r t
 
 TOYMAKERS
 
 " Daisy kicked her heels against the table legs.
 
 THE 
 
 TOYMAKERS 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARLES FELTON PIDGIN 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 QUINCr ADAMS SAWTER 
 BLENNERHASSETT, Etc. 
 
 The C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO. 
 
 BOSTON, MASS., U. S. A. 
 
 I 907
 
 Copyright, 1907. 
 
 THE C. M. CLARK. PUBLISHING CO., 
 Boston, Massachusetts, U. S. A. 
 
 Entered at 
 Stationer's Hall, London. 
 
 Dramatic and all other 
 RIGHTS RESERVED.
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Chapters 
 
 I The Little Red Mill 
 
 II What Was In It ? . 
 
 III The Stubbs Family , 
 
 IV The Son and the Servant . 
 V An Irate Father 
 
 VI Getting Ready for Something 
 
 VII The Toymakers Secret 
 
 VIII Sally Makes a Trade 
 
 IX The Little Cot by the River 
 
 X The Tailor and Miss Jones 
 
 XI The Squire and the Dressmaker 
 
 XII The Captain and the Milliner 
 
 XIII Prince Mephisto 
 
 XIV The Secret Out 
 
 XV From Boy to Girl . . 
 
 XVI A Wierd Incantation 
 
 XVII The Vital Spark 
 
 XVIII A Supper for Three 
 
 XIX A Debate on Matrimony . 
 
 XX " Little Jack Homer " . 
 
 XXI An Impromptu Concert 
 
 XXII The 44th Hussars . 
 
 XXIII Christmas Carols 
 
 XXIV The Underworld . 
 XXV A Forced Confession 
 
 XXVI Driven from Home 
 
 XXVII Old Hobblequinn . 
 
 XXVIII Old Pinch . 
 
 XXIX The Stuffed Bear . 
 
 XXX John B. Stubbs, Son & Co. 
 
 Page 
 I 
 
 9 
 20 
 
 26 
 
 35 
 46 
 
 52 
 58 
 67 
 
 74 
 
 83 
 
 92 
 
 100 
 
 109 
 
 116 
 
 126 
 
 H3 
 148 
 
 157 
 169 
 
 174 
 181 
 
 '93 
 
 200 
 208 
 2I 4 
 
 218 
 
 224 
 
 235 
 249 
 
 2229059
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE LITTLE RED MILL 
 
 MIDDLETON-ON-QUICK is in the heart of Eng- 
 land. By that is not meant the geographical 
 centre it is not a question of latitude and lon- 
 gitude. Nor the centre of population for big 
 London would then be the heart, and head, and 
 lungs of the nation. No, it is where the soil is 
 the most fertile, the sky the bluest, where the 
 sun shines brightest, and the birds sing sweet- 
 est where men are noble, and women true 
 there is the heart of England, and Middle ton-on- 
 Quick was not far from it. 
 
 There is no wish to mystify the reader. Mid- 1 
 dleton was the name of the village, and Quick 
 that of the river on which it was situated. At 
 
 1
 
 2 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 its origin, the Quick belied its name, for it was 
 very slow, being, at first, only a little brook way 
 up in the Dunmoor Hills. It ran merrily down 
 until it met another little brook; they were mar- 
 ried and kept on their way rejoicing. Then 
 came sons and daughters, and aunts and uncles, 
 and many cousins; so by the time it reached 
 Middleton it was a full-grown river, conscious of 
 its strength which was not used for any good 
 purpose until Malachi Stubbs built the little 
 red mill, and utilized the whizzing, whirling 
 wheel to supply him with power and for what? 
 To make horses and camels, dogs and goats, cats 
 and cows, elephants and tigers all to become in- 
 habitants of the Noah's Arks that were sent to 
 London, and all over England, to delight the chil- 
 dren of both rich and poor. 
 
 It was the day before Christmas the year 
 was long ago, so which particular one it was 
 does not matter. Dr. Bunch had been to Dun- 
 moor to buy some needed medicines, and some 
 gifts, to be credited to the generosity of Santa 
 Claus, for the little Bunches, of whom there were 
 six the eldest twelve.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 3 
 
 The main road in Middleton ran almost paral- 
 lel with the river, and Dr. Bunch scanned the 
 frozen Quick, expecting every moment to see his 
 son and namesake, Benjamin, glide by upon his 
 skates. His eye-quest was futile, and he turned 
 his attention to his old horse Peter, who be- 
 longed to the stop-ever breed. He did not wait 
 until he reached the foot of a hill the sight of 
 one in the distance was sufficient to give him a 
 partial paralysis. The Middleton boys said that 
 the Doctor pushed with the reins, and that if the 
 Doctor's gig had been put before old Peter, so 
 many patients would not have died before he got 
 there. But this was only village raillery. 
 
 " Hallo ! " cried the Doctor, as an old, doubled- 
 up specimen of humanity came in sight in a 
 cross-road. " How's your rheumatiz? " 
 
 " Nor better, nor worse," answered the old 
 man. " If I eat brown bread and drank cold 
 water, it would do me as much good as your 
 drugs, and cost less." 
 
 "No doubt of it, Mr. Bales," said the jolly 
 Doctor, " but as you prefer to eat roast pork and 
 drink hard cider, you'll have to pay the price."
 
 4 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " No, I won't nuther," said Mr. Bales. " Send 
 in your bill and don't come any more; if you do, 
 I won't pay you." 
 
 " Nor will I ask you to," said Dr. Bunch. 
 " But I must get home, so Merry Christmas, for 
 I may not see you on the morrow." 
 
 " One day's as good as another, and no one 
 of 'em better," was the old man's reply, as he 
 dug his pointed cane in the snow and walked on. 
 
 " Get up, Pete," the Doctor cried sharply, 
 giving the horse a cut with the whip, which un- 
 expected attention so startled the beast that he 
 gave a jump which nearly threw the Doctor 
 backwards into the road. 
 
 A little woman clad in sombre gray was just 
 entering a little shop, the windows of which were 
 filled with those wonderful creations of straw, 
 and feathers, and ribbons, and so much else 
 called women's bonnets and hats, when the Doc- 
 tor's gig came in sight. Old Pete was pulled up 
 with a jerk that gave him the toothache. 
 
 " Good afternoon, Miss Dunn Moore, and may 
 you have a beautiful Christmas." 
 
 " Thank you, Doctor," said the little woman,
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 5 
 
 " and so may you is my wish. You are 
 good to the poor, and may the Lord be good to 
 you." 
 
 "I'm sure to profit by the holiday," said the 
 Doctor, laughing. " I never saw a Christmas 
 that did not put pounds in my pocket." 
 
 " And pains in your patients," added Miss 
 Dunn Moore. 
 
 How she hated her name! She could not 
 change it in the church books, and no man had 
 offered her his. Perhaps if Dr. Bunch but to 
 think of that was foolish yes, sinful. But she 
 was sure her right name was Dunmoor, and 
 that she was the rightful owner of nearly the 
 whole town. 
 
 A stout woman " fat, fair, and forty " 
 stood at the window of the only dressmaking 
 establishment in Middleton. She saw the Doc- 
 tor and came to the door. 
 
 " Merry Christmas to you, Doctor Bunch ! " 
 
 " And to you, good Mistress Merrily. Years 
 may add to your age, but you look younger than 
 ever." 
 
 " Oh, lawks, Doctor, how you flatter ! "
 
 6 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 The Doctor placed his hand upon his heart, 
 and Old Pete, thinking the flirtation had gone 
 on long enough, and being a strictly moral 
 quadruped, started forward of his own accord, 
 unmindful of the fact that the Doctor stood up 
 in the gig, raised his hat, and made a profound 
 bow, for which the widow repaid him with a 
 graceful courtesy. 
 
 The Doctor was nearing the little red mill 
 but this side of it stood a little cottage, which 
 in summer was covered with vines and runners 
 and creepers, while all the old-fashioned flowers 
 our grandmothers loved made it an earthly para- 
 dise for butterflies, and humming birds, and 
 bees. 
 
 In it lived Mr. and Mrs. Larkin and Daisy, 
 their only grandchild. Had not Doctor Bunch 
 heard her first infant cry, and had he not sat by 
 her bedside many times when Death's wings 
 seemed to throw a shadow on her pale face? 
 Could he enjoy his Christmas unless some of the 
 gifts beneath the gig's seat were left to gladden 
 her eighteen but still a child in face and in- 
 nocence of thought?
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 7 
 
 " I'm sorry, Doctor, but Daisy is not at home. 
 She has gone to the mill. The toymakers have 
 a holiday to-morrow, and they are all going to 
 the masquerade at Dunmoor Barracks Cap- 
 tain Sabreton has invited them all. Are you go- 
 ing to the mill?" 
 
 The Doctor shook his head; not wisely, as a 
 Doctor should, but in a disappointed, dissatis- 
 fied way. " Give her this, with my blessing and 
 best wishes for her health and happiness." 
 
 He gave old Pete a vicious cut; this time the 
 Doctor was astonished, for Old Pete stood upon 
 his hind legs, lost his balance for he was not 
 an athletic animal, having neglected practis- 
 ing fell upon the right shaft and snapped it 
 off. 
 
 " Xow you will have to go to the mill and get 
 Tom and Johnnie to help you," cried Mrs. 
 Larkin, and the Doctor said to himself, softly: 
 " The man of wrath is sure of his reward." 
 
 The sun sank low in the West, painting the 
 clouds' with those wonderful colors that make 
 the painter despair. The door of the little red 
 mill was open, and sounds of youthful laugh-
 
 8 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 ter came from within. In a few hours the vil- 
 lage youth would sing carols, and the bells 
 would, in their way, sing " on earth peace, good 
 will toward men."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 WHAT WAS IN IT? 
 
 OLD PETE remained in the position in which 
 he originally fell. To the Doctor's entreaties, 
 and even to his actions 1 which savored of forc- 
 ible persuasion, he turned a deaf ear. His 
 master felt that he must have assistance, and so 
 he made his way quickly to the little red mill. 
 As he approached it, the door was thrown back, 
 and two young men came out, their exit being 
 followed by peal after peal of girlish laughter. 
 
 One of the young men was tall fully six 
 feet in height. with large red hands, red cheeks, 
 and red hair. Behind him came a little roly- 
 poly sort of a fellow, not more than four and a 
 half feet in height, with a big moon face, his 
 large mouth drawn into what appeared to be a 
 never-ending grin. 
 
 The tall young man was Thomas Bright, a
 
 io THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 nephew of Mr. John Stubbs. The fat little fel- 
 low was John Stubbs's son and only child, 
 Johnnie. 
 
 " What's the matter, Doctor? " asked Tom. 
 " Horse run away? " 
 
 " Never saw you walking before," added 
 Johnnie. 
 
 The Doctor gave a brief description of the ac- 
 cident and the predicament in which he was 
 placed. 
 
 " Oh, that's easy," said Johnnie. " All you 
 want is two pieces of iron with holes bored in 
 them, and put them on the broken shaft and 
 screw them down tight and it'll be just as good 
 as new. I saw one over to Dunmoor Barracks 
 fixed that way." 
 
 " Much obliged to you, Johnnie," said the 
 Doctor. " The only trouble is we have not got 
 the pieces of iron and the screws." 
 
 "Well, we can get the next best thing to 
 it, Doctor," cried Tom. " I can get two pieces 
 of wood and some strong cord, and we can put 
 what we call a splint on it, same as we did when 
 Daisy Dane's pet chicken broke its leg."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS n 
 
 " That ia what I was going to suggest," said 
 the Doctor ; " but have you got the pieces of 
 wood and the cord?" 
 
 " Oh, yes," said Tom, " I can get them in a 
 minute," and he ran into the mill. 
 
 " We might as well walk down," said the Doc- 
 tor. " Perhaps Old Pete will get up and run 
 away." 
 
 " Kun away ! " laughed Johnnie. " If he ran 
 it would be the first time." 
 
 They found Old Pete reposing quietly. The 
 combined exertions of the three were necessary 
 to induce him to resume a perpendicular posi- 
 tion and allow him to be detached from the gig, 
 so that the repairs on the shaft could be com- 
 pleted. 
 
 " Won't you stop at the mill, Doctor? " asked 
 Johnnie. " To-morrow is a holiday, you know, 
 and the girls are having a frolic. Daisy Dane 
 is there." 
 
 The Doctor wished to accept the invitation. 
 He wanted to speak with Daisy to wish her a 
 Merry Christmas, and look into her pretty face, 
 and hear her sweet voice, but he could not make
 
 12 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 up his mind to do this with a lot of chattering, 
 giggling girls hearing every word and watching 
 every movement. 
 
 " I really cannot stop, Johnnie. I ought to 
 be at home now. I called at Mrs. Larkin's and 
 left word for Daisy, so if you will just tell her 
 that I did so, I think I shall move on." 
 
 The Doctor had named his house " Quick 
 Hall." As he sent his bills to his patients once 
 a month, Mr. Bales said that he ought to change 
 its name to " Quick Haul," but when he repeated 
 his first and only joke to Lord Middleton, that 
 gentleman replied that Dr. Bunch's action was 
 all right, for he had six hungry mouths to feed, 
 while the late Dr. Springer was a bachelor, and 
 besides, he had a government pension which was 
 sufficient to support him. 
 
 The boys went back to the mill while the Doc- 
 tor drove towards his home, which was half a 
 mile distant. He had not proceeded far when he 
 saw a man leaning up against a hedge, an ex- 
 pression of acute pain upon his face. 
 
 " Matthew Quinn ! Why, what's the mat- 
 ter? "
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 13 
 
 Mr. Quinn was the village constable. Years 
 ago, in attempting to arrest a young scapegrace, 
 who had climbed to the top of a shed, Mr. Quinn 
 had lost his balance, had fallen to the ground, 
 and broken his leg. The accident left him with 
 a marked limp in his gait and the irreverent 
 youth of the village who formerly called him 
 " Mr. Quinn," when he could run even faster 
 than they could, now called him " Hobble 
 Quinn," because they had no difficulty in elud- 
 ing him. 
 
 " Well, the fact is, Doctor," said Mr. Quinn, 
 " them boys have been up to it again. They 
 pelted me with snowballs and I ran after them 
 down Apple Lane; but the young miscreants 
 had tied a cord across the lane between two trees 
 and I got a tumble and I'm afraid I've broken 
 my kneepan. Every time I step it cuts through 
 me like a knife." 
 
 " Well, come, get in here," said the good-na- 
 tured Doctor, " and I will take you to your home, 
 and as soon as I've told my wife that I'm safe 
 and sound, I'll run down and take a look at 
 you."
 
 14 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 It was with considerable difficulty that the 
 ponderous Mr. Quinn was assisted into the gig. 
 They had not proceeded far before they met a 
 natty dogcart, in which sat a gentleman of a 
 decided military appearance. Both drivers drew 
 up their horses, and the military gentleman 
 made a salute. 
 
 " Ah, Doctor, glad to see you." 
 
 " Same to you, Captain Sabreton. Why so far 
 away from your command?" 
 
 " Well, the fact is that Squire Goldfish agreed 
 to act as one of the patrons and his wife as one 
 of the patronesses at our masquerade to-night. 
 This afternoon I got word that they would be 
 unable to be present, and I came over to learn 
 the cause of their declination which I was afraid 
 proceeded from something serious." 
 
 " If either of them was sick, I should have 
 heard of it," said the Doctor. 
 
 " Oh, it's not a physical trouble, but it seems 
 that the Squire's wife spoke to the rector, and 
 although he has no objection to an ordinary 
 party, he draws the line at masquerades, so the 
 good lady's moral principles will not allow her
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 15 
 
 to be present, and, of course, her moral principles 
 will not allow her husband to be present. Of 
 course, at such a gathering, it is necessary that 
 we should have chaperons. I wish you and your 
 wife could come, Doctor." 
 
 The Doctor shook his head. " Ah, impossible, 
 Captain. There is no day in the year in which 
 there is so much overeating as on Christmas. 
 My services are in great demand, and I should 
 be unjust to my regular patrons if I deserted 
 them simply for personal gratification." 
 
 " Well," said the captain, " I have one more 
 call to make. I sent an invitation to all the 
 young girls at the mill to come to the masquer- 
 ade, but when I gave it, I did not know that Miss 
 Dane was not employed there, so I am going to 
 give her a special invitation." 
 
