The Roswell Legacy by Frances Statham (parable of the sower read online .TXT) 📗

that tent so fast I didn’t even have time to say ‘Spit in the bucket’ before I was on the outside.”

“Is that any way to talk to Ethan?” Prudie complained. “There was lots of educational things, too, Ethan. I’ll tell you about them when we get home. And I brung you a special present, too. It’s in the suitcase.”

Charles and Quincy walked past the family and on into the depot.

“Yes, sir. Can I help you gentlemen?” the young station agent inquired, impressed with the way they were dressed.

“We’re looking for two eleven-year-old boys,” Charles said, “who’re missing from Braxton School. Did they happen to buy train tickets from you about five or six days ago?”

“I just started work here yesterday, so it wouldn’t have been from me.” The young man turned his back and called out, “Mr. Anthony, did you happen to sell tickets last week to two little boys who were by themselves?”

“I seem to remember two young fellows coming in. But they were traveling with their papas the next day. Sold their mules to get enough money for the tickets.”

A disappointed Charles said, “And you didn’t see a rather slender little boy with blond hair?”

“Or a chubby little fellow with sandy-brown hair?” Quincy added.

Mr. Anthony said, “Sorry, but all little boys look pretty much alike to me. Wish I could help you. Have you inquired over at Woodbine?”

“Not yet.”

“Well, they might have left from there. Good luck to you., Sorry I couldn’t be more help.”

“Thank you, anyway.”

“Hope you find them,” the younger man called after them.

When Charles and Quincy left the station to return to the carriage, Mr. Anthony looked at his new man. “You think you’ll be all right for the rest of the day, Stoddy?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then I’ll get on home. It was a long night.”

“I appreciate it, Mr. Anthony. Staying with me till I got the hang of it.”

“You’re a good lad. You’ll do fine.”

At the same time that Charles and Quincy made their way toward Woodbine, their sons, Nathan and Pinky, were just waking up in a secluded shelter behind the bandstand in Jackson Park.

“I’m hungry,” Pinky complained.

“So am I,” Nathan said. “But I guess we’ll just have to go hungry today unless we find a job.”

“I didn’t even feel the pickpocket,” Pinky said.

“It wasn’t your fault, Pinky. So don’t beat yourself about it.”

“But now I don’t even have my train ticket home. And school starts in two days. You’ll have to go on without me.”

“Do you think I’d do that, Pinky? Go off and leave you here? That would be reneging on our vow. And I’d never do that to you.”

The Roswell Legacy “Then what are we going to do?”

“Let’s go to that white and gold pagoda where they serve the Chinese stuff. We can ask to sweep the floors or wash the dishes—just for something to eat.”

“That’s a good idea, Nathan.”

The two boys set out with high hopes. But although they were very polite, their offer was turned down. They kept walking, from one cafe, one food stand, one restaurant to another. At each place they got the same answer. No.

Thoroughly discouraged, they finally sat down on the steps of the pavilion where they watched Nelly Rose and her girls enjoying a wonderful breakfast.

“Look,” Pinky whispered. “Waffles and syrup and sausages. You think they might leave a little bit on their plates?”

They watched as the women stood and began to depart two by two, until finally only two remained, still deep in conversation. But then they saw the waiter coming to take away the plates.

“Oh, no,” Nathan said. “We can’t let him take away the food.”

“Then let’s go. I’m not too proud to beg.”

The two boys rushed to the table where the two women sat. “Excuse me, please,” Pinky said, using his best manners. “But my friend and I are awfully hungry. Do you think it would be all right if we sat down and finished the food on the plates?”

Nathan backed him up. “You see, our money was stolen yesterday, and we even had to sleep in the park.…”

Souci’s heart was touched at the sight of the two hungry little boys. “Of course, mes petits. Sit down with us, and we will treat you to a lovely breakfast, won’t we, Meara?” She didn’t wait for Meara to answer. Instead, as Nathan and Pinky sat down, Souci smiled at the waiter. “Leave the plates, monsieur. And we’ll have two glasses of milk and some fresh rolls, please.

“My name is Souci. And this is my protegee, Meara.”

“You’re very kind, Miss Souci,” Nathan said. “I’m Nathan Forsyte.”

“And I’m Quincy Tallifero Boswell III.”

“But everybody calls him Pinky.”

“Enchanté” Souci replied.

“Et moi aussi, mam’ selle” Nathan responded.

“Petit, you speak French.”

“Only a little. It isn’t my best subject in school,” Nathan confessed.

“And I don’t speak it at all,” Pinky said, popping a stray sausage into his mouth.

Pinky and Nathan sat in the pavilion, eating their breakfast and enjoying their conversation with the beautiful Souci. Already they thought of her as a wonderful lady, treating them to jam and bread and milk when they didn’t have a single penny to repay her.

And when they had finally stuffed themselves, taking the rest of the rolls to eat later, Souci waved to the waiter to settle the bill.

“Thank you very much, Miss Souci,” Nathan said. “You’ve been very kind to us.”

She smiled her usual dazzling smile. Surely Nelly Rose could not complain if she and Meara had two such youthful escorts for the remainder of the day. “Would you like to come with us, petits?” she inquired. “And be our protectors for today?”

Pinky, already thinking of lunch, nodded his head.

“Then come. The others will be wondering what has happened to us.”

As Nathan and Pinky left the pavilion with Souci and Meara, his sister Ginna climbed out of the carriage with her husband Jonathan and entered Jackson Park.

CHAPTER

30

The terse telegraph communication from Charles to Ginna, telling her that Nathan was missing, caused Ginna