The Bobbsey Twins at Meadow Brook Page 21

  CHAPTER XXI

  BAD MONEY

  Bert, Harry and their chums hardly knew what to do. They felt sorryfor Frank, and wanted to help him, but they did not know just how togo about it.

  "Do you know how to work on a farm?" asked Harry.

  "Well, no, not exactly," replied Frank. "But I know something aboutthe lumber business, and I guess I could chop wood. They have to dothat on farms, don't they?" he asked, and he was smiling a little now.

  "Oh, yes, wood has to be chopped," said Harry. "Entirely too much ofit, I think. It makes my back ache."

  "Say, why can't we ask him to come back with us?" whispered Bert toHarry, as Frank picked up a stone and tossed it into the water.

  "I guess we could," said Harry, slowly.

  "Then I'm going to do it," went on Bert. "I say," he spoke to Frank,"wouldn't you like to come back to my uncle's house, and get somethingto eat? Maybe he could give you work. I know Harry and I have plentyto do."

  "I would like to come, very much," replied Frank, a brighter lookcoming over his face. "I'll do all the work I can, too," he added,quickly.

  "Come along then," invited Harry, and as Bert and Frank walked alongtogether, ahead of the others, Harry told his chums how he had firstmet Frank at the circus, the time Freddie was lost. He also explainedto the boys what Bert had told him about Frank running away.

  Leaving their chums with whom they had gone swimming, Bert and Harryled Frank down toward the pleasant farmhouse. Freddie was out infront, playing with his toy fire engine as usual. As soon as thelittle Bobbsey twin saw the circus lad, he exclaimed:

  "Oh, there's my boy--my elephant-boy that found me when everybody waslost but me. Oh, I'm glad to see you!" he cried, and he ran to Frank,who caught Freddie up in his arms, and kissed him.

  Nan and Flossie came down off the porch to see what all the excitementwas about.

  "Oh, it's the circus-boy!" Flossie cried. "Did you bring any trainedmonkeys or elephants with you?" she asked.

  "No, not this time, I'm sorry to say," replied Frank. "They wouldn'tlet me take any of the animals with me when I came away."

  "Well, did you bring any--any peanuts?" asked Freddie. "Peanuts aregood, even if you haven't any elephants to eat 'em."

  "No peanuts, either," went on Frank. Poor lad! He looked so hungrythat if he had had any peanuts he probably would have eaten themhimself.

  "Well, did you bring any--any balloons?" Flossie wanted to know.

  "Well, yes, I have some toy balloons," said Frank, and he pulled somepieces of rubber from his pocket. "These are circus balloons beforethey are blown up," explained Frank. "You can use a hollow goose quillto blow them full of air, and then tie a string, or thread, around thebottom, so the air won't come out. They won't go up like circusballoons, though," Frank said.

  "Why not?" Freddie wanted to know.

  "Because they have only air in them, instead of gas," Frankexplained. "Gas is lighter than air, and that makes it lift theballoon. But you can have some fun with these," and he gave two eachto Flossie and Freddie. "One of the circus men gave them to me," hewent on. The children were soon playing with the balloons.

  By this time Mrs. Bobbsey had come out of the house, and when she sawFrank she remembered him at once.

  "Oh, it is very good to see you again," she exclaimed, and she lookedsorry when he told her he had lost his place with the circus.

  "Well, perhaps it is all for the best," said Mr. Bobbsey, when heheard the news. "A circus is not the nicest place in the world for agrowing boy, though many good men and women are in circuses."

  "I think I'd like to work on a farm for a change," said Frank.

  "Well, you won't find farm work very easy," spoke Uncle Daniel, as hecame out to listen to the runaway's story. "And I think you had bettergo back to your guardian," he added. "He has been looking for you."

  "So Bert said," remarked Frank, "but I'll never go back to that lumberoffice to be treated as I was before. Mr. Mason really wasn't fair tome."

  "Perhaps he meant to be," said Mr. Bobbsey.

  "Well, didn't he punish me for something that wasn't my fault--takingthat bad twenty dollar bill?" asked Frank.

  "He did punish you, yes," admitted Mr. Bobbsey, "and I am not sayinghe did right in that. But you were put in his charge by the courts,and he has authority to look after you, the same as a father wouldlook after his children."

  "I think it is best that you go back to him," went on Uncle Daniel.

  "I never will!" exclaimed Frank.

  "Would you if I saw Mr. Mason and got him to promise to treat you morekindly, and overlook the loss of the twenty dollars?" asked thefarmer.

  "Well, I might," replied Frank, slowly.

  "That's better!" exclaimed Uncle Daniel. "I like a young lad to have areal home," he went on, "and not be traveling about with a circus, nomatter how good a show it is. What happened to the side-show you werewith?" he asked Frank.

  "Oh, our biggest snake died," said the boy, "and the fat lady wastaken sick, and got so thin she wasn't a curiosity any more, so theshow 'busted up,' as the circus people called it."

  "Well, maybe it's just as well," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "I never did likesnakes, anyhow, and it can't be healthful to be as fat as that ladywas. I hope she gets better, and is thin enough to be comfortable. Andnow we must look after you, Frank. You will stay with us a few days,until Mr. Bobbsey and Uncle Daniel can arrange about your going backto your guardian."

  "Yes," said Mr. Bobbsey. "Now that you have promised, Frank, I shallwrite to Mr. Mason, telling him you are here. He is probablysearching for you, wondering what has happened to you since you lostyour place with the circus."

  "You are very kind to me," murmured the homeless boy.

  "Yes, and I think Mr. Mason will be kind to you, too, after we havehad a talk with him," said Mr. Bobbsey. "Now, Frank, make yourself athome here, and have a good time."

  Frank certainly needed a good time if anyone did, for he had not hadmuch fun thus far in life.

  Aunt Sarah took Frank to the dining-room, and soon Dinah had served ameal that would make any hungry boy feel very much at home, Franksaid.

  "He shore hab got some appetite!" exclaimed Dinah, as she looked inthrough a crack in the kitchen door, and watched Frank eat.

  "Well, I guess anyone would have an appetite if they had to live onhay and oats," said Martha.

  "Hay an' oats!" cried Dinah. "Did he hab t' eat hay an' oats?"

  "He must have," Martha replied. "That's about all they have incircuses."

  "Pore boy!" sighed Dinah. "I'se gwine t' bake him a whole chocolatecake fo' his ownse'f; dat's what I am!"

  And she did, too, though Frank shared his treat with the others, a dayor so later, when it was given to him.

  Meanwhile Frank was taken in almost as one of the family by theBobbseys and their relatives and friends. Freddie never wanted to beaway from his "circus-boy," as he called Frank, and Flossie, too, wasquite in love with the wanderer.

  "It makes me homesick for Mrs. Mason's two little girls," said Frankto Mrs. Bobbsey, as he came in one day from having taken Freddie andFlossie for a walk.

  "Well, it's a good sign to be homesick," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "It showsyou like your home, in spite of some bad times there. You will soon beback again."

  Mr. Mason had been written to, and told that his ward was at MeadowBrook, and would go back with him if he called. But no answer had yetbeen received.

  "I suppose he is trying to find you by following up the circus," saidMr. Bobbsey to Frank.

  A few days after this Bert, Harry and Frank were on their way to thevillage store to get some groceries for Aunt Sarah. As they came nearthe place, in front of which was a large porch, a man was seen peeringaround the corner of the building. At the sight of him Frank startedand pulled Bert by the sleeve.

  "What's the matter?" asked Harry's cousin.

  "That man!" whispered Frank. "See him! That's the one who gave me thebad money--the Confederate twenty dollar bill. What
can he be doinghere? Oh, if I could only get Mr. Mason's money back from that man!"

  "Let's wait and see what he is doing," suggested Harry. The man hadnot yet seen them. The boys could watch him as he seemed to be hidingback of the corner of the country store.

  "He's up to some trick, I'm sure," said Bert.

  A few seconds later Mr. Mack, the owner of the store, came out andwalked down the village street. Hardly had he started off than thestrange man quickly went into the store.

  "He's going to take the money!" exclaimed Bert. "There's no one in thestore now. He waited for Mr. Mack to come out, so he could go in andget the money."

  "No, I don't think that," spoke Harry. "George Smith, a boy I know,works for Mr. Mack, and attends to the store when Mr. Mack goes out.George must be in there now."

  "Well, that man is up to some trick, I'm sure!" exclaimed Frank. "Howcan we find out what it is?"

  "We can go in the store through the back door," said Harry. "Come on,we'll do it, and sneak in quietly! Then we can see what's going on."

  Quietly the three boys went into the store through the rear entrance.No one up front could see them because of the piles of boxes andbarrels in front of the counters.

  "Well, what can I do for you to-day?" the three heard George Smith askthe stranger.

  "I want two pounds of the best butter," was the man's answer. "And Isuppose you can change a twenty dollar bill, can't you?"

  "Oh, yes," said George. "We've got that much change."

  "You were sure of that?" asked the man, glancing around the storenervously.