 The Doctor did not vouchsafe any particular 
 answer to the Captain's remark. With a " Good 
 day; Merry Christmas," he drove on at a slow 
 pace, while the Captain's high-bred stallion, im- 
 patient of restraint, dashed forward at a full 
 gallop. 
 
 Inside the little red mill jollity reigned su-
 
 16 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 preme. Christmas eve was but a few hours 
 away and there was to be a masquerade ball at 
 Dunmoor Barracks, some three miles from 
 Middleton. All the young girls who worked for 
 Mr. Stubbs had been invited, and there were 
 nine of them. They had all been born and had 
 grown up in Middleton, with the exception of 
 one. Nellie Clavering, a petite little creature, 
 with wavy brown hair and blue eyes, was a na- 
 tive of Dunmoor. It was her acquaintance with 
 Captain Sabreton of the 44th Hussars, who were 
 located at Dunmoor Barracks, that had led to 
 the invitation being extended to the toymakers 
 to attend the masquerade. 
 
 Little Miss Clavering, after beginning work 
 in the toy-shop, had come to live in Middleton, 
 with her intimate friend Miss Lillian Bicker- 
 staffe, who was tall, dark, and the most dignified 
 of the rollicking company. 
 
 Mr. John Stubbs, proprietor of the mill, had 
 gone to Dunmoor on business, and although he 
 had given no direction to that effect, and would 
 have been opposed to giving his son any such 
 latitude, young Mr. Stubbs had assumed the role
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 17 
 
 of proprietor and had given to each of the toy- 
 makers their choice of their own handiwork to 
 be used as Christmas gifts, and although as a 
 rule he had been the butt of all their jokes, on 
 this occasion he was voted to be a jolly good fel- 
 low. His cousin Tom had taken him one side 
 and had whispered in his ear that his 1 generosity 
 would be likely to lead to marked demonstra- 
 tions on the part of his father when he returned, 
 but Johnnie had replied that he was a man now 
 he was twenty-one and he remarked forcibly, 
 but ungrammatically, that he " would not allow 
 no father to do nothing to him just because he 
 had given away a few toys." 
 
 Tom shook his head and thought to himself 
 that although Johnnie might be twenty-one in 
 looks, he was not a man in either brains or 
 stature. He felt sure that little Johnnie would 
 get the worst of it when big John learned the 
 truth. 
 
 Johnnie was a little suspicious. " Don't you 
 tell, Tom ! If you do, I'll " 
 
 " Why, of course I won't," said Tom. " I 
 wouldn't peach on you if they took away every-
 
 i8 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 thing in the mill except Daisy," and he looked 
 towards a young girl who was entering heartily 
 into the fun and spirit of the occasion. 
 
 Daisy Dane had a type of beauty which the 
 scientists say will soon disappear from the earth. 
 She was what is called a perfect blonde, having 
 long golden curls, blue eyes, and one of those 
 complexions which so many artists have likened 
 to peaches and cream. 
 
 Tom had one accomplishment he was a fine 
 singer. He had a tenor voice which had not been 
 spoiled by over-cultivation. Old John Stubbs 
 had encouraged the toymakers in their singing, 
 for he had found that when they sang they did 
 more work than when they talked. 
 
 " Say, girls," cried Tom, " before you go we 
 must sing one of our songs. What shall it 
 be?" 
 
 " Oh, give us that one about the managery," 
 cried Johnnie. 
 
 " That's so silly," remarked Miss Bickerstaffe. 
 
 " Of course it is," said Nellie, " but it is ap- 
 propriate. We make all kinds of animals to put 
 in menageries, and we all know just what kind
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 19 
 
 of noises they make. I think it is a jolly good 
 song." 
 
 " So do we ! " cried Ethel, Mabel, Violet, Win- 
 ifred, Agnes, Louise, Alice and Daisy in unison. 
 
 With a bow, wow, wow, 
 And a clack, clack, clack, 
 With a meow, meow, meow, 
 And a quack, quack, quack, 
 With a too, whit, hoo, 
 And a neigh, neigh, neigh, 
 With a moo, moo, moo, 
 And a bray, bray, bray, 
 With a baa, baa, baa, 
 And a wee, wee, wee, 
 Menageries thus are made you see. 
 
 Then followed a medley of cries in which good- 
 byes and Merry Christmases predominated. The 
 company quickly separated, each one intent 
 upon reaching home as soon as possible in order 
 to make preparations for the masquerade. 
 
 Tom walked home with Daisy, while Johnnie 
 made his way to the kitchen, the sole occupant 
 of which was Miss Sally Smiles, who was en- 
 gaged in preparing the evening meal.
 
 20 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 THE STUBBS FAMILY 
 
 MALACHI STUBBS built the little red mill and 
 began the manufacture of toys in Middleton-on- 
 Quick. He married a Miss Mary Bull. He was 
 a patriotic Englishman and was proud of his 
 wife's name, so when his son was born he was 
 named John B. Stubbs, his middle name, evi- 
 dently, being Bull. 
 
 Malachi died and left his business to his son, 
 John B., who took as his life partner a Miss 
 Polly Ashe. They decided to name their son 
 John A. Stubbs, for it had been a rule in the 
 family that the son's middle name should be 
 that of his mother. 
 
 Everything went well until young John A. 
 began to associate with the youths of the village. 
 He was called Jack by his school chums. One 
 day a youth, with whom he had had a difficulty,
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 21 
 
 and who had learned his middle name, called 
 him Jack Ashe Stubbs. Then his fond parents 
 reflected that Christian names were apt to be 
 forgotten and nicknames were apt to stick, and 
 they doubted the wisdom of their choice. Being 
 Dissenters, they were not bound by the strict 
 rules of the Church of England, and the an- 
 nouncement was made that the son of Mr. John 
 Bull Stubbs, Sr., would afterwards be known as 
 John Bull Stubbs, Jr. The point of the joke 
 being lost, young John's chums decided to call 
 him Johnnie instead of Jack, and he was the 
 roly-poly little fellow to whom the reader has 
 been introduced. 
 
 Tom Bright was a nephew of the late Mrs. 
 Stubbs. He was a strong, healthy lad, but he 
 disliked the toy business, and when a man dis- 
 likes his work, he rarely becomes an efficient 
 workman. Tom was nearly twenty-one years 
 of age and would soon be free from his appren- 
 ticeship. With that disregard for ways and 
 means so often shown by young people, he had 
 made up his mind that life in the future could 
 have no pleasure for him except as the husband
 
 22 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 of Daisy Dane. She was the owner of a little 
 cottage, and Tom, so far as he knew, had not a 
 pound in the world. But love laughs at lock- 
 smiths and the lack of money. Daisy had the 
 cottage and they had the love, and the where- 
 withal with which to pay the bills after they 
 were married was an after consideration. 
 
 Mr. John Bull Stubbs., Sr., had been a 
 widower for many years. The cares of the house- 
 hold devolved upon Miss Sarah Ann Smiles. 
 Miss Sally was a mystery, and her advent in 
 the Stubbs family was mysterious. She had 
 been found upon the Stubbs doorstep, neatly 
 packed in a basket, with no word to indicate 
 from where she came or who were her parents. 
 Mrs. Stubbs had a motherly heart and insisted 
 upon the little stranger being taken in. Little 
 Johnnie was two years old at the time, but his 
 mother said he was only a baby, and she could 
 take care of two just as well as one; so little 
 Johnnie and little Sally grew up together as 
 brother and sister, but Johnnie was much 
 pleased when he grew older to learn that Sally 
 was not his sister, for his heart had been filled
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 23 
 
 with a divine passion, and he felt as did his 
 cousin Tom that there was only one girl in 
 the world for him, and that girl was Sally. 
 
 It cannot truly be said that his affection was 
 reciprocated; in fact, Miss Sally looked upon 
 him as an antagonist rather than as a lover. But 
 Johnnie looked upon their wordy and often 
 fistic contests as mere love spats and was de- 
 termined to make her his wife, although he knew 
 that such a course would be in direct opposition 
 to his father's wishes. 
 
 As a matter of fact, few people ever did any- 
 thing that pleased John Bull Stubbs, Sr. He 
 was what would be called a crank. Old Mala- 
 chi had been satisfied to cut toys out of wood, 
 paint them impossible colors, and put them into 
 arks which would have sunk had they been 
 placed in water. Soon after John Bull Stubbs, 
 Sr., took control of the business, however, me- 
 chanical toys came into the market, and it be- 
 came necessary to insert springs and wheels 
 and squeaks in order to meet the demands of 
 the more modern trade. Mr. John B. Stubbs, 
 Sr., was long-headed, and he felt sure that the
 
 24 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 mechanical toy would be followed by something 
 more complex, more scientific, and more satis- 
 factory to the young generation. For that rea- 
 son he had given much time to the study of elec- 
 tricity and its application to toys. 
 
 A man with one idea is apt to be a very dis- 
 agreeable companion, and it is probable because 
 John B. Stubbs, Sr., was so good an inventor 
 that he was so unsatisfactory as a mere man. 
 Electricity was his hobby, and when a man has 
 a hobby he rides it to the exclusion of all other 
 duties. 
 
 The necessary expenditure of money to per- 
 fect his inventions had so drawn upon his in- 
 come that he had become niggardly in his house- 
 hold expenses. He showed no disposition to 
 stint his son and heir, but he looked upon Tom 
 as a near approach to a hog, as regarded his 
 appetite, and upon Sally as very much of a pig. 
 It is hard, however, for the male head of a house- 
 hold to learn all the intricacies of the food 
 problem, and although the table was set spar- 
 ingly, Miss Smiles had improvised a larder in a 
 far-away closet, the contents of which were
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 25 
 
 known only to herself and Tom, and to the door 
 of which she had the only key. One day the 
 owner, Mr. Stubbs, had shown a disposition to 
 utilize the closet, but Sally had remonstrated, 
 saying that she kept her brooms and brushes 
 therein, and so she did, but they were not kept 
 upon the shelves with which the closet was liber- 
 ally supplied. 
 
 The business had prospered Old Malachi 
 had carried on the business with the help only 
 of his wife and one assistant, but his son had so 
 'broadened the outlet for his goods, that his 
 nephew and nine young girls were given con- 
 stant employment. 
 
 The reader has now become acquainted with 
 the locale of the story and with the principal 
 personages therein, but if he were a person 
 prone to flights of the wildest imagination, he 
 could not have conceived such a series of events 
 as took place within the little red mill within 
 the next forty-eight hours, and which it is the 
 duty of the writer to record as best he may, as- 
 suming, however, no responsibility whatever for 
 the goings on or the result of them.
 
 26 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 THE SON AND THE SERVANT 
 
 TOM did not go to the kitchen, for he knew 
 Sally was under strict orders not to give him 
 anything to eat except at meal time, and then 
 Mr. Stubbs Senior's sharp eyes quickly dis- 
 cerned any indulgence that might be called over- 
 eating. Tom had had a key made to the closet 
 where Sally kept her brooms and brushes and 
 " something else," and he made his way thither, 
 soliloquizing as he went : " Uncle Bull hasn't 
 got back yet, lucky for me. I'm as hungry as 
 an ostrich. Funny Uncle Bull stays away so 
 long. He's usually on hand to see that nobody 
 gof home a minute early. I suppose he's buying 
 presents for his beautiful son, John Junior. 
 Precious little will Sally or I get for our hard 
 work."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 27 
 
 At that moment Johnnie's voice rose high in 
 the air: "Sally! Sally!! Sally!!!" 
 
 Tom, who had opened the closet door and ex- 
 tracted a hunk of Bologna sausage, some barley 
 bread, and a bowl of pickled cabbage, burst into 
 a loud laugh. 
 
 " There he is the beloved child the only 
 son and heir. I've heard of sons being called 
 chips of the old block, but John Junior is a 
 bigger blockhead than his old chip of a father 
 not meaning to be disrespectful to my uncle." 
 
 Johnnie had reached the kitchen as Sally's 
 shrill voice attested : " Go away, John Junior ! 
 Stop your fooling ! ! Let me alone, I say, or I'll 
 slap you ! ! ! " 
 
 Tom chuckled. " Johnnie and Sally are at it 
 again. They're always quarreling, then making 
 up. They say true lovers always do that but 
 I never quarrel with Daisy. I never quarrel 
 with anybody or anything but my stomach. 
 That is always telling me that I don't treat it 
 well." 
 
 "John Junior, take that!" 
 
 There was a sound that made Tom think of
 
 28 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 an interview he had with the schoolmaster, when 
 his ears tingled for a whole day then the 
 kitchen door was slammed and he heard no 
 more. 
 
 Tom took the last spoonful of cabbage. 
 " Uncle Bull says over-feeding makes me lazy. 
 Lazy? Why, I'm so weak sometimes I haven't 
 got strength enough to eat a good square meal 
 if I could get it." 
 
 He closed and locked the closet door. " I 
 feel better now. My lunch may give me an 
 appetite for the fine Christmas supper I am go- 
 ing to have with my Daisy to-night, before we go 
 to the masquerade at Dunmoor Barracks. I'll 
 go up to Toby Whackers's and see if he has my 
 costume ready." 
 
 Exciting events had taken place in the 
 kitchen. Sally's cries had not deterred Johnnie 
 from chasing and catching her. Her capture 
 was followed by energetic hugs and resounding 
 kisses. Sally struggled and finally broke away 
 from her impetuous captor. She faced him with 
 reddened cheeks, disordered tresses, and an an- 
 gry gleam in her eyes.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 29 
 
 " Keep away from me ! Let me alone, I say ! 
 John Junior, you act like a great big calf!" 
 
 Johnnie clasped his hands in front of him, 
 looked downward, and said, humbly : " I can't 
 help it, Sally. Them's the symptoms." 
 
 Sally laughed derisively : " Symptoms ! Symp- 
 toms of what? It can't be commonsense." 
 
 " No, Sally ; it's something that comes up in 
 my throat." He ran out his tongue to show his 
 condition. 
 
 Sally turned her back on him. 
 
 " I can't eat as much as I used to, Sally ; I 
 can't work! I can't sleep nights for thinking of 
 you. Oh, Sally, it's love love love ! " 
 
 As he finished his avowal he struck an atti- 
 tude and looked unutterable things at Sally, 
 who had faced him again. 
 
 " John Stubbs, you needn't waste your time 
 falling in love with me. Rich men's sons 
 don't usually marry their father's servants." 
 She continued spitefully : " You needn't think 
 you can bamboozle me just because your father 
 has got money. I'm only a waif. Who knows 
 what I am? I was named Sarah Ann after your
 
 30 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 grandmother, the dear old soul ! She loved me, 
 and just because I laughed when they took me 
 out of the basket, they called me Smiles but 
 my smiles are not for you, young man, and 
 money can't buy them." 
 
 Johnnie had mounted a chair and was sitting 
 on the back of it. " Money ain't bad to take, 
 Sally; it makes a fellow popular with the girls." 
 
 Sally pouted : " Money ain't everything." 
 
 " No, Sally, 'tain't but it's a mighty handy 
 thing to have in your trousers pocket." 
 
 Sally relented slightly : " Oh, the money's all 
 right, with something attractive to go with it; 
 but before a boy like you thinks of getting mar- 
 ried, he ought to grow up, and beg, borrow, or 
 steal some brains." 
 
 Johnnie tilted his chair too far backwards. 
 It tipped over and he went sprawling upon the 
 floor. As he scrambled to his feet, full of in- 
 dignation, and with an aching crazy-bone, he 
 cried : " Don't you call me a boy, Sarah Ann ! " 
 
 It was just time for Sally's hot temper to rise : 
 " Don't you call me Sarah Ann. You never do, 
 except when you're mad with me. You're a
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 31 
 
 mean little sawed-off, and I hate you. I say I 
 hate you." 
 
 Johnnie could only ejaculate : " Oh, you're 
 only a " 
 
 Sally did not allow him to finish the sentence : 
 " I know what I am I'm only a servant. Your 
 father calls me a scullion and I know what you 
 are and you mean to deceive me, you do." At 
 this point her temper over-stepped all bounds, 
 and she screamed : " But don't you imagine, 
 young Bull, just because you're old Bull's son 
 that you can pull the wool over my eyes." 
 
