THE FINDING OF MARIETTE
Inspector Grey’s car once more hummed along the dusty road, but this
time it contained, besides the two constables, Danny and the Mysterious
Tramp.
The gipsy camp was still at Bradmead, but the swings were all folded
up, the big tent was down, there was no monotonous music from the
merry-go-round. The whole camp was under arrest. Black Bill’s sons and
all the men-folk had been taken into custody. Six stalwart policemen
were on guard, keeping an eye on the women and children.
Going up to the yellow caravan, Inspector Grey beat a sharp rat-tat on
the door. A hideous old woman put out her head and said: “Whaat-cher
waant?” But when she saw the police she became polite and whiny-piny.
Inspector Grey ordered her to get out of the caravan. She wouldn’t at
first, and said: “It wasn’t no place fit for a nice gentleman like him
to go in.” So the stalwart policeman chivalrously handed her out and
the Inspector entered.
Presently he reappeared at the top of the steps, holding by the hand
a pale little girl in a tattered brown dress and a shock of uncombed
golden hair.
A cry of joy broke from the Tramp.
“_Mariette!_”
He stood with open arms at the bottom of the yellow steps.
For a moment she looked at him with wide grey eyes. Then recognition
began to dawn in them. “_It’s--my--daddy!_” she cried, and jumped down
into his arms.
Inspector Grey looked the other way, and the policeman blew his
nose--he was a family man himself.
* * * * *
The morning sun filled the big library, and shone on the musty old
leather-backed books, the mahogany table, and quaint dog-irons in the
fireplace.
Very silent and wide-eyed, David, Bill and Nipper sat on three big
leather chairs. The Mysterious Tramp (now clad in a grey flannel suit,
his arm in a black silk sling) sat in a deep armchair; and on the
hearthrug stood Mr. Ogden, his face set and pale, his knobbly hands
working nervously.
“Boys,” he said, “my grandsons; Mr. Graham--I have something to say to
you of a very grave nature. It is difficult to say--let us get it over
quickly.
“In the past I was guilty of a very terrible crime. To cover my own
guilt and to escape its just punishment, I played a horrible trick
upon an innocent man, by which he was accused of my crime. He suffered
the seven years’ imprisonment that was my desert. He lost the little
daughter whom he loved. He lost all. His career was ruined. He was
turned out into the world--_a tramp_.
“And I? I lived here in luxury--luxury bought at his expense. Did my
luxury make me happy? No. The canker of remorse was eating into my
heart.
“Then came a memorable night when the man I had wronged saw me in the
power of my enemies, saw his wrong about to be avenged. But he had
forgiven me. He did that which is the highest sign of love which one
man can give another--he risked his life to save mine.
“What can I do to repay him for all he has unjustly suffered? I can
only give him _all I have_--this house, my wealth. You, my grandsons, I
have entrusted to his care. He is your guardian. Obey him as if he was
your father. And what is to happen to me? Many years of prison are due
to me. I cannot look any man in the face until I have paid my debt to
justice.
“To-day I go to London to await my trial. I shall go to prison. If I
ever come out alive I shall have to depend on the charity of the man
I have wronged. Good-bye, my children, good-bye. Remember what I have
told you. If you ever sin against man and against God confess your sin
and bear your punishment, or life will hold only bitterness for you,
and death only fear. Pray for me sometimes, and be good sons to this
man.”
Very stiffly, he gave each boy a kiss, shook hands with the Tramp and,
turning, strode out of the room.
There was a whir and buzz, and Inspector Grey’s car moved away down the
drive.
Luncheon was a rather silent meal. Mariette did most of the talking;
and there was one fairly animated argument between her and Nipper, as
to which end you should cut a cucumber.
“Look here, we really must cheer up,” said the Tramp, as they rose from
the table and walked out into the hall. “Well, kiddies, what do you
think of your new father?”
“We are jolly glad!” said Bill. “Shall we _call_ you Father?”
“You sha’n’t call him _Daddy_,” said Mariette quickly.
“Yes, you can call me Father, if you like,” said the Tramp, laughing.
“And we’ve got a _sister_, now!” said David.
“Yes,” said Mariette shyly. She had a marked preference for David, who
protected her from Nipper.
“And Danny can be our big brother,” said Bill, who hadn’t much use for
girls.
“All we want now,” said Nipper, “is a mother.” Then a bright idea
struck him. “Miss Prince can be our mother!” he cried.
Danny kicked him, and told him in a whisper to shut up, but Nipper
didn’t see why he should shut up over such a splendid idea.
“But she _can_ be our mother, can’t she?” he said, appealing to the
Tramp.
“Yes, yes!” cried the others altogether--even Mariette, who had already
found in Miss Prince the mother’s tenderness she had never known.
“_Can_ she be our mother? Say yes, say yes!” pleaded Nipper, clinging
to the Tramp’s hand.
“Don’t be so previous, Nipper,” said the Tramp. “I was only waiting for
all you chaps to clear out, to ask Miss Prince that myself. Come,” he
said, stretching out his free hand towards her, “let’s go out into the
garden and hide our blushes--this is too painful!”
As they went out of the French window Nipper caught hold of Miss
Prince’s hand.
“Say yes,” he whispered--“_to please me_.”
“All right,” whispered back Miss Prince.
* * * * *
And that is how the three naughty boys at the Hall became three good
boys, and obtained a father, a mother, a sister, and best of all, a big
brother--Danny, the Detective.
THE END.
_Printed in Great Britain by_ Butler & Tanner, _Frome and London_
Transcriber’s Notes
Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.
Small capitals are changed to all capitals.
Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up the paragraphs.
Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected
after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and
consultation of external sources. Except for those changes noted below,
all misspellings in the text, and inconsistent or archaic usage, have
been retained.
The following corrections have been applied to the text (before/after):
(p. 9)
... cry-cry-cry baby.’ The ...
... cry-cry-cry baby.” The ...
(p. 15)
... ‘give in to myself” ...
... ‘give in to myself’ ...
(p. 32)
... Cub spirit,”’ said Danny; ...
... Cub spirit,” said Danny; ...
(p. 34)
... in Cub-master’s uniform, ...
... in Cubmaster’s uniform, ...
(p. 47)
‘I went on to ...
“I went on to ...
(p. 72)
... their caravans At last ...
... their caravans. At last ...
(facing p. 76)
_To face page 76._
[_To face page 76._
(p. 83)
... off the cocoa-nut shie. ...
... off the cocoanut shie. ...
(p. 88)
... ’cos their awfully ...
... ’cos they’re awfully ...
(p. 99)
... the word,
... the word.
(p. 108)
... he had forgottten--he and ...
... he had forgotten--he and ...
(p. 110)
... sheds or cow-houses in ...
... sheds or cowhouses in ...
(p. 116)
“Nor they don’t!” ...
“No they don’t!” ...
(facing p. 118)
[_To face page 108._
[_To face page 118._
(p. 120)
... Thomas Moore in the ...
... Thomas More in the ...
(p. 125)
... dog-irons in the fire-place.
... dog-irons in the fireplace.