The Box-Car Children
Page 15
A NEW GRANDFATHER
In less than an hour the town was buzzing with the news. The chauffeurtold the maids and the maids told the grocery man, and the grocery manwent from house to house telling that old James Cordyce had found hisfour grandchildren at last. In fact the biggest part of the town knew itbefore the children themselves.
Jess and Benny came across the lawn to select some white moonflowers forViolet's tray. They were just in time to hear Henry say, "But,Grandfather--"
"Grandfather!" echoed Jess, whirling around to gaze at them.
"Yes, Jess," said Henry eagerly. "He's the man we've been running awayfrom all this time."
"I thought you was old," observed Benny. "And awf'ly cross. Jess saidso."
"I didn't know, Benny," said Jess turning pink. To think of running awayfrom this kind friend!
But her grandfather did not seem to mind. He stroked her short silkyhair and proposed that they all go up into Violet's room with themoonflowers. There was no stopping Benny. He rushed into Violet's room,dragging his grandfather by one hand, and shouting, "It's Grandfather,Violet, and he's nice, after all, I shouldn't wonder!"
When Violet at last understood just what Benny was trying to tell, shewas perfectly happy to rest against her ruffled pillows with one handcurled about her grandfather's arm, and listen to the rest.
"_Where_ have you been living?" demanded Mr. Cordyce at last.
The whole company looked at each other, even Dr. McAllister and hismother. Then they all laughed as if they never would stop.
"You just ought to see!" observed Dr. McAllister, wiping his eyes.
"What?" said the children all at once. "_You_ never saw it in thedaytime!"
"You don't mean it!" returned the doctor, teasing them. "I have seen itquite a number of times in the daytime."
"Seen what, in heaven's name?" asked Mr. Cordyce at last.
Then they told him, interrupting each other to tell about the beds ofpine needles, the wonderful dishes, the freight-car roof over all, thefireplace, and the swimming pool.
"That's where Violet got her bronchitis," observed the doctor, "sittingby that pool. She shouldn't have done it. I thought so from the first."
"_You_ thought so?" repeated Henry, puzzled. "How did you know she satby it? I'm sure I didn't myself."
"I was your most frequent visitor," declared the doctor, enjoyinghimself hugely.
"I hope you were our _only_ one," said Jess with her mouth open.
"Well, I think I was," said the doctor. "The first night after Henrymowed my lawn I followed him as far as the hill to see where he lived."
"Why did you do that?" interrupted Mr. Cordyce.
"I liked his looks," returned the doctor. "And I noticed that he didn'ttell much about himself, so I was curious."
"But you surely didn't see the freight car then," said Jess.
"No, but I came back that night and hunted around," replied Dr.McAllister.
"At about eleven o'clock!" Henry cried. The doctor assented.
"Our rabbit!" said Henry and Jess together.
"I made as little noise as possible when I saw the freight car. Then Isaw the door move, so I thought some one was inside. And when I heardthe dog bark I was sure of it, and went home."
"But you came back?" questioned Jess.
"Yes, every time I knew all of you were safe in my garden, I made you alittle visit, just to be sure you were having enough to eat, and enoughdishes." The doctor laughed. "When I found you had a strainer, and avase of flowers, and a salt-shaker, and a cut-glass punch bowl, Istopped worrying."
"Didn't you suspect they were my children?" demanded Mr. Cordyce."Didn't you see my advertisement? Why didn't you notify me at once?"
"They were having such a good time," confessed the doctor. "And _I_ was,too. I just wanted to see how long they could manage their own affairs.It was all tremendously interesting. Why, that boy and girl of yoursare born business managers, Mr. Cordyce!"
Mr. Cordyce took note of this.
"But I don't see, yet, how you knew Violet sat by the pool," said Jesscuriously.
"You couldn't know that, of course," replied the doctor. "I went uptwice when I knew Henry had taken the dog down to my barn to catch rats.I hid behind the big white rock with the flat top."
"That's Lookout Rock," explained Jess, "where we used to let Benny watchfor Henry. But we didn't hear you."
"No," said Dr. McAllister. "I didn't even snap a twig those times. But Ihad the very best time when I went with Mother."
"Have you seen it, too?" cried the children.
"I have, indeed!" returned Mrs. McAllister. "I have even had a drinkfrom your well."
"Every one has seen it but me," said Mr. Cordyce patiently.
"We'll show it to you!" screamed Benny. "And I'll show you my wheelsmade on a cart, and my bed out of hay, and my pink cup!"
"Good for you, Benny," said Mr. Cordyce, pleased. "When Violet getswell, we'll all go up there, and if you'll show me your house, I'llshow you mine."
"Have you got a house?" asked Benny in surprise.
"Yes. You can live there with me, if you like it," replied Mr. Cordyce."I have been looking for you for nearly two months."
Under Mrs. McAllister's wonderful care, Violet soon became strong again.But she had been skipping around the garden for several days before thedoctor would allow the visit to the freight-car house. When at last thewhole party started out in the great limousine, many people looked outof their windows to watch after Mr. Cordyce and his grandchildren. Manyof them knew Henry as the boy who won the race, and were glad that hehad found such a friend.
But when the children reached their beloved home they were like wildthings. Watch capered about furiously, taking little swims in the pooland sniffing at all the dear old familiar things. Mr. Cordyce seatedhimself on a rock and watched them all, exchanging a glance now and thenwith Mrs. McAllister and her son.
"See our 'building,'" shouted Benny, for that was what he always calledthe fireplace. "It burns _really_, too. And this is the well, and thisis the dishpan, and this is the 'frigerator'!"
At last every one climbed into the car itself, and Mr. Cordyce saw thebeds, the cash account on the wall, the wonderful shelf, and eachseparate dish. Each dish had a story of its own.
"That's more than my dishes have," observed Mr. Cordyce.
Mrs. McAllister, who knew what his dishes were, was silent.
They ate chicken sandwiches on the very same tablecloth, and Benny drankfrom his pink cup, and Watch couldn't understand why they went away atall.
But it was a trifle cool on the hill now when the sun began to sink, andafter rolling the door shut, they left regretfully.
"Tomorrow," suggested Mr. Cordyce, as they drove home, "will you allcome and see my house?"
"Oh, yes," agreed the children happily, little dreaming what was instore for them on the next day and all the days to come.