 Johnnie was afraid that his father had re- 
 turned and would hear their altercation : " I'll 
 stuff something down your throat, Sally, if you 
 don't stop your noise." 
 
 His threat did not abate her passion, but in- 
 flamed it still more: " You love me, don't you? 
 You'd choke me to death, wouldn't you? You're 
 a fine young gentleman, ain't you, to abuse a 
 nice little girl like me? " 
 
 Then, womanlike, she burst into tears, and 
 heart-broken sobs were heard instead of harsh 
 words.
 
 32 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Johnnie was visibly affected. He turned 
 away to swallow a big lump in his throat. 
 
 " Poor thing ! She's gone all to pieces ! Too 
 bad!" Then he turned supplicatingly to the 
 weeping damsel. " Ssh ! Sally, please stop 
 you're noise. Dad'll hear." 
 
 Sally stamped her foot. " No, I won't. I 
 don't care if he does." 
 
 Johnnie patted her on the shoulder. " Stop, 
 Sally that's a good girl Sally dear." 
 
 Sally glanced at John through her tears. 
 " Don't talk that way to me unless you really 
 mean it which, way down in you're heart, you 
 know you don't." 
 
 Johnnie felt that now was the moment for a 
 reconciliation. He took Sally's half-resisting 
 hand in his : " Yes, I do, Sally. Didn't you know 
 it? Of course you've suspected." 
 
 Sally drew back her hand. " No, I didn't. If 
 you deceive me, John Stubbs, I'll make you pay 
 for breach of promise," and her voice was raised 
 to its highest pitch. 
 
 Johnnie squeezed her arm : " Ssh ! Sally ! 
 Dad may come in."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 33 
 
 " Yes, and how quick you'd change your mind 
 if he did. He would never give his consent, and 
 then you'd throw me overboard." 
 
 Johnnie dropped upon his knees : " No, I 
 wouldn't, Sally. I don't care what dad says. 
 I'm of age. I'm a man. I'll never marry any- 
 body but you," 
 
 Sally eyed him intently : " Get up, John 
 Stubbs. I don't see why you like me. I'm not 
 stylish. I'm not like those stuck-up village girls 
 who are always so very modest and bashful 
 who simper and smirk, and talk prunes and 
 prisms when they are in company. But you 
 just catch them alone with a young man ! Now, 
 that isn't my style. If I was alone and a 
 fellow tried to kiss me, I'd scratch his eyes 
 out. But in a crowd well, that makes a dif- 
 ference." 
 
 Sally's statement of her sentiments was evi- 
 dently pleasing to Johnnie. He put his arm 
 about her waist. " Well, two's a crowd. Come, 
 Sally, let's have a real kiss." 
 
 Sally eluded his caress and ran about the 
 room closely followed by Johnnie, who, at last,
 
 34 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 caught her in his arms and imprinted a kiss full 
 upon her lips. 
 
 At that crucial moment the kitchen door was 
 opened John Stubbs, Senior, stood there with 
 a basket hanging upon one arm, and both full 
 of bundles. For a moment he stood transfixed 
 by the unwelcome spectacle; then, throwing the 
 bundles right and left, he dropped the heavily- 
 laden basket upon the floor, and, rushing for- 
 ward, pushed Sally in one direction and Johnnie 
 in another. His usually red face became purple 
 in hue, and for a moment his lips refused to 
 frame the words that sprang to them. 
 
 The loving culprits cowered, for they knew 
 that when the storm broke there would be no 
 shelter for them.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 35 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 AN IRATE FATHER 
 
 WHEN Mr. Stubbs, Sr., found his voice, he ex- 
 claimed : " So ! So ! ! So ! ! ! What's going on 
 here? I caught you, didn't I? Son, you ought 
 to look higher." 
 
 Johnnie immediately heeded his father's ad- 
 monition and looked upward. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs, Sr., saw that his remark had evi- 
 dently been misunderstood, and added, pointing 
 his finger at Sally : " Than a servant girl." Evi- 
 dently the elderly gentleman's ideas were some- 
 what confused : " Ah ! Let me recall my last 
 thought. Oh! Johnnie, you must remember to 
 remember that you are my son, and that she " 
 As he spoke he pointed his finger again at Sally 
 " is our servant. Degenerate son of a noble 
 sire, come here."
 
 36 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Johnnie approached him slowly. 
 
 " Come here," I say. " I have a good mind to 
 thrash you. Ah ! Let me recall my last thought. 
 Oh! John, Junior, you must remember to re- 
 member, and you too, Sally, that this is a toy 
 manufactory conducted on business principles, 
 and if there is any kissing to be done, the pro- 
 prietor will attend to it." 
 
 At this remark both Sally and Johnnie pouted, 
 and it must be acknowledged that the young 
 man made a more effective demonstration than 
 did his female companion. 
 
 " That ain't fair, Dad. You said I would have 
 a chance to learn all the different parts of the 
 business." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs shook his head solemnly : " Kiss- 
 ing isn't business; it's profit. Now, Johnnie, go 
 and grease your hair, and put on your Duke of 
 Wellington suit." 
 
 " I don't want to, Dad. The trousers are so 
 big, the wind blows up and makes me chilly." 
 
 " John, Junior, you do as I tell you. The 
 trousers you have on are too short to go visit- 
 ing in."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 37 
 
 " 'Tain't my fault, Dad; they're auction pants 
 and went to the highest bidder. They'd suit a 
 short fellow, but a long fellow like me has to get 
 into them too far." 
 
 " Hurry up, Johnnie. I know what's best for 
 you. When I tell you to do anything, you must 
 not talk back. We are invited out to supper, 
 and your Duke of Wellington suit will give you 
 plenty of room. You must remember that what 
 you eat will make a great saving at home." 
 
 " I know why you don't let me wear my Duke 
 of Wellington suit at home, Dad." As he spoke 
 a broad smile covered his face and Sally, who 
 had been a listener to the conversation, with dif- 
 ficulty restrained a peal of laughter. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs saw the smile upon his son's face, 
 and smiling in return asked : " Why, Johnnie? " 
 
 Johnnie was ready with his answer. He was 
 a born mimic and what his father had said had 
 given him an idea. " Because it makes you fee! 
 poor when you look at me and think how much 
 it would cost to fatten me up so that the suit 
 would fit me." 
 
 Sally could restrain herself no longer and
 
 38 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 burst into a loud laugh between a screech and a 
 scream. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs felt that it was time to terminate 
 the conversation, which seemed to be against 
 him : " Get along ! Get out ! " 
 
 Johnnie was entirely destitute of that desir- 
 able moral quality known as filial respect. Al- 
 though his father was severe with him in some 
 ways, in other respects he had been given the 
 widest latitude. Youth is apt to presume, and 
 young John, when the skies were bright, and 
 there was no storm in sight, looked upon his 
 father as a play-fellow. To him he was in 
 really a pater familias, and he never failed to go 
 to the extreme point of familiarity whenever oc- 
 casion offered. To his father's command to get 
 out, he answered : " All right, Dad," but he did 
 not leave the room immediately. Instead, he 
 turned to Sally, caught her in his arms and 
 hugged her, despite her efforts to release her- 
 self. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs' attention was attracted, and see- 
 ing what was taking place, he stooped down to 
 pick up one of the bundles which he had dropped,
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 39 
 
 with the probable intention of throwing it at 
 his son. 
 
 Johnnie was supplied with one of those in- 
 struments of torture a bean-blower and his 
 father's quick application of a hand to his bald 
 head showed that the shot had taken effect. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs, now thoroughly incensed, ran af- 
 ter his son. Johnnie kicked the basket in front 
 of him, and the old gentleman stumbled over it, 
 falling full length. He scrambled to his feet 
 just in time to throw the bundle which he had 
 in his hand at Johnnie. It failed to hit him, 
 however, striking the jamb of the door as John- 
 nie ran out and closed it behind him. 
 
 This little byplay increased Sally's merri- 
 ment, and she uttered another loud peal of 
 laughter. 
 
 The old gentleman approached her, rubbing 
 his head, for the bean had been well and strongly 
 shot. He stopped and looked at his serving 
 maid: 
 
 " Ah ! Let me recall my last thought. Miss 
 Smiles Miss Ann Smiles Miss Sarah Ann 
 Smiles I wish you to remember to remember
 
 40 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 that my son is not to kiss you any more. What 
 did you let him do it for, anyway? " 
 
 " How could I help it? " cried Sally. " Great 
 strong man like Johnnie poor little girl like 
 me." 
 
 " You are a poor girl, that's a fact ; too poor 
 for Johnnie, and he ought to see it. But if he 
 does not, I want you to remember to remember, 
 Miss Smiles, that if you lead my innocent boy 
 astray, it will be dangerous business for you." 
 
 Although Sally was but a serving maid, we 
 have seen from her conversation with young Mr. 
 Stubbs that she was not deficient in spirit and 
 was well able to take her own part. 
 
 " Well, Mr. Stubbs, if you don't want your 
 calf of a son to go astray, why don't you tie him 
 up? That's what they always do." 
 
 " Well, I mean to tie him up, and I'll tie you 
 up too. But what is your little game? " 
 
 " Don't worry about me, Mr. Stubbs ; my in- 
 tentions are perfectly honorable." Then in a 
 deliciously naive way she added : " Johnnie says 
 he's going to marry me." 
 
 Under the circumstances Mr. Stubbs must be
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 41 
 
 excused for not being able to control his feelings. 
 He knew nothing about North American Indi- 
 ans, but when he fully comprehended Sally's 
 remark, he gave vent to a yell which would have 
 done credit to a Comanche. 
 
 " What ! Marry you ! A kitchen scullion ! 
 My boy ! So you think you would like me for a 
 father-in-law, do you? Let me hear any more of 
 this nonsense and out-doors you go, trunk and 
 traps." 
 
 To use a particularly significant expression, 
 Sally's blood was up. She snapped her fingers 
 in her employer's face : " Why don't you do it 
 now, when you're real mad? Why don't you do 
 it now? I'm willing to go. I can get a better 
 place than this anywhere." 
 
 " Not on my recommendation," said Mr. 
 Stubbs. " When I do turn you out, you'll go to 
 the workhouse." 
 
 Sally was so impolite as to shake her fis*t in 
 Mr. Stubb"s face : " Don't you flatter yourself ! 
 I wouldn't own up that I listened one night when 
 you said I did, but I did just the same, and I 
 saw Old Pinch pay you some money, and I heard
 
 42 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 him say something about Sally. Now, what was 
 he talking about me for? If you turn me out, 
 I'll go and ask him, and if he won't tell me, I'll 
 go to the Mayor, and he'll make him." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs' face was a picture of astonish- 
 ment and a marked change took place in his 
 manner. He patted Sally on the shoulder and 
 said, in a patronizing way : " Don't get excited, 
 Sally. I'm impulsive, and, as you know, my son 
 is just like me." 
 
 Sally shook her head by way of a decided nega- 
 tive. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs continued : " But you are foolish, 
 as all young girls are. Now, my dear Sally, you 
 must promise to let my Johnnie alone, and then 
 you need not go until after the holiday work is 
 done." 
 
 Sally's wrath was again enkindled : " Oh, 
 you are very kind. You will let me do all the 
 hard work and then kick me out." She stamped 
 her foot. " I will promise nothing of the sort. 
 I like Johnnie, and if he insists upon kissing 
 me, I shall not object, and if he asks me to 
 marry him, I shall say * Yes.' I shall say ' Yes ' ;
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 43 
 
 do you hear? And as he is your only son, we are 
 sure to get all your money one of these days." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs' secret thoughts ran somewhat in 
 this wise : " What a cool, calculating wretch 
 that girl is ! " Aloud, he remarked : " Don't you 
 be too sure, young woman. I will build a hos- 
 pital and give all my money to that." 
 
 Sally laughed hysterically : " Oh, yes. I'd 
 call it the Bull Hospital; that would be a fine 
 name for it." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs shook his clenched fist in her 
 face : " Young woman, there's too much talk in 
 you ! You've got to go ! " 
 
 Sally placed her hands upon her hips and 
 looked at him defiantly : " All right, sir, any 
 time you say. While you're about it, you'd bet- 
 ter put Tom out too. You've been going to do it 
 for a year. He'd be better off in the workhouse 
 than he is here." 
 
 Her reference to Tom caused Mr. Stubbs to re- 
 member to remember. 
 
 "Tom! Tom!! Where is that lazy rascal? 
 He ought to be at work making up for lost time." 
 
 Sally burst into a loud laugh : " He is."
 
 44 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " Where? " 
 
 Sally was so full of merriment that she could 
 scarcely ejaculate : u He's out in the wood-shed 
 eating." 
 
 "Eating!" cried the old man. "Eating 
 again? Why he had a bowl of porridge last 
 night for his supper, and the balance of it this 
 morning for breakfast." 
 
 Sally was not noted for her close adherence to 
 the truth in some particulars; besides, she had 
 always enjoyed saying and doing all that she 
 could to worry her employer. 
 
 " Well, he said he was hungry, and I gave him 
 all we had left over from dinner." 
 
 There was nothing that so aroused Mr. Stubbs' 
 ire as a disposition, as he called it, to gluttony. 
 " All of it? " he cried. " He'll kill himself. The 
 glutton! I must stop his extravagance or he'll 
 make a pauper of me." 
 
 Overcome by passion, he kicked his bundles in 
 every direction, again stumbled over the basket, 
 vented his anger upon it by kicking it furiously 
 into a corner of the kitchen, then left the room. 
 
 Sally was inclined to soliloquize : " Mr. Bull
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 45 
 
 is an ugly old man, and telling him the truth 
 don't do him any good. He imposes on his good- 
 natured son, almost starves his nephew, and 
 abuses a nice litle girl like me. He would put 
 me outdoors, but he knows that I listened that 
 night when Old Pinch was here. I wish I knew 
 what Old Pinch had to say about me. There 
 must be some mystery about it. Mr. Eales is an 
 old miser. He lives all alone and he never 
 bought any toys, and I don't see why he should 
 pay Mr. Bull money. Yes, there's some mystery, 
 and I'm in it. But I will find out what it is 
 some day."
 
 4 6 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 GETTING READY FOR SOMETHING 
 
 WHEN Sally told Mr. Stubbs that Tom was 
 in the wood-shed eating, she was not really cog- 
 nizant of that fact. She was a quick-witted 
 young girl and had imagined that Tom had had 
 plenty of time in which to satisfy his appetite. 
 She felt sure that he had not returned to the toy- 
 shop where he was obliged to pass so many long 
 hours of each day. Some people hit the nail on 
 the head unintentionally, and this is what Sally 
 had done. The fact was, that despite the lunch 
 at the closet, Tom had again felt the pangs of 
 hunger, and was regaling himself with a huge 
 piece of Bologna sausage and a large slice of 
 bread, when Mr. Stubbs opened the door of the 
 wood-shed and rushed towards him. 
 
 The young man, startled by the sudden ap-
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 47 
 
 pearance of his uncle, was taken at a disadvan- 
 tage, and before he could resist, the meat and 
 bread had been taken from him. Then ensued 
 not a passage of arms, but a passage of words. 
 
 " What an appetite you have ! You're a 
 greedy glutton ! " 
 
 " Yes," said Tom ; " I'm blessed with a good 
 appetite, but I get very little to satisfy it." 
 
 " What are you talking about? Didn't you 
 have a nice mutton stew last week?" 
 
 " Yes, it was a stew ; the mutton was old and 
 stale." 
 
 " If you would work as well as you eat " 
 
 Tom broke in : "I think the work I do is as 
 good as the food I get." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs became irate again : " If you 
 would work with all your might, it would pay 
 me to feed you better, but you sulk and loaf half 
 the time, and I have caught you asleep while the 
 others were working. That kind of work de- 
 serves an empty stomach, and you'll get it." 
 
 " Well, if I had more food and more sleep, I 
 could do more work, but you are too mean and 
 stingy to see that."
 
 48 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Mr. Stubbs looked at the remnant of Bologna 
 sausage and the piece of bread that was left: 
 "You're a glutton and a sloth, and if I don't 
 look after you, you're sure to die from over-eat- 
 ing. Now, sir, go to bed, and don't forget to 
 remember to remember that you'll get no break- 
 fast to-morrow morning." 
 
