WHEN THE WIZARD WAVED HIS WAND
"Don't forget for a minute," cautioned Hugh, as they started on their
way toward the humble cottage home of Matilda and her husband, "that
Brother Lu asked us to act quite natural when we came along."
"I'm on," responded Thad, though it was only with the greatest difficulty
that he seemed able to repress the glow in his eyes that told of
secret joy. "He means by that, you are to ask Matilda whether she's
ready for another batch of sewing stuff that both of our mothers
have ready, which I happen to know is the case. And then I suppose
Brother Lu will ask us to join them on their little holiday outing,
since he's made himself master of ceremonies for today. Say, will a
hungry fish snap at an angleworm when it's dangled just in front of
its nose? Well, we'll thank Brother Lu for being so kind, and as we
have nothing else to do we'll accept with celerity, eh, Hugh? Is that
the programme?"
So talking and laughing, they walked on. Soon they arrived at the
cottage, where they found the three inmates just getting ready to
start forth. Matilda had a covered basket already packed. She
welcomed the two lads with a happy smile. Birthdays came and went
in her life just as they did with other people, only as a rule there
was scant reason to celebrate them, save as they marked the fact that
Matilda was "getting old."
But somehow the presence of cheery Brother Lu seemed to have started
something. Possibly, although Matilda could not dream of what was
coming, some intuition caused her to feel that this day was to be
different from any other in her past. A sense of something good
impending may have thrilled her poor pulses, though if asked why she
found any particular reason for smiling, and throwing off her yoke
of worry for a brief spell, she could have given no intelligent answer.
Brother Lu bustled up. He seemed very important, indeed.
"Glad to see you, boys," he said, holding out his hand, which Thad
actually seized eagerly; although just a few hours before he had
been telling himself how delighted he would be to form one of a party
of determined fellows who might visit the Hosmer cottage at midnight,
and warn the ex-hobo to clear out of the neighborhood on penalty of
having something decidedly unpleasant happen to him if he refused.
But then that was before Thad had heard the wonderful story which
Hugh unleashed, and fired at him as he sat there gaping and listening
and slyly pinching his thigh so as to learn whether he were awake,
or asleep and dreaming.
"Looks like you folks might be going on a picnic somewhere?" remarked
Hugh, taking his cue from something Brother Lu had said to him before.
"Just what we expect to do, lads," hastily replied the other, with
a wink, when he believed neither of the Hosmers was looking at him.
"You see, this happens to be Tilly's birthday. She hasn't had
a real one for ever so long, and Andrew and me, why, we've fixed
it that she should take a holiday from her drudgery and we'd all
go off for a little lark. Now, perhaps you two would like to keep
us company. How about that, boys? You've been pretty kind to my
sister, and we all feel that you're our good friends. What do you
say about tagging along? In my walks about this section of country,
I've chanced to make a few acquaintances. One of these is managing
a kind of pretty place about two miles away from here; and he suggested
that I fetch my sister and brother-in-law across country today.
He reckoned that they'd kind of enjoy looking over the nest his
employer has bought and fitted up, though he ain't really taken
possession yet. Tilly, tell Hugh and Thad they'll be welcome to
a snack with us at noon. This is a day we all want to remember,
you know. Let tomorrow and dull care look out for themselves.
That's the tramp's motto."
Matilda readily complied, and she meant it from the bottom of her
heart too, for she was becoming very fond of both boys. Doubtless
when she carried the basket back into the house to add to its contents,
she must have swept the pantry clean. But as Brother Lu said, why
bother about the future when they meant to have a whole day free
from carking care. Tomorrow would be time enough to take up the
heavy burdens of life again.
And so they started forth, chatting, and so far as appearances went,
quite happy. Thad was in a fever of suppressed excitement. He felt
certain that that splendid car would come into the little drama
somehow or other; and for once he guessed aright.
"There's a car on the side of the road that has stopped to let the
driver do a little repairing, I guess," remarked Brother Lu, quite
innocently. "And say, I know that man right well. We've talked
several times when I was roving around seeing what the country
surrounding Scranton looked like. He even calls me Lu and I know him
as Jerry. He's a pretty decent sort of fellow in the bargain. Why,
he even said that sometime when he didn't have the boss along with him,
he'd like to give all of us a little joy ride. Tilly here told me
only yesterday she never had been out in a car except once in a
little broken-down flivver; and then she had to walk back home,
nearly three miles. I wonder if Jerry wouldn't pick us up and take
us over to the Hoover place right now. I've a good mind to ask him.
