Bobby in Search of a Birthday Page 5

  CHAPTER V

  THE MAN WITH THE POCKETFUL OF QUARTERS REAPPEARS

  The Lady Who Likes Little Boys went quickly into another room and tookdown from a closet shelf a little suit of clothes and gave way totears, hugging the empty clothes desperately to her heart.

  After a time, a big man with a brown mustache whose ends curled up,came into the room, looked down pityingly at her, then took her up inhis arms like a little tired child and held her silently while she wepther heart out.

  "You mustn't take his things out, Alice," said the man. "Not yet."

  "I can't bear it, Alfred. I want him! I won't try not to think of him!"

  Mr. Anning placed his wife gently in a chair and began to tell herabout meeting a small boy in the field who was hunting for something hemust not think about.

  "For the birthdays he lost before he was big enough to know what itwas?" said his wife smiling through her tears.

  "Do you know him? Who is he?" asked Mr. Anning eagerly.

  For answer, his wife took him by the hand and led him into the littlewhite room where Bobby lay fast asleep. Mr. Anning bent quickly overhim and exclaimed:

  "Why, it's the very same! The little fellow who lost his birthdays! Andin Edward's room. Now I understand, dear, why----"

  "It was not that," interrupted his wife, and covered her eyes withher hand. "He asked for just _one_ of Edward's birthdays so he couldfind out what it was like. And I couldn't give it to him, Alfred! Icouldn't!"

  "Poor little chap," said her husband. Then he took his wife by the handand led her out of the little white room.

  They entered the red room just as Sarah, the maid, ushered in Mr.Eller. He was very much disturbed and spoke quickly.

  "I'm sorry to trouble you, Mr. Anning, but one of the children from theHome is lost. I wonder if you would take your car and----"

  "Was he a little boy of five?" interrupted Mrs. Anning.

  "The boy who had lost his birthdays?" questioned her husband.

  "Yes," replied Mr. Eller. "Have you found him?"

  "He is upstairs fast asleep."

  "You don't know what a relief that is!" sighed Mr. Eller. "My wife isnearly distracted at the thought that he may be wandering about in thewoods or the fields."

  "We'll bring him over in the morning," said Mr. Anning.

  "I think I'd better take him with me," said Mr. Eller. "It will calmMary to have him right under her eyes with the other children."

  "I know how she feels," said Mrs. Anning. "I will get him ready."

  After he had been asleep for a long, long while, Bobby woke to findhimself dressed in his own clothes and in the arms of the Lady WhoLikes Little Boys. She was speaking.

  "He is so tired and sleepy, Mr. Eller. It's a pity to wake him. I wishyou would let me have him until morning."

  "My wife's worried sick by his disappearance," replied a voice that wasfamiliar to Bobby. He turned his head about to see. It was the Man WhoLets You Play with the Puppy. In the doorway stood another man, a bigman with a mustache whose ends curled up. He came forward, smiling atBobby, and held out his hand.

  "Well, young man, I didn't expect to see you again so soon, and in myown house, too."

  Bobby didn't know quite what to say to that although he was sure theman was not making fun of him, so he said nothing.

  "You haven't forgotten me already, have you?" continued the man.

  "No'm," smiled Bobby. "You're the Man with the Pocketful of Quarters."

  "Right you are!" laughed the man and, to prove it, drew out a handfulof coins from his pocket, selected a quarter and pressed it intoBobby's palm.

  The lady kissed Bobby good-bye while the man looked pleadingly at her.

  "I can't, Alfred! I can't!" she said all choked up, and Bobby wonderedwhat had made her cry.

  "No, of course, you can't, Alice, I understand."

  The Man Who Lets You Play with the Puppy took Bobby from the Lady andcarried him out. Bobby looked back and saw the Man with the Pocketfulof Quarters put his arm about the Lady Who Likes Little Boys.

  Bobby did not see the 'mobile drive up toward evening of the next dayfor he was out in the yard at Mr. Eller's playing with the St. Bernardpuppy. He was running with all his might, the puppy right at his heels,when he looked up and saw the Lady Who Likes Little Boys coming swiftlytowards him. He stopped quite still for a time, then ran with all hismight right into her arms and tangled his fingers among the soft hairat the back of her neck.

  "Oh, Bobby, I just can't let you go back to the . . . Home, withoutyour first knowing what a birthdays is."

  "Have you found it? Is it mine?" asked Bobby eagerly.

  "Not yours, Bobby. My little boy is going to lend you--one of his."

  Bobby squirmed in delight.

  "Day after tomorrow?"

  "Tomorrow," smiled the lady.

  "When will that be?"

  "Soon, dear. I'll tell you when it comes."

  Bobby remained in thought for a long while.

  "Your little boy won't be mad at you?"

  "No, Bobby. He was always generous--just like his father." Then shesaid something that Bobby decided was addressed to herself and not tohim. "I can't be less generous."

  Bobby squeezed her neck until his arms ached. Then he rememberedsomething she had just said.

  "Did your little boy have fathers, too?"

  "Yes. He's waiting in the car. Let's go to him, will you? Mrs. Eller isgoing to let you spend the night with us."

  Holding hands, they went out through the yard, while the deserted puppysat on his haunches and stared forlornly after his little playmate whodid not even look back.

  When they got to the car, there sat the Man With the Pocketful ofQuarters! So _that_ was the fathers of the little boy who was going tolend him a birthdays!

  "Well, son," said the man as they solemnly shook hands, "we're going toshow you what a real birthdays is."

  "Yes'm?" queried Bobby as he was lifted into the 'mobile.

  "Sure thing. It will be birthday all day long, from the moment youopen your eyes until the Sandman comes."

  Bobby snuggled happily at the side of the lady in the back seat, whilethe car sped swiftly on towards the house with the little white roomwith the little train and a whole string of little cars.