 " No Christmas breakfast ! " cried Tom. 
 " That's an outrage. Isn't the laborer worthy 
 of his hire? " 
 
 " Yes, but your labor comes higher than my 
 business will allow. Why, you've eaten enough 
 now to bring on a famine." 
 
 11 Uncle Bull, I have worked hard for four- 
 teen years for you and have never got anything 
 but a bare living." 
 
 " You ungrateful wretch ! What do you mean 
 by a bare living? " 
 
 " I mean barely enough to eat to keep me 
 alive, and barely time enough to eat it in ; a bare 
 board to sleep on, and barely time to get it 
 warm, and just enough clothes to keep me from 
 being bare." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs' face grew red with anger : " Keep
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 49 
 
 on, young man, and the lies will choke you to 
 death. It's a wonder the bears don't come down 
 and eat you." 
 
 Tom had a marked sense of humor: " I'm not 
 fat enough, uncle, to make a bear meal. Why 
 don't you pay me wages, the same as you do the 
 others, and let me board with somebody who can 
 appreciate the feelings of a hungry man? " 
 
 " Wages ! Pay you wages ! Didn't I take you 
 in when you were a poor miserable outcast, and 
 do for you what no one else would? Don't for- 
 get to remember to remember that." 
 
 " Uncle Bull, I shall never forget how you 
 took me in, and how you've done for me. I 
 don't believe any person would have done what 
 you've done for me. But, Mr. Bull, when I'm 
 of age, Mr. Bull, which will be in less than two 
 years, Mr. Bull, I mean to be bright enough to 
 find out what became of the thousand pounds 
 that my father left me, Mr. Bull, and which dis- 
 appeared so mysteriously, Mr. Bull, and don't 
 forget to remember to remember that, Mr, 
 Bull." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs' face took on a purplish hue.
 
 50 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " Don't try to bully me. Now, go to bed. I am 
 invited out to supper to-night and Johnnie is 
 going with me. That will reduce expenses." 
 
 There was a closet in the wood-shed. Mr. 
 Stubbs unlocked the door and looked in. 
 " Come, get in here ! I'm going to lock you in 
 while we're gone, so that you won't be increas- 
 ing expenses by eating up everything that's left 
 in the house." 
 
 Tom said plaintively : " I'm so hungry ! " 
 
 " Hungry ! You anaconda ! Why, you've 
 eaten enough to bring on a nightmare. Come, 
 get in here. There's a bench in the closet and 
 you can have a nap until I return. Sleep is 
 great relief for a hungry man " He laughed 
 sardonically " and it isn't expensive either." 
 
 Tom could not forebear a parting shot before 
 his uncle locked the closet door : " My dear 
 uncle, if sleep is so cheap, why don't you let me 
 have more of it? " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs slammed the door, turned the key, 
 put it in his pocket, and made his way back to 
 the kitchen. 
 
 A few minutes passed, a light grating sound
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 51 
 
 was heard, the door of the closet opened, and 
 Tom's head appeared. 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! ! My dear uncle, I have a key too. 
 I do not propose to miss my Christmas eve sup- 
 per, and I mean to go to the masquerade with 
 my Daisy."
 
 52 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 THE TOYMAKER'S SECRET 
 
 WHEN Mr. Stubbs re-entered the kitchen, he 
 found himself its sole occupant. He sat down 
 in a high-backed chair by the open fireplace. 
 
 " The boy's more than half right, but he 
 doesn't know it; he only imagines it. But how 
 in the world did he find it out? I mean, what 
 led him to think that there was a thousand 
 pounds? That's what it was, but it has grown 
 in fourteen years to more than ten times as 
 much, but it was not money it was my brains 
 that did it. One of these days I suppose I shall 
 have to settle up with him and allow him the 
 principal and 2 per cent interest. That's not 
 exorbitant." 
 
 For a while he sat in deep meditation. " Ah ! 
 let me recall my last thought Oh! I must re- 
 member to remember that among his father's 
 private papers I found the idea that suggested
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 53 
 
 mj great work, which I have just completed 
 my beautiful, life-sized doll, into which, by 
 means of magical incantations and the wonder- 
 ful revivifying effect of electricity, I mean to put 
 the breath of life, and " He raised his voice to 
 the extent of his vocal capacity " make her a 
 living creature." As he uttered the words he 
 arose and lifted his right hand, making an un- 
 usual and impressive appearance. 
 
 While Mr. Stubbs had been talking with Tom, 
 and advocating the advantages of a low dietary, 
 Johnnie had donned his Duke of Wellington suit, 
 and, not finding his father in the kitchen, had 
 gone out-doors to make a survey of the weather 
 conditions. 
 
 The kitchen was brightly lighted, and Johnnie 
 could not have been seen by his father even if 
 he had looked at the window. 
 
 W T hen Johnnie heard the loud voice and saw 
 the uplifted hand, he said to himself : " Dad's 
 got something on his mind," and as he never saw 
 or heard anything that he did not immediately 
 tell Sally about, he started in search of her. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs still kept his imposing attitude.
 
 54 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " I am alone ! Like Robinson Crusoe, I am 
 monarch of all I survey. Now is a good time to 
 see my doll, the climatic apex of ethnological 
 art." 
 
 He took a bunch of keys from his pocket, and 
 selecting one, went to a closet, which he un- 
 locked and entered. He returned almost im- 
 mediately, dragging a platform, upon which 
 stood a life-sized doll, handsomely dressed. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs resumed his seat in the high 
 backed chair and regarded the doll with a look 
 of great satisfaction. " What a pleasure to look 
 at my wonderful doll, so beautifully still, and 
 still so beautiful! Ah! Let me recall my last 
 thought! Oh! I must not forget to remember 
 to remember that soon she will breathe and live 
 live like the rest of us but when? My book 
 on anthropolitico-ethnologipological magic says: 
 ' Never attempt revivatory incantational postu- 
 lations unless it is a tempestuously wild night.' 
 I yearn for such a night. I must look at my 
 almanac." 
 
 He took the almanac from the mantlepiece 
 and bent over to consult it
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 55 
 
 Johnnie had found Sally, and Tom had found 
 them both. Johnnie had related his experience 
 at the window, to which Sally and Johnnie re- 
 turned. They lifted the sash several inches and 
 listened intently. Tom opened the kitchen door 
 a short distance and was equally inquisitive. 
 
 The weight of the sash being too heavy to be 
 supported by their fingers, Sally and Johnnie 
 withdrew them, and the window fell with a 
 heavy bang. Tom heard the noise, and not 
 knowing what it meant, slammed the kitchen 
 door and made his way back to the wood-shed. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs jumped up excitedly. " Was that 
 thunder? " He listened. " No, it could not 
 have been. What an old fool I am to be fright- 
 ened at nothing. It is too abominably pleasant 
 to work any magicolindrical spells to-night. I 
 will see what the almanac says, anyway. It is 
 the most satisfactory book published. It has all 
 kinds of weather in it, and a change for better 
 or worse every other day. Let's see! What 
 year is this? That don't make any difference. 
 An almanac is just as good for one year as it 
 is for another. What day is this, anyway?
 
 56 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 December twenty-fourth. To-morrow is Christ- 
 mas. How time flies ! " 
 
 He threw the book upon the floor : " An al- 
 manac is always full of information and advice 
 that nobody wants. I must consult my zodiacal 
 cymbals." 
 
 He entered the closet from which he had 
 brought the doll, and soon returned with a 
 huge pair of cymbals. He struck them together 
 with a loud clang, but when he did so he was 
 so close to the candle, which stood upon the 
 table, that it was blown out. 
 
 At that instant, Johnnie, who was provided 
 with his bean-blower, and who had propped up 
 the sash of the kitchen window with a stick, took 
 good aim and struck his father in the head. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs clashed the symbols wildly to- 
 gether, with the evident purpose of exorcising 
 the evil spirits which surrounded him. 
 
 Tom opened the kitchen door and gave a loud, 
 mocking laugh and then retired quickly. 
 Johnnie, seeing that further markmanship was 
 prevented by the lack of light, had secured his 
 fish-horn, upon which he blew a long, resounding
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 57 
 
 blast. Before its notes had died away, Sally 
 entered the kitchen, and startled by the clanging 
 of the cymbals, uttered a loud scream and re- 
 traced her footsteps. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs leaned upon the table, shaking 
 from head to foot. He waited for several min- 
 utes, but as the sounds were not repeated, he re- 
 lighted the candle. 
 
 " There must be rats, cats, bats, and screech- 
 owls around this house. My nerves are getting 
 weak. I'm an old man and may drop off sud- 
 denly. But I'll leave my son a good business 
 and a beautiful wife. She looks just like Daisy 
 Dane the prettiest girl in the village. When 
 I made the face, I took pains to remember to 
 remember just how she looked." 
 
 He dragged the platform upon which the doll 
 stood back into the closet, locked the door, and 
 turned towards the table. As he did so, he was 
 confronted by Sally, who had entered the room 
 in time to see the doll.
 
 58 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 SALLY MAKES A TRADE 
 
 SALLY pointed towards the door of the closet : 
 "Who is she?" 
 
 Mr. Stubbs, whose nerves were considerably 
 shaken by past experiences, answered one ques- 
 tion with another: " She's who?" 
 
 " That's just what I want to know, Mr. 
 Stubbs. Who is that girl you've just hidden 
 away in the closet? " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs hesitated: "She? Let me recall 
 my last thought. I will try to remember to re- 
 member. She? Oh ! She's an old friend of the 
 family." 
 
 Sally's nose became quite retrousse: "Old 
 friend ! She's too young to be a very old friend. 
 I see how it is. You are the old friend. I'm 
 shocked, Mr. Stubbs. Do you hear? I'm shocked. 
 One of our leading citizens, and at your time of
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 59 
 
 life too ! " She covered her face with her hands. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs betrayed indignation : " What do 
 you mean? At my time of life? " He raised his 
 hand threateningly. " Do you mean to insinu- 
 ate " 
 
 Sally retaliated by shaking her fist : " Mr. 
 Stubbs, don't speak to me in that tone of voice. 
 You're a bald-headed, insinuating, prevaricat- 
 ing, horrid, double-dealing, weak old man." She 
 started to run out of the room, but Mr. Stubbs 
 caught her by the arm and held her fast. " I'll 
 tell Tom; I'll tell Johnnie," and then at the top 
 of her voice she screamed : " I'll tell everybody." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs saw that the situation was getting 
 serious : " Be quiet, you fool. You can make 
 more by keeping my secret." 
 
 " I won't, Mr. Stubbs. I can't keep a secret. 
 I don't want to. I say I won't. When I tell, 
 they'll put you in the stocks, and then Tom, and 
 me, and Johnnie will come and laugh at you," 
 and by way of practice as it were, Sally laughed 
 hysterically. 
 
 Then Mr. Stubbs said coaxingly : " Sally, 
 wouldn't you like a new dress? "
 
 60 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 It did not take Sally long to reply : " Ain't I 
 a woman? Of course I would." 
 
 " That's all right, Sally. Now, you keep your 
 tongue still, like a good little girl, about that," 
 and he pointed to the closet door, "and I will 
 give you a nice new dress." 
 
 "Silk?" 
 
 " No ; silk is too expensive." 
 
 " Yes, Mr. Stubbs, but the secret is very valu- 
 able." 
 
 " I can't afford it, Sally." 
 
 " Well, Tm sorry, but I can't afford to keep 
 such a great big secret for anything less. After 
 all," and she laughed, " I think I would rather 
 have the fun of telling than to have the new 
 dress." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs raised both his hands deprecat- 
 ingly : " No, no. I accept your offer ; it is a 
 bargain; you shall have a silk dress." 
 
 "That's very low for it, Mr. Stubbs; you 
 ought to throw in boots, stockings, gloves, and a 
 new bonnet." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs felt that his secret was likely to 
 cost him dearly, and he saw the necessity of
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 61 
 
 cultivating the most amicable relations with his 
 serving maid. He chucked her under the chin 
 and said softly : " You're a nice little girl, 
 Sally." 
 
 "It has taken you a long time to find that 
 out, Mr. Stubbs." She looked up at him archly: 
 " I guess if I stay here long enough I'm likely to 
 become a friend of the family some time." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs realized that it would not do to 
 trifle with the possesser of his secret: "Ah, 
 Sally, if I give you a nice new bonnet, won't 
 you give me a nice little kiss? " 
 
 Sally's lip projected and her nose was more 
 retrousse than before : " That's an awful high 
 price for a bonnet. Silk? " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs turned away and said sharply: 
 " Confound it, no. Suppose I'm going to dress 
 you in silks and satins? " 
 
 " A kiss is always worth the most you can get 
 for it; besides, I can't wear anything but a silk 
 bonnet with my new dress." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs realized that he was in the toils: 
 " Well, it shall be silk." He tried to kiss her, 
 but she pushed him back.
 
 62 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " For one kiss, one silk bonnet ; for two, stock- 
 ings; for three, gloves; four, boots. You takes 
 your choice and pays for what you takes." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs took the first kiss. Sally was so 
 impolite as to wipe her mouth after receiving it, 
 and so morally defective as to think to herself 
 that it was always best to have the head of the 
 family on your side. 
 
 The exercise in osculation had so absorbed the 
 attention of the two principals, that they were 
 not aware of the presence of a third person, un- 
 til Johnnie remarked : " When the kitten's 
 away, the old cat plays with the mouse." 
 
 His father turned upon him fiercely : " How 
 did you come in here? " 
 
 Johnnie smiled 'blandly: "The window was 
 open and I blew in." 
 
 " What were you at the window for? " 
 
 Johnnie hesitated : " I was just walking 
 by." 
 
 "Yes; is that all?" 
 
 " No I made a snowball to throw at the 
 dog." 
 
 "Yes; is that all?"
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 63 
 
 " N o ; I could not help seeing that there was 
 a light in the room." 
 
 "Yes; is that all?" 
 
 " N o ; I could not help looking in, and " 
 
 "Yes, yes; is that all?" 
 
 " N o ; I saw " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs looked savagely at his son: 
 "What?" 
 
 Though Johnnie was young, he had an old 
 head on his shoulders : " I didn't see nothing 
 that it's worth while to remember." 
 
 " Very good, young man, and you see that 
 you do not remember to remember. Now, 
 you go out-doors and wait for me until I get 
 ready." 
 
 " I don't want to ; it's too cold out there." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs grasped a heavy oaken stick that 
 stood by the fireplace : " Well, take your choice 
 the cold outside or a warming inside/' 
 
 Johnnie felt that he had not been treated 
 fairly and he determined to resist the parental 
 authority : " I don't want to. I won't go. No, 
 I won't." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs, with uplifted stick, advanced to-
 
 64 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 wards the young man: "You won't go? Well, 
 we'll see about that." 
 
 Sally ran between them, grasped Mr. Stubbs' 
 arm, and cried : " Stop, Mr. Stubbs ; don't you 
 dare to hit Johnnie." 
 
 The old man gave her a violent push : " Shut 
 up ! You've sold out." 
 
 Sally ran to Johnnie and threw her arms about 
 his neck : " You touch Johnnie, and I won't 
 have your old dress, nor your bonnet either. I'll 
 tell him everything, and more too." 
 
 "Well, Sally, I'll forgive him this time." 
 Then feeling that he had relented too easily, he 
 added : " The next time I thrash him, I'll re- 
 member to remember and give him double." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs replaced the stick by the fireplace 
 and, turning suddenly, found Sally and Johnnie 
 embracing each other. 
 
 " What do you mean, you young rascal, by 
 kissing Sally right before my face and eyes." 
 
 " Oh, nothing, Dad ; I was only following 
 mother's advice." 
 
 "Nonsense! What do you mean?" 
 
 Johnnie was determined to justify himself:
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 65 
 
 " Why, mother told me always to follow your ex- 
 ample." 
 
 Johnnie started to run from the room, but he 
 did not escape the slipper which his father 
 threw after him. 
 
 Sally brought him his boots. In his heart Mr. 
 Stubbs heartily appreciated the witty remark 
 Johnnie had made. He chuckled to himself and 
 said : " That's my boy my boy. Here, Sally ! " 
 
 " Of course." 
 