Would you like it, Tilly?"
Would she? Matilda's sparkling eyes proclaimed that it would give
her infinite delight; and so Brother Lu, with the assurance that
every ex-tramp possesses in abundance, stepped up to the man who was
putting his tools away in the chest where they belonged.
Jerry made an involuntary gesture with his right hand. He had been
about to touch his cap respectfully, but caught himself just in time.
"Hello, Jerry!" sang out the breezy one, giving the chauffeur a
hearty slap on the shoulder that must have somewhat astonished him;
"you told me you'd be right glad to give my folks a little joy ride
if the chance ever came along. We're heading right now for the
Hoover place, and would be obliged to you to give us a lift, because
we'll have to walk all the way back; and brother-in-law Andrew here
isn't a well man. How about it, Jerry, old top?"
Jerry grinned as though enjoying the joke.
"Sure I can---Lu," he managed to say, though it evidently came a bit
hard for him to be so familiar with his rich employer's first name.
"Just bundle in, and we'll take a round-about way there. I can give
you half an hour, easy enough, and the old man need never know
the difference in the gas supply."
They all got in, "old man" and all, for the car had supplementary
seats to be used in emergencies, being built for seven passengers.
Thad and Hugh were trying hard to keep from exhibiting broad grins
on their faces; though, for that matter, neither of those simple,
guileless souls would have suspected the least thing had the boys
laughed outright in their happiness.
They had a splendid ride, and must have covered many miles while
that wonderful half-hour was being used up. Matilda looked supremely
happy. Now and then Hugh saw her glance rest admiringly on Brother
Lu. She must have begun to believe that after all the coming of
this poor sick brother of hers, who had appeared so forlorn, and
with such a dreadful and alarming cough, was gradually emerging from
his chrysalis stage, and becoming a full-fledged magician.
Greatly to the amusement of the boys, Brother Lu would every little
while ask Matilda how she liked such a car, and seemed to chuckle
softly to himself when she rolled up her eyes in an expressive fashion,
and declared that it surely must be getting pretty close to Paradise
to be able to go about the beautiful country in such a palatial
conveyance; poor Matilda had evidently been accustomed to considering
it an event when she managed by great good luck to get an invitation
to take a ride in an ordinary country buggy or farm wagon.
Then finally they passed in through the gate of the Hoover estate.
This estate had a reputation in Scranton as being the prettiest
little country place around. It had belonged to a wealthy gentleman
who had lately died in New York City. There were rumors that it
had changed hands, though no one seemed to have heard the name of
the new owner. Thad and Hugh could easily understand now why this
secrecy had been maintained. They caught many a sly wink from the
wizard, who sat back there with his sister and her husband, whenever
they looked around.
"Let's get out here," announced Brother Lu, with an air of importance
that must have further awed both Matilda and Andrew. "There's my
friend Billings, coming over to see who we are. I told him I wanted
to show you all around this elegant place, and he agreed to pilot
us about. Now, to look at him, managing this property, you'd never
think that Malcolm Billings was once down and out, and the worst-looking
tramp that ever took to the road; but it's true. I remember him
well. We first met riding on the rods of a freight car out on the
Santa Fe road. You see, some rich fellow took a fancy to Malcolm,
and gave him a chance to make good; and I reckon he's a-doing that
same, all right."
He greeted the other familiarly as "Mal," and having been drilled in
his part, the manager of the place called him "Wandering Lu," as
though he could not dissociate the other from the roving life of
the past. The boys, keenly watching, could see that he quickly
turned his eyes on Matilda and Andrew when introduced by Brother
Lu; and also that there was a light in their depths that told how
he appreciated this little surprise which the other was playing.
So they started to see first of all the grounds, which consisted
of many acres, all in a high state of cultivation, and with flower
gardens, vegetable ditto, and all manner of fine fruits, such as
a rich man loves to grow on his own country place. There were even
Jersey cows, and fowls of various breeds, as well as a flock of
pigeons that gave Matilda more delight than anything else; for secretly
it had always been a pet wish of hers to some day have a flock of
doves fluttering around her head, just as she had seen the tame
ones of St. Mark's in Venice do---in pictures, of course, because
Matilda had never been abroad---as yet.
