kneeling, examining the cupboard; at Policeman Rat-it-all, kneeling also, but on one knee, while on the other he supported Nicky-Nan's inert head and bathed a cut on the right temple, dipping a rag of a towel into the poor chipped basin on the ground beside him.
"Why? Weren't you lookin' for it?" Her eyes sought Rat-it-all and questioned him. Mr Pamphlett made haste before his ally could speak. "The Policeman was acting in the execution of his duty." This was a fine phrase, and it took 'Beida aback, for she had not a notion what it meant. But while she sought for a retort, Mr Pamphlett followed up his advantage, to crush her, and blundered again.
"Between you an' me, again," he confessed, "I got to do my four miles or so every day, for the sake o' my figger." "'Tis unfortunate then," said Nicky-Nan, taking heart of grace and lying hardily: "for you've missed a lovely dog-fight." "Where? Whose?" Rat-it-all panted, suddenly all alive and inquisitive.
"Rat-it-all wouldn't look over a blind. I've no complaint to make of Rat-it-all, and never had. But what's happened to him?" "I wish I knew," answered Nicky-Nan. "I glimpsed him followin' me, back along the path; an' when I turned about for a chat, he dodged behind a furze-bush like as if he was pouncin' on some valuable butterfly.
"I don't take much truck in this War, for my part," said Nicky-Nan, quartering on the narrow footpath to let Rat-it-all pass: "but it'll do a dam sight else afore we're through with it, if you want my opinion."
Lucky I brought the lantern, too!" "You dare!" screamed Nicky-Nan, rushing to pull him backward by the collar. The constable, his head in the bowels of the hiding-place, neither heard him nor saw Mr Pamphlett and Builder Gilbert interpose to hold Nicky-Nan back. "But 'tis empty," announced Policeman Rat-it-all. "Empty?"
But Mr Pamphlett waved it aside. "Let the boy tell his story. . . . Well, boy, and what was your answer to the constable?" "I told him," said 'Bert stolidly, "to get along for a silly fat-head. Didn't I, now?" 'Bert appealed to the recipient of that compliment to confirm its textual accuracy. "He did so," corroborated Rat-it-all. "He is right to that extent.
It always seemed to me those helmets must be a tryin' wear." "I dunno. . . . But here he is! "Hullo, Rat-it-all!" The constable straightened himself up and approached with an affected air of jauntiness. "Why, whoever would ha' thought to happen on you two here?" he exclaimed, and laughed uneasily. "Sure enough the man's manner isn't natural," said Mr Latter to Nicky-Nan.
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