 " I'm invited out to supper to-night with John- 
 nie." 
 
 " Of course." 
 
 " Bring me my hat and coat and cane." 
 
 " Of course." 
 
 Sally brought them and helped him on with 
 his coat. 
 
 " We may be out late, Sally." 
 
 " Of course." 
 
 " Put out the light" 
 
 " Of course." 
 
 
 
 Sally snuffed the candle by putting Mr. 
 Stubbs' hat over it. The log in the fireplace, 
 which had been sputtering for half an hour,
 
 66 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 broke into a bright blaze and lighted up the 
 room. 
 
 " Look out, Sally; you got grease all over my 
 hat." 
 
 " Of course. Why not? It's going on your 
 head, isn't it? " 
 
 " Now, Sally, don't forget to remember to re- 
 member " But he forgot to remember. " Put 
 out the bed, lock the candle, and go to the key; 
 here's the door." 
 
 Sally took the key with the stereotyped re- 
 mark : " Of course." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs felt that there had been some mis- 
 take in the location of his last words : " Let me 
 recall my last thought. Oh! Sally, yes, lock 
 the door, put out the candle " which Sally had 
 re-lighted at the blazing log " and go to bed." 
 
 Johnnie burst into the room crying: "Oh, 
 Sally, Dad, come quick, quick, quick. Here are 
 the carollers." 
 
 They all rushed from the room. Borne upon 
 the night air were the words of a gladsome song, 
 teaching the same lesson that had been rung out 
 by the bells hours before.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 67 
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 THE LITTLE COT BY THE RIVEE 
 
 A SHORT distance from the red mill stood a 
 little cot. It was near the river, and after the 
 River Quick had turned Mr. Stubbs' wheel, 
 flecked with foam it dashed by the cottage, still 
 singing, in a minor key, the song it had learned 
 as it reached the edge of the dam and jumped 
 into the depths beneath. It was the same old 
 song it had sung since Daisy Dane was a baby. 
 
 In those days, not so long gone, her mother, 
 Ruth Dane, had sung her to sleep, her rich so- 
 prano voice rising high above the sound of the 
 waters but gaining and giving an added charm. 
 
 Daisy Dane had been a beautiful child and a 
 happy life had added to her beauty as she grew 
 to womanhood. A great sorrow had come to her 
 when but six years old, but it had been tem- 
 pered for her, although it had increased the 
 grief of others. Daisy did not see her mother
 
 68 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 die, nor did she see her buried. Her grandfather, 
 who lived on the coast, fell ill, and his daughter 
 Ruth felt that it was her duty to visit him per- 
 haps for the last time. She went, leaving her 
 only child, Daisy, in the care of her friend, Mrs. 
 Morton, who had just become a bride. 
 
 No one knew just how it happened, but Ruth 
 Dane had fallen from a cliff near her parents' 
 house. Her body was washed out to sea and was 
 never recovered. 
 
 Back to the little cot by the river came 
 Grandpa and Grandma Larkin. Little Daisy's 
 cries for her mother received but one answer 
 " You'll see her again some day " and after a 
 while the grief became but a memory, although 
 for years the little girl would press her face 
 against the window-pane and keep her eyes fixed 
 upon the long stretch of white road that ran 
 by the cot and the mill. At last she would turn 
 away with a smothered sob, run to her own 
 room, bury her face in her pillow with one word 
 on her lips and that word was " Mother". 
 
 Grandpa and Grandma Larkin were true to 
 their trust. They sold their own house, and the
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 69 
 
 proceeds were used to make life easy and happy 
 for the granddaughter who had taken her 
 mother's place in their hearts. None of her 
 wishes went ungratified if their simple income 
 could afford it. In one way only had she 
 crossed them, but she did not know it. They 
 had looked higher for her than Tom Bright 
 that shiftless nephew of John B. Stubbs. They 
 were sure Captain Horatio Sabreton of His 
 Majesty's 44th Hussars was in love with her. 
 Tom Bright was a penniless toymaker, while 
 Captain Sabreton was the third son of an earl, 
 and might some day for such things had hap- 
 pened be an earl himself and then Daisy 
 would be a countess, which, in the opinion of her 
 doting grandparents, was just what she was in- 
 tended for. 
 
 But love will go where it is sent, and Daisy 
 loved Tom ; so no word of protest was raised, and 
 if Tom was starved and brow-beaten at the mill, 
 when he was at the cottage he was feasted and 
 treated like a favorite son. Daisy's blue eyes 
 would lose their lustre if filled with tears, and 
 that pretty head, with its wealth of golden curls,
 
 70 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 must not be bowed in sorrow, as it certainly 
 would be if her lover were not made welcome. 
 
 Grandma Larkin sat before the open fireplace 
 in which a great log was burning fiercely, her 
 slippered feet resting upon a cricket which Tom 
 had made. Daisy had covered it with a piece of 
 bright red carpeting and tacked some blue fringe 
 upon the edges. Grandpa Larkin, who had been 
 a man-o' war's man in his younger days, called 
 it the " Union Jack ", and no one was allowed 
 to use it but its proud owner. 
 
 Grandpa Larkin puffed at his pipe and in obe- 
 dience to repeated obdurations, blew the smoke 
 up the cavernous chimney because " Daisy can't 
 bear so much tobacco smell and this is her house, 
 not our'n." 
 
 There was a third member of the household, 
 but he took no part in the conversation. He 
 had been mute from birth, never having spoken 
 an intelligible word. But he was not deaf, as 
 the position of his head indicated, and his sharp, 
 bright eyes showed that he was interested in 
 what was going on.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 71 
 
 The door that led to the little front garden 
 with its maze of old-time flowers was opened and 
 voices were heard. The mute member of the fam- 
 ily listened intently. 
 
 " Come in, Tom." 
 
 " I'd like to, Daisy, but I can't. I'm hungry, 
 and as uncle is away, there's a chance for some 
 supper." 
 
 " Take supper with us." 
 
 " No, thank you ; I'm coming to-morrow night, 
 you know. Besides, I haven't got my costume 
 yet. Have you yours? " 
 
 "All but my hat; but you can't see it till 
 we're all ready to go. How do we go? " 
 
 " In Barnabas Briggs's big wagon. He has 
 fitted it with seats, and we're to meet him at 
 the old oak at ten o'clock. The ball is not on 
 until eleven as the Hussars have a banquet and 
 speeches from eight till then. Captain Sabre- 
 ton's brother, the earl, is to be there." 
 
 " I wish I could see him." 
 
 " He'll be at the ball. Now, good-bye, Daisy, 
 for a couple of hours." 
 
 There was a sound that brought the mute
 
 72 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 member to his feet and his eyes snapped. The 
 next moment he had his fore paws on his mis- 
 tress's shoulders. 
 
 " Down, Toby, down ! Why anyone would 
 think you loved me." 
 
 "And so he does," said Grandma Larkin, 
 " and dogs is more faithful lovers than men, 
 which isn't saying anything against your grand- 
 father." 
 
 " It's all in the woman," piped Grandpa Lar- 
 kin, as he swallowed some smoke. " It's mighty 
 hard to love some women, as they tell me and as 
 I reads in books." Further speech was stopped 
 by a fit of coughing. 
 
 " It's that horrid tobacco," said Daisy. " Bet- 
 ter up the chimney than down youlr throat, 
 Grandpa." 
 
 Toby was an obedient dog and minded the 
 command to "down." He had been given to 
 Daisy when in his puppydom, by the village 
 tailor, and, in gratitude, had been named after 
 the donor. 
 
 " Now, Grandma, I'll toast the bread, and 
 make the tea, and cut the cheese, and get the
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 73 
 
 preserves, and we'll have our supper together, 
 just as we always do, even if I have to eat an- 
 other at Dunmoor. You won't be afraid if I 
 stay all night, will you? Mrs. Merrily is going, 
 and she has engaged a room at the Castle Inn. 
 I'll be home early in the morning and bring 
 Santa Glaus with me." 
 
 " Is Tom going to be Santa Claus? " asked 
 Grandma. 
 
 " Why, no. What an idea. He won't tell me 
 and I won't tell him." 
 
 " That's right, Daisy," said Grandpa, " don't 
 have no secrets between yer, 'cause secrets lead 
 to lies, and lies to quarrels, and quarrels to " 
 
 " Supper," cried Daisy, as she spread the 
 white cloth on the little round table. Soon the 
 crisp toast, the steaming tea, the yellow cheese, 
 and the golden-red preserves' were on the table, 
 and all gathered about it, Toby waiting with 
 eager eyes and expectant jaws for the tid-bits 
 which he never failed to get. 
 
 There was no click-clack of the mill-wheel 
 the river ran quietly by the little cot and all was 
 peace within.
 
 74 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 THE TAILOR AND MISS JONES 
 
 Miss JENNIE JAMIESON JONES was a lady of 
 uncertain age. You might have guessed how old 
 she was, but Miss Jones never would have ac- 
 knowledged the correctness of your estimate. 
 She had been born a Jamieson. Her father was 
 very poor and very proud. Her stepfather was 
 Mr. Obed Jones, and he, by way of contrast, was 
 very meek and very well-to-do. Miss Jones of- 
 ten said that she was Jennie by virtue of a chris- 
 tening; a Jamieson by the accident of birth, and 
 a Jones by a streak of good luck. 
 
 Miss Jones had passed many years before her 
 heart was touched by the tender passion, and 
 then her affections had been bestowed upon what 
 is sometimes called " the ninth part of a man " 
 a tailor. The fortunate gentleman was Mr. To-
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 75 
 
 bias or, as he was generally called Toby 
 Whackers, the village tailor. 
 
 Miss Jones' passion was such a pure and en- 
 during flame that it was not at all quenched by 
 the storm of criticism thrown upon it by her so- 
 called or would-be friends. Her acquaintance 
 was sought, for she contributed largely to the 
 social entertainments of the village. She was 
 a pillar in the church, and could always be relied 
 upon when a hand was extended in behalf of 
 charity. She was so secure in her position that 
 she did not ask, expect, or care for charity from 
 others. She pursued the even tenor of her way, 
 satisfied that she had made a good choice. She 
 was not vain at heart, but there were moments 
 when she felt that after she became Mrs. Tobias 
 Whackers, she would find some way to repay in 
 kind some of her merciless critics. 
 
 Both Miss Jones and Mr. Whackers had been 
 invited to attend the masquerade ball at Dun- 
 moor Barracks. 
 
 Miss Jones, conventional in some things, was 
 very unconventional in others. One of her 
 critics had referred to her and her future hus-
 
 76 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 band as " Mr. Whackers and his goose." Miss 
 Jones had appreciated the remark to a greater 
 extent than did the one who uttered it, and she 
 had determined, despite the mild remonstrances 
 of Mr. Whackers, to appear at the masquerade 
 dressed in the costume of a goose. She had in- 
 vented it, and Mr. Whackers, with his sharp 
 scissors and deft needle, had constructed it. He 
 had told her that it would be completed late in 
 the afternoon before Christmas day, and it was 
 about six o'clock when Miss Jones arrived at 
 Mr. Whackers's sartorial studio, with the inten- 
 tion of trying on her new costume. The studio 
 included a front store, a trying-on room, and 
 Mr. Whackers's chamber, which was at the 
 rear. 
 
 The costume was a perfect fit, and Mr. Whack- 
 ers, in the exuberance of his love, had called her 
 his little goose, when there came a thundering 
 knock at the front door of the shop. 
 
 " Who can it be? " cried Toby. 
 
 " Where can I go? " cried Miss Jones. 
 
 Mr. Whackers pointed towards the door of his 
 chamber : " My love, I see no other way."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 77 
 
 The knocking at the door was resumed. 
 
 "I don't care," cried Miss Jones; "you are 
 mine and I am yours. They have said so much, 
 they cannot say any more; besides, no one need 
 know," and she vanished into the apartment. 
 
 Mr. Whackers did not use extreme haste in 
 re-entering the front shop and unlocking the 
 door. When he had done so he admitted Mr. 
 Thomas Bright. 
 
 " Hello, Toby," cried Tom. " Have you got 
 my costume ready? " 
 
 " Yes, here it is," replied Mr. Whackers. " It 
 is all done up for you in this box." He seemed 
 anxious to have his customer depart as soon as 
 possible. 
 
 "Oh, I must try it on," said Tom. "If it 
 doesn't fit me like a glove it won't do. To be 
 sure, I gave you the measurements, but tailors 
 do not always do as they ought to. They're re- 
 sponsible for a good many misfits, aren't they, 
 Toby? " 
 
 " Oh yes, Mr. Bright, we sometimes make mis- 
 takes, but unlike some shopkeepers, we don't try 
 to cover them up."
 
 78 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " Oh, you're a nice little fellow, Toby ! How 
 is Miss Jones? When did you see her last? " 
 
 Toby was not willing to answer the latter 
 part of the question, so he replied evasively: 
 " This morning some time." 
 
 " Why, I'm astonished," said Tom. " I saw 
 her coming down the road a little while ago and 
 I thought sure she must be on her way here." 
 
 " She may come in later," said Toby, not 
 thinking it necessary to disclose the real situa- 
 tion. " Well, I hope, Mr. Bright, that the suit 
 will fit you." 
 
 " Well, Toby, I'm going to know that before 
 I leave here. I'm going inside to try it on," 
 and he started for the middle room. 
 
 " Oh, no, no ! You can't do that ! " cried Mr. 
 Whackers. 
 
 " Well, I don't see why not." He looked into 
 the room : " It's empty unless you have some 
 person hid away there," and he gave Toby a 
 nudge in the ribs that caused the little man to 
 gasp for breath. " You just shut the door and 
 we'll make the change in a very short time." 
 
 Tom's statement \?a true and but a few
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 79 
 
 minutes had elapsed before he was dressed in a 
 suit of red from top to toe. 
 
 " How do I look? " asked Tom. 
 
 " Like the devil," said Mr. Whackers in a 
 whisper, for he had been cautioned by Miss 
 Jones not to use profanity under any circum- 
 stances. 
 
 "Nice fit; don't you think so, Toby?" 
 
 " Fine," said the tailor, for every true artist 
 is pleased with his handiwork when it does him 
 credit. 
 
 " Well, it's dark as pitch outside, and I can 
 get back to the house without anyone seeing me. 
 I'll put my other suit right in the box and take 
 it along under my arm." 
 
 Mr. Whacker's was not unwilling to have his 
 customer depart as soon as possible. He closed 
 the shop door after Tom and was about to turn 
 the key when the door was pushed violently 
 open. Mr. Whacker's lost his balance and fell 
 prone upon the floor. 
 
 " What the devil do you want? " he gasped, 
 forgetful of Miss Jones's admonitions. 
 
 " Why," said Tom, didn't I tell you that I
 
 8o THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 wanted a long cloak to wear over my costume? 
 I can get home without freezing, but I can't ride 
 to Dunmoor Barracks and back with this thin 
 suit on." 
 
 " Oh, yes," said Mr. Whackers, " I forgot all 
 about it. You stay here and I'll get it for you." 
 He entered the middle room, closing the door be- 
 hind him. 
 
 Miss Jones had heard the outer door close, and 
 thinking that the customer, whoever it was, had 
 gone, came from the chamber. 
 
 " Who was it, Toby? " 
 
 " Oh, that young fool, Tom Bright." 
 
 " Why didn't he go earlier? " 
 
 " I couldn't get rid of him any sooner. Beg- 
 ging your pardon, I was wishing the devil had 
 him all the time he was here." 
 
 " Why, Toby," cried Miss Jones, " that isn't 
 swearing, but it's very near to it." 
 
 The next moment she raised her hands high 
 above her head, gave a sharp scream, and fell 
 prostrate upon the floor. 
 
 Toby was at his wit's end. What had hap- 
 pened? What should he do? She had fainted !
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 81 
 
 Water! Water!! He turned to go into the 
 front shop to get some, when before his aston- 
 ished gaze stood the form of Tom Bright in the 
 costume of Mephistopheles. He looked at Tom. 
 He was the cause. There at his feet lay the body 
 of his loved one, and that was the effect. 
 