Had either of them been in the least suspicious they might have
wondered just why Jerry, for instance, had taken the big car over
to the garage and started to clean it as though it really belonged
there. The boys saw this, but not Matilda or Andrew, who were in
a seventh heaven of rapture, and not walking on earth.
Then they went to the house, where a matronly woman met them. Brother
Lu, more than ever like a magician of the first water, seemed to
be friendly with the housekeeper also, for he introduced his sister
and the others to Mrs. Husted. She took her cue from Mr. Billings,
who was also present, and tried to act as though she were condescending
to agree to show these strangers through the beautiful house; but
it was an exceedingly hard task for her, because she knew that with
the wave of the wizard's wand this lady would henceforth become her
mistress.
Thad, lingering behind, could hardly contain himself. He would
again and again manage to give Hugh a knock with his elbow, and
gurgle something half under his breath, only to have the other shake
a finger at him, and add a look of reproof.
They went through the house from top to bottom.
"Now, if you don't mind, Mrs. Husted, I'd like my folks to see the
dining-room, for it's the best part of the whole establishment,
according to the notion of men like Malcolm and me, who have known
what it is to go hungry many a time during our adventurous lives."
The obliging housekeeper complied with a degree of alacrity that
must have still further astonished Matilda. When they entered the
room, to discover a table set for just five persons and fairly groaning
beneath the weight of all manner of good things, Thad drew a long
breath; for now he knew that the grand announcement could not be
much longer delayed. And he also knew that poor Matilda's simple
luncheon, resting in the covered basket under the tree outside,
would in all likelihood remain untouched.
"Why, what do you think of that?" remarked Brother Lu, appearing
to be very much surprised. "Here are places for just five, the
number we count. Wouldn't it be a great joke now if we had the
nerve to sit down, and partake of this little spread. Mrs. Husted,
this is my sister's birthday, the only one she's really had, I guess,
for more than twenty years. Perhaps you wouldn't mind if we celebrated
the event and tried to do justice to this luncheon. Matilda, let me
give you this seat of honor at the head of the table. Andrew, old
scout, you are to sit opposite your wife Boys, find places, and I'll
take this seat."
Matilda and Andrew allowed themselves to be almost pushed into their
respective chairs. They were dumb, and seemed almost in a dream.
Matilda could not take her wondering eyes off this astonishing
brother of hers, who now must have looked very like the fairy prince
to her. She was an automaton in his hands, and he could have done
anything with her. But, of course, presently she would awaken,
and find it all one of those amazing dreams that so often come to
tantalize the very poor.
Now Brother Lu was standing there. He bent forward and looked
affectionately at his sister. His eyes were sparkling still, but from
quite another cause, Hugh saw; though his own orbs were also dimmed,
and he had to wink very rapidly in order to keep the tears from flowing
down his cheeks.
"Well, Matilda, how do you like your new home?" said Brother Lu;
"for henceforth you and your husband are to live here to the end
of your days. It has been bought, and placed in your name. Yes,
I'm going to own up, sister mine, that Brother Lu had been playing
a cruel joke, but with a good object. I'm not a poor, forlorn hobo,
as I led you to believe, neither am I dying by inches. I hope to
live some years yet, to see the two I love drink heartily from the
cup of happiness. All this is but a drop in the bucket to what
is coming. You shall make up for some of the lean years you've
spent so bravely, buoying up each other's courage. Yes, and that
tender heart of yours, Tilly, shall be given plenty of opportunities
to bring good cheer to those who are almost down and out. And boys,
I'm right glad that you're here with us to see the mask removed, and
Brother Lu stand out in his true colors. Matilda has stood the test,
and proved to me that her heart is of pure gold. She deserves
everything that is coming to her. Now, I know you boys haven't
lost your appetites, if the rest of us are too happy to think much
of eating; so let's get busy, and do justice to this little spread,
given in honor of Tilly's birthday!"
Which they accordingly did, and it would hardly be proper in any
one to tell how much Thad ate, and how both of them felt that they
were seeing one of the most enjoyable occasions in their entire lives.
And later on the boys were taken home in the big car, to rest up a
bit, so as to be in trim for the game with Belleville that afternoon.