  "Yes, sir, we always keep plenty of change on hand."

  "Very well then, go and weigh out the butter and be sure and give megood weight."

  "We always give full weight, sir," answered George.

  Bert and the others could hear, but could not see George as he weighedout the butter. Then Frank whispered:

  "I want to get near enough so I can see what kind of a twenty dollarbill that man gives this boy. Maybe it will be no good, just as hefooled me."

  "Come over here," whispered Harry. "You can look through this crackbetween two boxes. It's right near the cash drawer, and you can seethe bill when George makes change for it."

  Frank crept up to make an observation, and as the store boy took thebill from the man, and began making change, Frank could not hold backany longer. He saw that the bill was the same kind that had fooledhim. It was Confederate money, and utterly worthless.

  "Don't give that man any change!" cried Frank. "That's bad money!"

  CHAPTER XXII

  HAPPY DAYS

  Bert and Harry were so surprised at Frank's sudden call, that, for afew seconds, they did not know what to do or say. George Smith, theboy in the store, was also startled. He stood with the bad twentydollar bill in his hand, wondering where the warning voice had comefrom. And then Frank showed how quick he could be.

  "Hurry up!" he whispered to Bert and Harry. "One of you slip aroundand lock the front door, and the other one lock the back. Then we'llhave this man trapped, and maybe I can make him pay back the money hegot from me. Quick!"

  "I'll go to the front door!" exclaimed Harry.

  "And I'll lock the back one!" said Bert.

  The man, who had heard Frank's call from behind the pile of boxes,must have known something had gone wrong with his plan to cheat.

  "Never mind about the butter," he said quickly. "I guess I won't buyany after all. Just give me back my twenty dollar bill, and I'll getalong."

  "Oh, no, you won't!" exclaimed Harry, as he slipped around somebarrels. Quickly running to the front door, the country boy locked it,and stood in front of it.

  "Hurry! Give me my money back, I tell you!" cried the man to George,who stood near the cash drawer, not knowing what to do.

  "Don't you give it to him!" advised Frank, stepping out. "Lock theback door, Bert," he called.

  "I have!" cried the older Bobbsey boy.

  The man started to run behind the counter, to find a way out, but hewas too late. Bert had locked the door, and taken out the key.

  "Let me out of here!" cried the stranger. "Let me out!"

  Bert and Harry were somewhat frightened, but Frank was brave.

  "You don't get out of here until you pay back the twenty dollars youcheated out of Mr. Mason," he said.

  "I don't know anything about any Mr. Mason!" the stranger said. "Iwant my twenty dollar bill back, I won't need any butter to-day!"

  "Don't give him that money!" cried Frank to George. "It's bad, and ifyou give it to him, he'll try to cheat someone else with it."

  "I'll fix you!" cried the man. But at that instant there was arattling sound at the front door, and Harry, looking through the glasspanels, saw Mr. Mack, the store owner, and two or three other menoutside.

  "What's the matter? What has happened? Why am I locked out of my ownstore?" cried Mr. Mack, rattling the knob.

  "There's a cheat in here!" cried Harry, unlocking the door. "There heis!" he went on, as Mr. Mack rushed in. "That man tried to pass a badtwenty dollar bill on your boy," went on Harry.

  "He did, eh?" cried Mr. Mack. "Well, I'll see about that!"

  "You let me go!" exclaimed the strange man. "I haven't done anything.I wanted some butter, but I changed my mind. There isn't anythingwrong in that. Give me my twenty dollar bill and I'll go!"

  "Oh, no, you'll not--not until you explain," said Mr. Mack, and hecaught the man by the arm. Then the man tried to break away.

  "Here, help me hold him!" Mr. Mack called to some of his friends whohad come in with him. "We'll see what this is all about. Who canexplain?" he asked, looking at Bert, Harry and Frank, in turn.

  "He can," said Bert, pointing to the former circus boy.

  At this the stranger took a good look at Frank, and he seemed muchworried.

  "I see you know me," said Frank with a smile.

  The man muttered something to himself.

  In a few words Frank told how he had been cheated by the old twentydollar Confederate bill the man had passed on him some time ago, inthe lumber office.

  "And when I saw that man, to-day, for the first time since, hidingaround your store," went on Frank to Mr. Mack, "I thought perhaps hewas up to some of his old tricks. He went in as soon as you went out,and I saw him give your clerk the same kind of a bad bill he gave me.Only I gave him eighteen good dollars in change."

  "But I didn't," said George Smith with a grateful look at Frank. "Iwas warned in time."

  "I tell you it is all a mistake," said the man. "You had better let mego."

  "The only place you will go to is prison," cried Mr. Mack. "Take himaway, Constable Sprigg," he said to one of the men who had come intothe store with him. "Take him away!"

  So the man who had cheated Frank, and who had nearly cheated Mr.Mack, was locked up in jail. It was found that he had manyConfederate bills with him. That money was once good in the SouthernStates, during war-times, but now it is of no value, and will not buyeven a stick of candy.

  Of course grown persons could not be fooled by the Confederate bills,but boys, who had never seen any of that money, might be easilydeceived. And it was on boys that the man played his tricks, givingthem bad twenty dollar bills for some small purchase, and getting goodmoney in change.

  "He just waited until Mr. Mack went out of his store," explainedFrank, "and he knew only a boy was left in charge. That's how hetricked me, waiting until Mr. Mason was out of the office."

  "Well, you did me a good service," said Mr. Mack, "and if ever you arein need of work, I'll give you a place in my store to help George whenI am out."

  "I guess Frank is going back in the lumber business," said Bert.

  The next day Mr. Mason came in answer to the letter he had receivedabout Frank. He brought with him the bad twenty dollar bill the manhad cheated Frank with, and a little later the dishonest man was takenaway by a policeman, and put in a place where he would have to workhard as a punishment for cheating honest persons. The Bobbseys neve
rsaw him again.

  Everyone said Frank was very smart to catch the cheat as he had done.Mr. Mason received back his twenty dollars, for the man had some goodmoney in his pockets when arrested.

  "And now are you ready to come back with me, Frank?" asked Mr. Mason,when everything had come out right.

  "I--I guess so," was the rather slow answer.

  "My girls are anxious to see you again," the lumber merchant went on."They have missed you very much. And I want to say I am sorry I was socross and severe with you," he added. "I was provoked that you shouldbe cheated, but I realize now that it was not your fault. That manmade it his business to fool boys with his bad bills. Will you comeback, Frank? I promise to treat you better from now on."

  "Yes, he will go back," said Uncle Daniel, "but he hasn't had much funthis summer. Suppose you leave him here at Meadow Brook for a while. Ithink it will do Frank good."

  "All right," agreed Mr. Mason. "But my wife and the girls are anxiousto have him home. But let him stay here for a time."

  And so happy days began for Frank Kennedy, and the happy dayscontinued for the Bobbsey twins, and their friends and relatives. Thelong summer days on the farm were filled with good times.

  One morning Freddie and Flossie went out in the kitchen where Dinahand Martha were busy making sandwiches and wrapping cakes in waxedpaper.

  "Are we going to have company?" asked Flossie.

  "We's gwine t' hab annuder picnic!" exclaimed Dinah. "A big one!"

  "Oh, goodie!" cried Freddie. "And I'm going to take my fire engine tothe woods and squirt water on snakes."

  "Well, don't pump any fire engine watah on ole Dinah, honey lamb!"begged the fat cook.

  "Oh, a picnic! What fun!" cried Nan, when she heard about it.

  And such good times as the Bobbseys had when they went to the coolgreen woods, with well-filled lunch baskets! Mr. Mack, the storekeeper, was so grateful to Frank, for having saved the twenty dollarsfor him, that he sent a large bag of cakes and oranges for thewoodland-dinner.

  Frank went with the others, and a number of country boys and girlswere invited. They played games and sat about in the long grass undershady trees to eat the good things Dinah and Martha had cooked.Freddie played with his fire engine to his heart's content, and,though he managed to get pretty wet himself, no one else sufferedmuch.

  And, a few days before Frank was to go back to his guardian Mr.Bobbsey gave the children another treat. They were taken to a nicemoving picture show at Rosedale where the circus had been.

  After some funny reels had been shown, there was flashed on the screena schoolhouse, with the children clustering about the teacher.

  "Oh, it's us! It's us!" whispered Nan. "Those are our pictures!"

  "So they are!" agreed Bert. And they were. Views of the sham battlethe children had witnessed were thrown on the screen, and then came ascene showing Freddie. No sooner had he noticed himself in thepictures than he cried out loud:

  "Oh, that's me! Now watch me fall in the brook!"

  And he did, amid the laughter of the audience.

  I wish I had space to tell you of all the other things the Bobbseysdid at Meadow Brook, but this book is as full as it will hold. So Iwill just say that when the time came Frank went back to Mr. Mason'shome, and, a little later, the Bobbseys taking Snoop and Snap, wentback to Lakeport, there to spend some weeks at home, until it was timeto go on another vacation. And so, having enjoyed the company of thetwins, we will say goodbye to them.

  THE END