 " Ha ! Ha ! ! " said Tom. " I remember what 
 you told me, Toby. You said that tailors some- 
 times made mistakes, but they never tried to 
 cover them up. It seems to me that this is a mis- 
 take that you did try to cover up and failed in 
 the attempt. Ah, Toby, you're a sly dog!" 
 And he gave the little tailor another nudge in 
 the ribs. " But we must bring the young lady 
 to." 
 
 Tom took the water which Toby had brought 
 and knelt beside the prostrate Miss Jones. He 
 bathed her forehead, rubbed her hands, and soon 
 she opened her eyes. She glanced about in 
 search of Toby, but Tom managed to continually 
 change his position so as to obstruct her vision. 
 She was soon seated in a chair beside which 
 Tom stood fanning her. She looked up at 
 him:
 
 82 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " I have heard what you said to Toby, Mr. 
 Bright." 
 
 " Now, don't worry about that, Miss Jones. 
 We both came here on business; of course we 
 both wish to keep our disguises from the knowl- 
 edge of others. I think it was perfectly proper 
 for you to hide. Now, when we get to the mas- 
 querade, if you won't tell anybody who I am, 
 I'll keep your secret. I'm no gossip and nobody 
 in the village shall know of our meeting here 
 and its consequences. Good-bye, Miss Jones. 
 We shall meet again. Now, Toby, give me my 
 cloak." 
 
 The garment was produced. Tom gathered 
 it about his tall form, and, with his box con- 
 cealed beneath it, made his way homeward. 
 
 Toby made sure that the door was locked be- 
 fore he returned to the middle room. 
 
 " Toby," said Miss Jones, " you know I love 
 you, but after to-night I think I shall always like 
 the devil just a little bit."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 83 
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 THE SQUIRE AND THE DRESSMAKER 
 
 " WHERE are you going, Boddley? " asked 
 Mrs. Squire Goldfish in a querulous tone. " You 
 wouldn't take me to the masquerade because, as 
 you say you told Captain Sabreton, you always 
 remained at home on Christmas eve." 
 
 " And so I would, Eunice, but it is a visit of 
 charity and brotherly love that takes me from 
 my warm fireside and loving spouse on such a 
 cold night." 
 
 The Squire spoke often in public, and could 
 be quite eloquent on occasion at home. 
 
 " Who's in trouble now? " asked Mrs. Cold- 
 fish, but without sympathy in her voice. 
 
 " Our worthy constable, Mr. Quinn. He has 
 had a bad accident. Doctor Bunch will be there 
 and we must to all we can for the poor fellow
 
 84 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 and think, while he is thus incapacitated, the 
 village has no guardian." 
 
 Mrs. Goldfish sniffed. " He hasn't been much 
 good since he broke his leg. It's a wonder he 
 didn't break his neck." 
 
 " I am astonished, Eunice, at your unchristian 
 levity." Feeling that sparks might produce a 
 flame, he put on his mittens, grasped his gold- 
 headed cane, and said : " I'll not be gone long. 
 You may expect me home in an hour." 
 
 Constable Quinn was in an arm-chair, with 
 his bandaged leg resting on a cricket, when 
 Squire Goldfish arrived. Dr. Bunch had been 
 and gone, giving his patient the pleasing infor- 
 mation that he " would probably get out again 
 in six weeks, if he used crutches." 
 
 " Glad to see you, Squire," said Mr. Quinn's 
 sister Polly. "My brother is the most unfor- 
 tunest critter in the world. He's always tum- 
 bling up or tumbling down. I can feed him all 
 right, but I was never good on nussin'." 
 
 " Squire," said the victim, when his sister had 
 left the room, " I want you to do something for 
 me."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 85 
 
 " That's what I came for, my friend. Noth- 
 ing could have drawn me from my warm fire- 
 side and " 
 
 " I wish I was out in the cold," broke in Mr. 
 Quinn, " and what I wish you to do will give you 
 a chance to enjoy it but not as much as I 
 would." 
 
 "And your wish is?'' 
 
 " I want you to go to Mrs. Merrily and get 
 some worm oil for me." 
 
 "Worm oil?" cried the astonished Squire. 
 " Why, I thought you had an accident." 
 
 " So I did. Mrs. Merrily's husband hurt his 
 hand and his fingers all stiffened up. Somebody 
 told her to fry worms in lard and make a salve 
 and his fingers came out all straight. I want 
 some for my knee." 
 
 " But she can't dig worms with the ground 
 all frozen." 
 
 " She don't need to she has some of the salve 
 all made." 
 
 Squire Goldfish was not averse to calling 
 upon the sprightly, well-preserved Mrs. Merrily, 
 and he started off in his journey fully impressed
 
 86 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 with the belief that his wife could not but com- 
 mend his act of brotherly interest although he 
 knew that she disapproved of Mrs. Merrily be- 
 cause she dressed so extravagantly. 
 
 Mrs. Merrily was alone and took her visitor 
 into her " trying-on " room. Weather and wife 
 had been considered, and the Squire was just 
 on the point of mentioning " worms " when the 
 store bell rang violently. The Squire's first 
 thought was that his wife had followed him 
 she had done so on more than one occasion. 
 Mrs. Merrily was bringing her customer to the 
 trying-on room he must escape observation 
 some village gossip would tell his wife, and she 
 would never believe the " worm " story. He 
 opened a door there was a closet and when 
 Mrs. Merrily entered the room, the Squire had 
 disappeared. 
 
 " What can I do for you Miss Smiles? " 
 
 " I'm going to the masquerade and I want a 
 costume." 
 
 " I'm sorry, but I haven't a thing that would 
 fit you." 
 
 " I'm going to have a new silk dress," said
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 87 
 
 Sally, " but I suppose I'll have to go to Dun- 
 moor for it." 
 
 Mrs. Merrily and Miss Phippen, the Dunmoor 
 dressmaker, were not on speaking terms with 
 each other but each had her opinion of the 
 other's ability, which was expressed and duly 
 transmitted. 
 
 " No need of that," said Mrs. Merrily. " Let 
 me think ! " 
 
 The Squire had found himself in a closet filled 
 with petticoats, and gowns, and other articles 
 of feminine apparel. What else could they be? 
 He was nearly suffocated when Mrs. Merrily 
 opened the door, having " thought " of a dress 
 that " might " suit Miss Smiles. 
 
 Sally broke into a fit of uncontrollable laugh- 
 ter. As soon as she could speak, she cried: 
 " Do you have the Squire for a model, Mrs. 
 Merrily? " 
 
 The Squire was flabbergasted. Sally was all 
 smiles, and Mrs. Merrily all frowns. How could 
 he extricate himself? He was, at heart, an 
 honest man, and he did the right thing. 
 
 " Well, Sally, I'll own up. I came to get some
 
 88 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 worm oil for Mr. Quinn who has hurt his knee. 
 I hadn't asked for it, and when I heard you of 
 course I didn't know it was you I thought I'd 
 go in the next room until you I mean the cus- 
 tomer had gone." 
 
 " I'm one of the few persons who'd believe 
 every word you say, Squire. I don't blame any 
 gentleman for coming to see Mrs. Merrily even 
 the married ones but it's mighty lucky it was 
 me that saved you." 
 
 " Saved me? " cried the Squire. 
 
 " Yes, saved you. Supposing it had been your 
 wife, whom I met a few minutes ago, you'd have 
 died of suffocation over-dressed, as it were 
 and Mrs. Merrily might have been held for 
 murder. But I won't tell." 
 
 " Of course you won't, Sally," said the dress- 
 maker. I'm sorry I haven't any oil for poor Mr. 
 Quinn. My bicycle needed oiling and I used it. 
 The machine's been wabbly ever since." 
 
 " It sort of worms its way along," remarked 
 the Squire, who was a constant reader and great 
 admirer of London Punch the newspaper. 
 
 " Bravo ! " cried Sally. " I've heard it before,
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 89 
 
 but it's good just the same. Now Madam," and 
 she faced Mrs. Merrily, " do I get that cos- 
 tume? " 
 
 "Certainly," said the Squire; "anything you 
 want, only have a mask and keep it tight over 
 your mouth." 
 
 " How will this do? " asked Mrs. Merrily, as 
 she brought from the closet a bright red dress,, 
 stockings, shoes, and hat. " Miss Vanderstyne 
 wore it a year ago she who was killed on the 
 railroad and her father brought it back and 
 wouldn't pay for it." 
 
 " Take it," suggested the Squire. 
 
 " It's all I have that will fit you," said Mrs. 
 Merrily, plaintively. 
 
 " Oh, just to oblige you I will ; besides, I am 
 not afraid of dead folks' clothes. Orphans don't 
 get much else. Do it up. I'm in a frightful 
 hurry. Then, Squire, you must see me home." 
 
 "Well, really, Sally," he began. 
 
 " It don't make no difference," said Sally. 
 " I saved your life and you must beau me home. 
 Come, you take this bundle." 
 
 The night was dark and Sally clung to the
 
 90 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Squire's arm. " Do you know, Mr. Goldfish, I 
 thought you were the Old Nick when you came 
 out of that closet." 
 
 " Don't mention it, Miss Smiles. Besides, I 
 was not dressed in red." 
 
 " Neither is he when he goes a-visiting. The 
 Good Book says he walks' around like a wolf try- 
 ing to eat lambs." 
 
 " I hate mutton," blurted the Squire. 
 
 The Squire lifted the cape of his coat to cover 
 his face, for a woman was approaching. She 
 passed by without noticing them. 
 
 "Who was it?" came in a whisper from be- 
 hind the cape. 
 
 " I think it was Mrs. Goldfish," said the vera- 
 cious Sally, who really had no idea who it was. 
 
 " So much the better," thought the Squire. 
 " I'll be home first, and if she talks, I'll de- 
 mand an explanation." 
 
 They were near the little red mill. 
 
 "Sally," began the Squire; then he hesitated. 
 " Sally, I'm greatly indebted to you." 
 
 "How much?" was the quick query. 
 
 The Squire took out his leathern wallet, and
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 91 
 
 by the dim starlight at last found a coin. Sally 
 felt the pressure in her hand. 
 
 " Good night, and a Merry Christmas, Miss 
 Smiles." 
 
 " Same to you, Squire and pleasant dreams 
 about worms," and she ran laughing into the 
 house. She kept her hand clasped tightly until 
 she was in her own room then she looked at the 
 glistening coin. 
 
 " It's all mine every bit of it and and 
 and I'll make him pay for the costume too." 
 
 The Squire tiptoed upstairs. " Won't she be 
 surprised when she comes home and finds me 
 in bed?" 
 
 He lighted a candle and looked his wife was 
 fast asleep ! He opened his wallet. " Only a 
 crown, thank Fortune. I did think of making 
 it a sovereign."
 
 92 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 THE CAPTAIN AND THE MILLINEB 
 
 ALL the young, marriageable ladies in Dun- 
 moor declared that Captain Horatio Sabreton 
 was " a darling little fellow." He was short in 
 stature, but trimly built. His hair, when dry, 
 was red, but when saturated with bear's grease, 
 was " a beautiful dark brown." His moustache, 
 several shades lighter, was waxed to needle 
 points. His feet were small, and his hands 
 white, with tapering fingers. All in all, a man 
 better suited for a boudoir than a battlefield. 
 But appearances are often deceitful. Captain 
 Sabreton was brave as a hungry lion and had 
 shown his valor in real warfare, as the medal on 
 his breast testified. 
 
 He was the third son of the Earl of Overland. 
 Thomas, the eldest, was heir to title and estate; 
 Reginald, the second son, had gone into the 
 church with a handsome living, while a commis- 
 sion in the army and a small yearly allowance
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 93 
 
 had been Horatio's share of the patrimony. 
 Thomas looked down on his youngest brother, 
 but " Reggy " said that if he ever came into the 
 title and the funds, he'd divide with " Holly." 
 
 The Dunmoor matrons, with human flowers 
 which they wished to have transplanted into 
 other people's gardens, regarded " Holly " Sabre- 
 ton favorably. He was not wealthy, to be sure, 
 and his two brothers were abominably healthy, 
 but he was " in society " fend could take his wife 
 there. Dunmoor was only a garrison town and 
 seldom visited by nobility, and only once, a hun- 
 dred years before, by royalty. 
 
 But Holly seemed heart-proof against the 
 Cupid's arrows shot at him by mammas and 
 their progeny. His invulnerability was a mys- 
 tery until its cause was discerned, and then the 
 mystery became a mixture of surprise, and, it 
 must be confessed, disgust. Why should Cap- 
 tain Sabreton ignore the charms of the Dunmoor 
 belles and bestow his affections upon a woman 
 at least ten years older than he was, plain surely, 
 neat evidently, but pshaw! only a milliner, 
 who kept a little shop in Middleton-on-Quick?
 
 94 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Miss Ruth Dunn Moor the reason for his 
 numerous visits to Middleton was, in a way, 
 also a mystery. She had been born in France 
 and was never seen in Dunmoor until soon after 
 the death of Lord Dunmoor, when she appeared 
 and claimed to be his only niece, and heiress to 
 the estates as against Ralph Crowders, a cousin 
 of the late peer's, three times removed. A legal 
 battle took place, but Miss Dunmoor could not 
 prove her birthright, and her claim was set aside, 
 with an injunction not to use the name " Dun- 
 moor." With woman's persistency, she took the 
 name Ruth Dunn Moore, and what she lost 
 alphabetically she gained vocally. 
 
 Miss Dunn Moore closed her little shop door 
 on Christmas eve at six o'clock. She was not 
 going to Dunmoor Barracks to the masquerade. 
 In some respects she was a timid little body, and 
 she did not care to be stared at by the girls and 
 lorgnetted by the mothers, and know she was 
 being criticised behind her back and even to 
 her face. 
 
 But Holly had promised to come to see her, 
 and it was just 6.10 by the ormolu clock on the
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 95 
 
 mantlepiece in her little parlor when his dog- 
 cart stopped at her door. 
 
 His present for her was a dainty brooch, with 
 a receptacle in which she found a diminutive 
 portrait of her lover. They made a pretty pic- 
 ture as they stood there her plain face suffused 
 with blushes, and her eyes bright with pleasure. 
 He was in undress uniform, and looked every 
 inch the gay cavalier and " Boots," his big 
 collie, wagged his black and orange tail to show 
 his canine admiration. 
 
 But the joy was short-lived. A voice was 
 heard in the shop : " Miss Dunn Moore ! Are 
 you there? I'm coming in. May I?" 
 
 Captain Sabreton caught at Boots's collar, 
 dragged him behind a long pier glass, and Miss 
 Ruth pushed an easy-chair before it, as the glass 1 
 did not reach to the floor. Then she turned to 
 greet Miss Daisy Dane. 
 
 " You've got company. Who is it Captain 
 Sabreton? I thought it was his dogcart. But 
 where is Boots? " 
 
 The Captain had Boots's jaws in a firm grip 
 to prevent a responsive bark.
 
 96 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Before Miss Ruth could invent a reply, for pre- 
 varication seemed absolutely necessary, Daisy 
 went on : "I suppose he's gone over to the 
 inn to wet his whistle. Strange that young men 
 have to drink wine before they make love. But 
 I've come for my Tyrolean hat. Is it ready? " 
 
 Miss Ruth was inwardly repentant for the 
 falsehood she had not been obliged to tell, and 
 grateful that the conversation had been turned 
 to a business topic. 
 
 " Yes, it's done, and it's a beauty," and Miss 
 Ruth brought it from the shop counter. 
 
 Daisy adjusted it jauntily over her golden 
 hair} and was going to inspect it in the mirror 
 when Miss Ruth caught her arm : " What's in 
 your basket? " 
 
 " Oh, my boy's costume. I'm going to try it 
 on here and have you give me the finishing 
 touches. Grandpa and Grandma don't know 
 any more about dress than my dog Toby does." 
 
 " Oh, no, you can't," cried Miss Ruth. " It 
 isn't at all necessary. Somebody might come 
 in." 
 
 " They can't if you lock the door. Go lock it
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 97 
 
 that's a dear. I'll have my things all off in 
 a minute." 
 
 Miss Dunn Moore gave a sigh a long drawn 
 one. 
 
 " The Captain won't mind waiting a few min- 
 utes when he comes back from the inn. Men are 
 always good-natured when they get plenty to 
 drink but don't let him in until I'm all dressed 
 then I won't care very much. He won't ask 
 me to dance besides, Tom won't let me." 
 
 Miss Ruth locked the door, but lingered in 
 the shop as though she were waiting for the Cap- 
 tain's return. " Acting a lie is less harmful 
 than uttering one," she thought. 
 
 " I'm in it! " cried Daisy, and she was. Low 
 shoes with buckles and clocked stockings; blue 
 velvet knee breeches with silver embroidery; a 
 fluffy lace shirt, a blue velvet jacket and a tall, 
 Tyrolean hat with a long black feather. 
 
 " On the Grampian hills my father fed his 
 flocks," cried Daisy, as she danced about the 
 room. Then swinging her hat she gave a yodel 
 that was too much for Boots's equanimity. He 
 broke away from his master, gave a satisfied
 
 98 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 yelp, and dashed after Daisy, full of the spirit 
 of the occasion. 
 
 Daisy gave Miss Ruth a look that made the 
 little milliner shake in her boots, while her 
 blushes were supplanted by an ashen pallor. 
 Daisy tiptoed to the mirror and looked behind 
 it. There, doubled up, was Captain Holly. 
 Daisy took him by the ear and led him forth. 
 
 " Are you a peeping Tom? " she asked, sternly. 
 
 " 'Pon honor, no, Miss Daisy. I kept my eyes 
 shut all the time." 
 
 " Did you hear anything? " 
 
 " I put my fingers in my ears." 
 
 " Let me see if the quicksilver is scratched off 
 anywhere on that glass," and she made a careful 
 examination. Then she began to laugh. 
 
 " Don't look so blue, Miss Ruth and you, 
 Captain, brace up. It's all my fault. I had no 
 right to make myself so much at home. Pray 
 forgive my thoughtlessness." 
 
 She began to put her discarded garments into, 
 the basket 
 
 " Are you going home that way? " asked Miss 
 Ruth.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 99 
 
 " Why not? It's as dark as pitch, and I want 
 to surprise Tom, because he won't tell me what 
 he's going to wear." 
 
 " I'll drive you home," volunteered the gal- 
 lant Captain. 
 
 " No, you won't You'll stay right here with 
 your own little girl," and before Miss Kuth 
 could resist, Daisy caught her in "her arms and 
 kissed her on both cheeks, which were, at once, 
 aflame, partly with surprise and partly from in- 
 dignation. 
 
 " Good-bye, Captain ! I'll see you later ! " 
 cried Daisy. 
 
 When Daisy had gone, with her basket under 
 her arm, Miss Ruth took both the Captain's 
 hands in hers and looked plaintively into his 
 face. 
 
 " Did you peek, Holly? " 
 
 " Not once, my love." 
 
 Their lips met, and Boots wagged his parti- 
 colored tail as a testimonial of the reconcilia- 
 tion.
 
 ioo THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 PRINCE MEPHISTO 
 
 THE little red mill was as quiet as the grave. 
 No, not quite so quiet, for occasionally rats 
 could be heard scampering across the attic floor, 
 and a succession of diminutive squeals indicated 
 that a family of mice was ensconced beyond 
 the pantry wall. A candle was burning on the 
 kitchen table. Mr. Stubbs would have inveighed 
 against it, but Sally did not like to come into 
 the mill when it was shrouded in darkness, and 
 had left the candle burning despite the possi- 
 bility of receiving a severe scolding, and perhaps 
 a more serious retribution, for Mr. Stubbs, in his 
 fits of anger, had often used his stout oaken staff 
 on the backs of his nephew, his servant, and even 
 his only son. 
 
 The door was opened quietly, and a tall figure, 
 enshrouded in a long black cloak, entered the
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 101 
 
 room. He dropped his cap upon the floor, and 
 stood revealed Mr. Thomas Bright as Prince 
 Mephisto clad in a suit of red from head to 
 foot. The shoes which he wore were cloven, and 
 the red hood, which fitted tightly to his head, 
 had projecting points symbolical of horns. He 
 put on a mask, with sharp nose and vengeful 
 eyes, and looked to be the very Devil. 
 
 There was a rattle at the door. Someone was 
 trying to lift the latch. Tom threw his cloak 
 into the pantry and ran behind the tall, eight- 
 day clock which stood in a corner of the room. 
 
 He had no sooner done so than Sally entered 
 with a bundle under her arm. She started to- 
 wards the table, intending to take the candle and 
 go to her room, but as she extended her hand, 
 Tom gave a deep groan. 
 
 Sally was terrified. She screamed : " 'Evans ! 
 Oh, 'Evans ! " And hugging her bundle closely 
 with both arms, rushed out of the room. 
 
 Tom stepped from behind the old clock, took 
 off his mask and laughed diabolically. 
 
 " Sally would have the St. Vitus dance if she 
 saw me in this rig. I don't believe she would
 
 102 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 know me. I think this will do for the masquer- 
 ade. Everybody will say it is a devilish good 
 costume. I hope Daisy will like it. Ah ! There's 
 Sally singing to keep her courage up. I will 
 scare her out of a year's growth." 
 
 He put on his mask, took some toys and a long 
 feather from a shelf, and hid again behind the 
 clock. 
 
 Sally, who had put on the costume which Mrs. 
 Merrily had provided, and which Squire Cold- 
 fish had paid for once and would perhaps have 
 to pay for again, entered the room singing in 
 a loud voice : " I don't care for nobody, and no- 
 body cares for me." 
 
 " Well, I suppose I must let Tom out, so that 
 he can go to the masquerade with Daisy. She's 
 a pretty girl. They'll make a handsome couple 
 so will Johnnie and me. I have a hold on the 
 old Stubbs, because I kept my eyes open, and 
 that improves my chances of getting the young 
 one." 
 
 Tom gave another deep groan. 
 
 " What's that? " cried Sally. 
 
 There was another groan.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 103 
 
 " 'Evans ! Oh, 'Evans ! Ghosts ! " 
 
 Sally shook with fear, and then remembering 
 woman's most potent weapon, gave a shrill 
 scream. 
 
 Tom, still behind the clock, said in his deepest 
 tones : " Sarah Ann Smiles ! " 
 
 "Ough!" Sally shuddered. "Old Nick is 
 calling for me." She crouched in a corner and 
 covered her face with her dress. 
 
 Tom tiptoed from behind the clock and tickled 
 her ear with the feather. 
 
 Sally slapped her face and exclaimed : " Skee- 
 ters ! " 
 
 At the same moment Tom dropped a handful 
 of toys and some blocks of wood on Sally's head. 
 She jumped to her feet, gave another loud 
 scream, and ran to a corner of the room. Then, 
 impelled by a curiosity which she could not over- 
 come, she turned and saw Tom, who struck an 
 attitude befitting his Satanic costume. 
 
 Sally, terrified, fell on her knees. " Oh, I 
 say, good Mr. Devil, don't hurt little Sally, and 
 she won't be wicked any more." 
 
 Tom pointed his finger at her and said,
 
 104 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 sternly : " It is time for you to reform, Miss 
 Sarah Ann Smiles! Such goings on with Mr. 
 Stubbs!" 
 
 Sally thought to herself : " He know s all 
 about it. Oh, you good Mr. Devil," she im- 
 plored; "you're a nice, pretty Devil. I didn't 
 mean any harm. Oh, you nice Mr. Satan, I did 
 want a new silk dress so much, and a kiss was 
 awful cheap for it. Don't you think so? " 
 
 Tom advanced towards her, shaking his finger 
 in a portentous manner. 
 
 " Oh, good Mr. Devil, I will tell everything. 
 Mr. Stubbs is going to give me a new silk bon- 
 net too." 
 
 " Ho, ho ! " cried Tom. " So the father is kiss- 
 ing you as well as the son! You will never wear 
 that new silk bonnet or that new silk dress. You 
 must come with me ! " As he spoke he grasped 
 Sally by the arm. 
 
 " Oh, don't, good Mr. Devil. I ain't ready. 
 My trunk ain't packed, and I have the Christ- 
 mas dinner to get, and I must say good-bye to 
 Johnnie." 
 
 Tom dragged Sally about the room, she
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 105 
 
 screaming wildly. Then he released her and she 
 fell face downward on the floor. 
 
 Tom gave a loud laugh, lifted his mask, and 
 leaned over her. " Sally ! I say, Sally ! Don't 
 you know me? " 
 
 Sally looked up and her face was a picture of 
 disgust. 
 
 Tom pointed downwards with his finger. " So 
 you thought I was the ? " 
 
 Sallie jumped up, laughing boisterously. 
 "Didn't I fool you nice, Tom?" 
 
 " Why, you didn't know who it was." 
 
 " Of course I did, Tom." 
 
 "No, you didn't either; if you had, you 
 wouldn't have confessed all your little secrets 
 to me." 
 
 " Why, of course I knew it was you, Tom, and 
 what I told you was all a joke." 
 
 " Do you mean that you made it all up, 
 Sally? " 
 
 " Yes, it was all made up just as you are." 
 
 " I'm devilish well made up. Don't you think 
 so, Sally? Don't I look like the gent down be- 
 low?"
 
 io6 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " I hope he isn't any worse looking." 
 
 " Is that a compliment? How do I look, any- 
 way?" As Tom asked the question he pirouet- 
 ted about the room. 
 
 " You look just splendid, Tom. I hope Daisy 
 won't keep you waiting. But how did you get 
 out? " 
 
 " Oh, I made myself a key, and I have one for 
 the outside door too. After all, you're a pretty 
 nice girl, Sally." 
 
 " Do you think so? Mr. Stubbs says I shall 
 soon be a friend of the family." 
 
 " Uncle Stubbs will never let Johnnie marry 
 you." 
 
 " That's for Johnnie to decide. He's a man, 
 ain't he? He's twenty-one, anyhow." 
 
 Tom hesitated : " Well, yes, he has one quali- 
 fication of manhood." 
 
 " What's that? " 
 
 " Why, he's twenty-one. Why don't you go 
 away, then if Johnnie is true, he'll follow you." 
 
 " Supposing I asked you, Tom, why you didn't 
 go away?" 
 
 " I'm staying to get my rights. Somebody's
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 107 
 
 got my money and I'm going to find out who it 
 is." 
 
 " Well, I'm staying to get my man and all 
 the money, one of these days. I don't think it 
 will be such a bad match; do you, Tom? " 
 
 " He's a little fool. You're too good for him, 
 Sally." 
 
 " Well, I think a little fool with lots of money 
 is better than a smart young man like you, Tom, 
 without a shilling to his name. I'm satisfied. 
 My market's made. I'm going to marry Johnnie 
 Stubbs." 
 
 "Well, Sally, I'm glad you're going to get 
 lots of money with him. Why doesn't Daisy 
 come? Girls are always late. I will give the 
 signal; perhaps she is there waiting. She 
 wouldn't come in if she thought that Uncle 
 Stubbs and your intended were here." 
 
 Tom held the candle before the window and 
 passed it back and forth. He listened. There 
 was a sound of clapping of hands. 
 
 " She sees it. She'll be here in a minute." 
 
 Tom opened the door and he and Sally stood 
 expectantly. Daisy entered. Upon her head
 
 io8 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 was the peaked Tyrolean hat ; a long, gray cloak, 
 which reached to the floor, encircled her. She 
 threw it off and stood revealed in the costume 
 of a Tyrolean peasant boy.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 109 
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 THE SECRET OUT 
 
 DAISY could not help laughing, for both Tom 
 and Sally looked astonished. 
 
 " Oh, Tom, it's as dark as pitch out-doors, but 
 everything looks bright and smiling in here." 
 
 " Oh, yes," said Tom ; " everybody who comes 
 here is welcomed by bright smiles." 
 
 Daisy looked Tom over from head to foot. 
 " I should judge by your costume that you're 
 going to play the Devil to-night." 
 
 Tom put on his mask and struck an attitude. 
 
 " You look just like him." 
 
 "Are you pleased with my costume, Daisy?" 
 asked Tom. 
 
 " Oh, it's capital in one respect I shall have 
 no cause to be jealous. I shall have you all to 
 myself."
 
 no THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " I don't think you like my costume very well, 
 Daisy, or you wouldn't give such a selfish 
 reason." 
 
 " Selfish, Tom? Do you call it selfish to take 
 up with Old Nick when there will be princes, and 
 kings, and knights there in profusion? " she 
 pouted, and looked prettier than ever when she 
 did it. 
 
 By that time Sally had become convinced of 
 the truth of the old saying: Two's company; 
 three's a crowd." 
 
 " I'll be back in a minute," she said, as she 
 left the room. 
 
 Tom surveyed Daisy critically, and there 
 was no tone of appreciation in his voice when 
 he spoke : " I have been looking at your dress, 
 Daisy. No doubt you think you look perfectly 
 lovely." 
 
 " Well, I ought to, Tom, when you look so 
 diabolical." 
 
 " You ought to have cavalry boots to go with 
 those," and he pointed to the knee breeches. 
 " They ought to come up high, too." 
 
 " Why, how foolish, Tom. Tyrolean boys al-
 
 THE TOYMAKERS in 
 
 ways wear low shoes with buckles and clocked 
 stockings." 
 
 Tom spoke angrily : " Daisy, I don't like 
 them." 
 
 " Don't like what, Tom?" 
 
 " Why, those those breeches." 
 
 " I know why you don't like them. It isn't be- 
 cause they're short, but because they're not long 
 enough." 
 
 "Well, I don't like them, Daisy, that's all. 
 They remind me of Johnnie Stubbs's. I thought 
 you were going to wear a girl's pretty costume 
 to match with mine. If you go in that I mean 
 those they'll take us for the Devil and his 
 lackey." 
 
 Daisy had a temper of her own and it began to 
 rise. " There's nothing particularly handsome 
 about your costume, Tom. I'm sure I have no 
 wish to be seen dancing with the devil, even at 
 a masquerade." 
 
 Sally looked in at the door : " Don't you want 
 something to eat, Tom? I've warmed up some 
 soup. It will be almost morning before you get 
 supper at the masquerade."
 
 H2 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Tom, who was in a sullen mood, answered: 
 " I don't want any supper, and what's more, 
 I'm not going to the masquerade." 
 
 Sally was astonished to hear Tom say that he 
 was not hungry, but when he said that he was 
 not going to the masquerade, her eyes seemed 
 ready to leave their sockets, as she stood with 
 wide-open mouth. At last she exclaimed : " Not 
 going, Tom ! Why not? " 
 
 Tom did not reply. 
 
 " Why, would you believe it, Sally, he's not go- 
 ing just because I got this for my costume. He 
 doesn't like these," and she pointed to the knee 
 breeches. 
 
 Tom growled out : " You look horrible." 
 
 Daisy was quick at repartee : " Well, you 
 look like the devil in your costume, anyway." 
 
 Sally interposed a query : " Why, what did 
 you expect her to wear, Tom ? " 
 
 " Why, a pretty girl's dress, of course." 
 
 Sally had an idea : " Say, Daisy, if I find you 
 
 a pretty girl's dress no, I mean a girl's pretty 
 
 dress to wear, will you let me have the boy's 
 
 costume? I want to go to the masquerade, but
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 113 
 
 I just hate this thing," and she gave her dress 
 a spiteful swish. " Mrs. Merrily said it was all 
 she had, but she had something else in the 
 closet " 
 
 " You can have it and welcome, Sally," said 
 Tom. 
 
 Daisy was not so willing: " I have something 
 to say about that. I chose this costume and I 
 am going to wear it." 
 
 Tom ignored her declaration, and turning to 
 Sally asked : " Where is the dress you speak of? " 
 
 " Oh, Tom, it's such a funny story ! You 
 know Mr. Stubbs always keeps that closet 
 locked/' and she pointed towards the door. 
 " Well he's got a big, life-sized doll in there, and 
 she's just dressed elegantly. This afternoon I 
 caught Mr. Stubbs just as he was putting her 
 back in the closet. Do you know, he thought 
 that I thought that he thought that I thought 
 he had a live girl locked up in there. Oh, Daisy, 
 she's just lovely." 
 
 " I'd like to have a look at her," said Tom. 
 " She may be larger or smaller than Daisy; then, 
 too, the door may be locked."
 
 H4 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 "Oh, that's all right," said Sally; "I have 
 a key." 
 
 Tom entered the closet and soon returned 
 drawing the platform upon which stood the 
 dummy doll. " Seems about your size." 
 
 Sally clapped her hands : " And as I live she 
 looks just like Daisy." 
 
 " Uncle Stubbs is a man of taste," said Tom. 
 " He took the prettiest girl in the village for his 
 model." 
 
 It takes an experienced woman of the world 
 to withstand flattery, and Daisy was but a 
 simple village maiden. 
 
 " Oh, Tom," she cried, " the Old Nick was al- 
 ways a flatterer." 
 
 ' Yes," said Tom, " and always succeeded. 
 You remember Eve? " 
 
 Sally stroked the doll's silk dress and care- 
 fully examined the lace with which it was 
 trimmed: "Oh, I say, don't you think she is 
 superbly elegant? And such nice clothes! How 
 about that trade, Daisy? Is it all right?" 
 
 Daisy nodded. " Yes, I'm satisfied." 
 
 Tom felt as though an apology was needed:
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 115 
 
 " You know, Daisy, I'm real sorry that I was 
 ugly to you." 
 
 Daisy was an honest little girl, so she replied : 
 " Well, I'm real glad of it, Tom, for now I shall 
 have the most beautiful dress at the masquer- 
 ade." 
 
 " Let's get to work," said Sally. " We have 
 to undress the doll; then Daisy's got to undress 
 and put on this dress; then I have to put on 
 Daisy's costume, and there's lots to be done." 
 
 Tom thought this suggestion was a good one, 
 and Sally and he began to undress the doll, but 
 Daisy interposed: ."Torn, don't you think it 
 would be more proper for you to take her into 
 the closet and let me finish undressing her? " 
 
 " Well, I really think you could do as well 
 without me; I'm inexperienced, and while you're 
 making your toilet, I'll get some of that soup." 
 
 Tom drew the platform back into the closet. 
 Daisy followed him. He soon returned and 
 closed the door, and started in search of the 
 soup, for now that the matter was settled in a 
 satisfactory manner, he actually felt hungry.
 
 n6 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 FROM BOY TO GIRL 
 
 TOM was not allowed to enjoy his meal undis- 
 turbed ; in fact, he had no sooner taken the bowl 
 into his hand than Daisy's voice was heard. She 
 had left the closet and had come to the door of 
 the room in which Tom was sitting. 
 
 " Oh, Tom, it's so horrid dark in that closet, 
 I must have a light." 
 
 " Why, of course, Daisy. A lady cannot dress 
 in the dark," and taking a candle from the 
 mantelpiece, he lighted it, and went as far as 
 the closet door with her. 
 
 Just as Daisy entered the closet, there came 
 a flash of lightning, followed by a loud peal of 
 thunder. 
 
 " We're going to have a hard night. We'll 
 get wet going to the masquerade. But one good
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 117 
 
 thing, Uncle Stubbs and Johnnie won't come 
 home till morning. Oh, I forgot to lock the 
 door." 
 
 Tom started to leave the room, when Daisy 
 re-appeared at the closet door : " Oh, Tom, 
 there's a mouse in here, and you know I'm so 
 afraid of them. Oh, it makes me c-r-a-w-1. 
 Ugh ! " 
 
 " Nonsense, Daisy ! Hurry up ! Go in ! " He 
 pushed her into the closet and closed the door. 
 He felt the pangs of hunger, but before he 
 reached the door of the room where his soup was 
 awaiting him, Daisy grasped him by the arm. 
 
 " Tom, dear, there's a big mouse in that dress, 
 and I don't dare to touch it. You must come and 
 kill it." 
 
 Tom grasped her around the waist and car- 
 ried her into the closet. The storm increased in 
 violence. Loud raps were heard upon the out- 
 side door. 
 
 Sally entered the kitchen, ran about the room, 
 and looked behind the clock and in the pantry: 
 "Where's Tom? Where's the girl?" 
 
 Sounds came from the closet. Tom was try-
 
 n8 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 ing to kill the mouse. Sally ran to the closet 
 door and rapped upon it. 
 
 " Tom ! Tom ! ! Tom ! ! ! " In a loud whisper. 
 
 Tom opened the door hastily and ran against 
 Sally, who gave utterance to a stifled " Oh ! " 
 
 " What's the matter, Sally? " 
 
 " Both the Stubbs's have come home. Don't 
 you hear them at the door? " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs pounded upon the door with his 
 heavy oaken staff. 
 
 " I say, Tom, she must get out of here, or 
 there'll be a row." 
 
 " Who must get out the doll? " 
 
 " No, the girl. She must cut and run." 
 
 Tom opened the closet door : " Daisy, come 
 out ! Quick." 
 
 "I can't!" 
 
 " But you must, Daisy ! Come ! " 
 
 "I won't!" 
 
 " But you must come ! Why can't you 
 come? " 
 
 " Of course I can't; I'm all undressed." 
 
 " Open the door, Daisy. I must speak to 
 you."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 119 
 
 " Don't you dare come in here ! " 
 
 Tom pulled at the door and succeeded in open- 
 ing it a short distance. " Daisy, Uncle Stubbs 
 has come home and we're in for it. If he comes 
 to the closet, you must play that you're the doll, 
 and fool the old man. It's your only chance." 
 
 " All right, Tom ; I'll take the chance." 
 
 " Now, Sally," said Tom, " what's to become 
 of me?" 
 
 " You must hide. Get under the table. No, 
 your legs are too long. Get in the big chest. 
 No, you would suffocate. Get inside the clock. 
 No, there isn't room, unless you take the place 
 of the pendulum. Oh, Tom, you'll have to go up 
 chimney." 
 
 Tom was at his wit's end. " Sally, lock the 
 closet door and hide the key. Here's the door 
 key. Although Old Nick lives down below, this 
 time Old Nick will upward go." 
 
 Tom crawled up into the chimney. Sally ran 
 and locked the closet door and put the key in 
 her pocket. The pounding on the outside door 
 now became so great that it seemed as though 
 Mr. Stubbs had determined to force his way in.
 
 120 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Sally approached the outside door. Raising 
 her voice so that Mr. Stubbs could hear, she 
 cried: "Coming! Coming!! You're in a great 
 hurry, it seems to me. Can't you give a poor 
 girl time to get her eyes open? " 
 
 She unlocked the door and opened it. Father 
 and son rushed into the room. Mr. Stubbs threw 
 his hat in one corner, his coat in another, and, 
 pulling off his boots, threw them at Sally, who 
 managed to dodge them and brought him his 
 slippers. 
 
 " Sally, run upstairs to my room and get my 
 little blue trunk, and remember to remember to 
 handle it carefully, or it'll explode and blow 
 you to pieces." 
 
 Sally ran to do his bidding. 
 
 The old man raised his arms heavenward: 
 ."With what fond anticipation have I looked 
 'forward to this night! The almanac says it will 
 be tempestuously terrible, and it is terribly tem- 
 pestuous! My son, hear the wind howl." 
 
 ;< I feel like howling too," said Johnnie. " We 
 lost a good supper, Dad." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs spoke in a mysterious and solemn
 
 121 
 
 way : " John B. Stubbs, Junior, namesake of the 
 noble father who stands before you, listen ! " 
 
 The storm had increased in intensity. 
 
 " The rain pours, the snow blows, the hail 
 rattles, the thunder roars, the lightning flashes, 
 and the wind howls, howls, howls! Don't you 
 hear it?" 
 
 Johnnie's appearance indicated that he not 
 only heard it, but that he was much affected by 
 the situation. He managed to blurt out : " I 
 ain't deaf. I wish I was." 
 
 The old man continued : " All the authorities 
 agree that such an arcana of auditory agitation 
 is admirably adapted to the anthropological as- 
 similation, and I am confidently corroborated in 
 my belief that the auspicious, propitious, ambi- 
 tious, and delicious hour has come when " 
 
 Johnnie shook his head and said in an under- 
 tone : "It becomes my duty to send for an ex- 
 pert." The thought then came to Johnnie that 
 perhaps his father was already a maniac, and 
 his fears were shown in his face. 
 
 His father noticed the expression, and said, 
 with pathos : " My son, do not look at me with
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 such an air of anxious interrogation. If there 
 is a sorrow eating into your young heart, a fact 
 which the suppressed look of agony on your 
 young face seems to indicate, do not suffer sadly 
 and alone, but confide in your father." Full of 
 parental affection, he embraced Johnnie, who 
 struggled to free himself. 
 
 " Dad, I've long had a big suspicion that you 
 were driving things too fast ; got too much steam 
 on. You need a doctor." 
 
 His father looked at him inquiringly : " Sick ! 
 Me sick! Where?" 
 
 Johnnie tapped his forehead: " I'm afraid 
 you're touched right here." 
 
 "Touched!" cried the old man. "Touched! 
 With what? Do you see any signs of impending 
 decay on this classic brow?" 
 
 " Oh, Dad, you run on so queer sometimes. 
 You know first your hair fell out, then your teeth 
 fell out, and I've been afraid that next the top 
 of your head would fall in." 
 
 The old man drew himself up proudly : " Ah, 
 this is my reward for burning the midnight oil 
 and digging deep into the mysteries of science!
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 123 
 
 Great Heavens! Why do men of genius have 
 such fools for sons? " 
 
 Johnnie felt that his impressions were right 
 He tapped his own head and glanced at his 
 father furtively. " He was wound up well, but 
 he must run down." 
 
 His father came towards him with a smile on 
 his face: "Come here, my darling boy!" 
 
 Johnnie advanced and then recoiled, for his 
 father had assumed a tragic attitude. 
 
 " Have you the nerve, Johnnie, to cast your 
 eyes upon the greatest creation since the days 
 of Adam and Eve? " 
 
 Johnnie hesitated before replying, and felt 
 his biceps muscle : " I have considerable nerve, 
 Dad." 
 
 His father grasped his arm and said in a loud 
 whisper: "Then listen, John Junior, with all 
 your ears. I, your father, John B. Stubbs, manu- 
 facturer of toys to her Majesty the Queen, have 
 made a girl " 
 
 " A girl? A real, live girl? " Johnnie's bulg- 
 ing eyes betrayed his astonishment. " Where is 
 she? "
 
 124 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Mr. Stnbbs pointed : " In that closet." 
 
 At that moment Sally entered with a little 
 blue trunk. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs turned upon her savagely : " Put 
 it down ! Go to bed ! Get out ! " 
 
 Sally left the room hastily. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs turned to his son : " Johnnie, you 
 will soon gaze upon a lovely creature." 
 
 Johnnie had been thinking. He turned to his 
 father with a sad expression upon his face. " A 
 real girl in there? That doesn't speak well for 
 you, Dad. Oh! That I should live to see this 
 day ! The family honor is compromised ! " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs went to the door of the closet and 
 found it locked. He felt in all his pockets for 
 the key, but could not find it. Exasperated be- 
 yond measure, he threw himself against the door 
 and forced it open. He entered the closet and 
 soon returned, both hands grasping the handle 
 of the platform upon which stood " the doll." 
 
 Daisy had considerable difficulty in maintain- 
 ing her equlibrium when they lifted her from 
 the platform, but her motions were so natural 
 that they did not attract any particular atten-
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 125 
 
 tion on the part of Mr. Stubbs, who had turned 
 and faced her. To add to the illusion, Daisy 
 pretended to lose her balance. Mr. Stubbs and 
 Johnnie sprang forward! to prevent her from fall- 
 ing. 
 
 " Balance her, Dad. Find her centre of grav- 
 ity." 
 
 They finally succeeded in having her assume 
 an erect posture. Mr. Stubbs put the platform 
 back in the closet. While he was engaged in do- 
 ing this, Johnnie regarded Daisy from all points 
 of view. Mr. Stubbs emerged from the closet 
 and contemplated his handiwork. 
 
 " There, Johnnie, is my wonderful doll." He 
 then assumed a tragical attitude. " Have I 
 worked all these years in vain, or has the time 
 come when by the judicious unison of magico- 
 electrico formulas, I shall give life yes, life 
 to my marvellous mechanism." 
 
 Johnnie placed both hands upon his forehead : 
 " Insane, and, Oh, Heavens ! Perhaps it's hered- 
 itary."
 
 126 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 A WEIRD INCANTATION 
 
 " WELL, Johnnie, what do you think of her? " 
 
 " It's a female." 
 
 " Girls generally are." 
 
 Daisy made a mental comment : " What a 
 homely boy ! What a mouth ! " 
 
 " She's well got up, Dad ; makes a good show." 
 
 " I sent the measures to Lunnon and had her 
 clothes made there." 
 
 Daisy thought: I'm right in the style 
 then." 
 
 " We'll depend upon magic first, Johnnie. I'll 
 get the fireworks ready, and if magic fails, we'll 
 try the electrical machine." 
 
 Daisy shivered: "What's coming next? 
 They're going to blow me up." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs went to the little blue trunk and
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 127 
 
 took out some books and a pair of cymbals and 
 put them on the table. He went back to the 
 trunk and took out some red and blue Bengal 
 lights and a long metalic wand. Then he sat 
 down by the table and began to look over the 
 book. 
 
 Johnnie improved the opportunity to make a 
 particular examination of Daisy. He pulled 
 her hair, lifted her arm and let it fall again, 
 made faces at her, put his fingers in her ears, 
 and, to complete his atrocity, tickled her face 
 with a feather. Through it all Daisy remained 
 imperturbable. 
 
 " I don't think much of her, Dad ; she's a 
 dummy." 
 
 Daisy's inward thought was : " He's worse 
 than mice." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs arose with the open book in his 
 hand : " Don't be impatient, my boy. She is 
 beautiful as she is now." 
 
 Daisy could not repress a scftly whispered: 
 " Thank you." 
 
 " But, Johnnie, when she becomes a living 
 creature, you will lose your heart in a moment.
 
 128 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 I have always intended that she should become 
 your wife." 
 
 Tom, who was crouching up in the wide, open 
 fireplace, heard Mr. Stubbs's declaration as to 
 his matrimonial intentions as regarded Daisy, 
 and said audibly : " If she does, there'll be a 
 widow in the family very soon." 
 
 " Did you hear, Dad? " cried Johnnie. " The 
 wind's blowing down the chimney." 
 
 But Mr. Stubbs was too intent upon reading 
 his book of magic to notice his son's remarks, 
 or even pay attention to the fearful storm that 
 was raging. 
 
 " My son, listen to this. The instructions in 
 this book are marked by perspicuous perspica- 
 city. I will read some of it to you. ' The per- 
 son who would accomplish a wonderful and oc- 
 cult transmigration ' ' 
 
 Upon hearing this Johnnie opened his mouth 
 wide in astonishment, and stared at his father, 
 who continued : " ' this beautiful and enchant- 
 ing metamorphosis ' ' 
 
 This word was too much for Johnnie, and he 
 increased the distance between himself and his
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 129 
 
 father, who went on : " i this weird and 
 witching work of conjuration, this 1 mystical 
 materialization of a mutely morbid mortal ' r 
 
 Johnnie backed into a corner of the room. 
 
 " ' must have must have plenty of light 
 and heat in the room.' ' 
 
 John Junior looked at Daisy: "Wonder if 
 that old stiff-backed dummy understands that ! " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs continued his reading: "'The 
 scientific necromancer having secured the proper 
 optical, thaumaturgical, thermometrical, barome- 
 trical, and climatological influences, must then 
 rely upon the Black Art or astrological magic 
 which supplies the rules of life, and, if necessary, 
 upon electricity, which is life itself.' ' 
 
 " That's too deep for me, Dad." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs did not notice Johnnie's remark, 
 but continued reading : " ' From the Sorcerer's 
 Fonetic Speller and Automatic Pronouncing 
 Dictionary, can be learned the modern pronun- 
 ciation of the potent cabalistic words.' " 
 
 He threw down the book and grasped the cym- 
 bals which lay on the table : " I have got those 
 down fine. Zwing! He gave the cymbals a
 
 130 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 loud clash. Zwang! The cymbals were clashed 
 a second time. Zwong! The cymbals were 
 banged together a third time and the reverbera- 
 tions filled the room. 
 
 Daisy felt a cold chill running down her spine : 
 " Ough ! " 
 
 " What did you say, Johnnie? " 
 
 " Nothing, Dad. It must have been the echo." 
 
 " