Part 60

"It's pretty hard," said Joel, trying not to sniffle, "to have a fellow you bring home from school turn his back on you."

"Well, he couldn't turn his back on you," said Ben, wanting very much to laugh, but he restrained himself, "if you went with him."

"I can't follow him about," said Joel, in a loud tone of disgust. "He's twanging his old banjo all the time, and Polly's got him to sing, and he's practising up. I wish 'twas smashed."

"What?" said Ben, only half comprehending.

"Why, his old banjo. I didn't think he'd play it all the time," said Joel, who was secretly very proud of his friend's accomplishments; and he displayed a very injured countenance.

"See here, now, Joe," said Ben, laying a very decided hand on Joel's jacket, "do you just drop all this, and come out of your hole. Aren't you ashamed, Joe! Run along, and find Beresford, and pitch into whatever he's doing."

"I can't do anything for that old concert," said Joel, who obeyed enough to come "out of the old hole," but stood glancing at Ben with sharp black eyes.

"I don't know about that," said Ben, "you can at least help to get the tickets ready."

"Did Polly say so?" demanded Joel, all in a glow. "Say, Ben, did she?" advancing on him.

"No, but I do; for Polly asked me to do them; and you know, Joe, how busy I am all day."

He didn't say "how tired" also, but Joel knew how Ben was working at Cabot and Van Meter's, hoping to get into business life the sooner, to begin to pay Grandpapa back for all his kindness.

"Ben, if I can help you with those tickets I'll do it." Every trace of Joel's grumpiness had flown to the four winds. "Let me, will you?" he begged eagerly.

"All right." Ben had no need to haul him along, as Joel raced on ahead up to Ben's room to get the paraphernalia.

"I can't think what's become of Joel," said Polly, flying down the long hall in great perplexity, "we want him dreadfully. Have you seen him, Phronsie?"

"No," said Phronsie, "I haven't, Polly," and a look of distress came into her face.

"Never mind, Pet," said Polly, her brow clearing, "I'll find him soon."

But Phronsie watched Polly fly off, with a troubled face. Then she said to herself, "I ought to find Joey for Polly," and started on a tour of investigation to suit herself.

Meanwhile Ben was giving Joel instructions about the tickets; and Joel presently was so absorbed he wouldn't have cared if all the Tom Beresfords in the world had deserted him, as he bent over his task, quite elated that he was helping Polly, and becoming one of the assistants to make the affair a success.

"I guess it's going to be a great thing, Ben," he said, looking up a moment from the pink and yellow pasteboard out of which he was cutting the tickets.

"You better believe so," nodded Ben, hugely delighted to see Joe's good spirits, when the door opened, and in popped Phronsie's yellow head.

She ran up to Joel. "Oh Joey!" she hummed delightedly, "I've found you," and threw herself into his arms.

Joel turned sharply, knife in hand. It was all done in an instant. Phronsie exclaimed, "Oh!" in such a tone that Ben, off in the corner of the room, whirled around, to see Joel, white as a sheet, holding Phronsie. "I've killed her," he screamed.

Ben sprang to them. The knife lay on the table, where Joel had thrown it, a little red tinge along the tip. Ben couldn't help seeing it as he dashed by, with a groan.

"Give her to me," he commanded hoarsely.

"No, no--I'll hold her," persisted Joel, through white lips, and hanging to Phronsie.

"Give her to me, and run down for Father Fisher."

"It doesn't hurt much, Joey," said Phronsie, holding up her little arm. A small stream of blood was flowing down, and she turned away her head.

Joel took one look, and fled with wild eyes. "I don't believe it's very bad," Ben made himself call after him hoarsely. "Now, Phronsie, you'll sit in my lap--there; and I'll keep this old cut together as well as I can. We must hold your arm up, so, child." Ben made himself talk as fast as he could to keep Phronsie's eyes on him.