As he did not know, the next best thing was to
pretend it was no consequence anyhow, and find out as quickly as
possible; therefore Robert Day said:
"Ho! Maybe he hasn't any."
"He has more gold pieces 'n ever you seen," proceeded Jonathan
weightily.
"Then why don't he give you some?" exclaimed aunt Corinne with a
wriggle. "I had a gold dollar, but I b'lieve that little old man with
a bag on his back stole it."
Jonathan and Thrusty Ellen made round eyes at a young damsel who had
been trusted with gold.
[Illustration]
"My fawther calls 'em yeller boys," said Jonathan. "He carries 'em
and his paper money in a belt fastened round his waist under all his
clothes."
"You don't ought to tell," said Thrusty Ellen. "Father said we
shouldn't talk about it."
"_He_ won't steal it," said Jonathan, indicating Robert with
his thumb. "_She_ won't neither," indicating aunt Corinne.
Aunt Corinne with some sharpness assured the Virginia children that
her nephew and herself were indeed above such suspicion; that Ma
Padgett and brother Tip had the most money, and even Zene was well
provided with dollars; while they had silver spoons among their goods
that Ma-Padgett said had been in the family more than fifty years!
Jonathan and Thrusty Ellen accepted this information with much
stolidity.
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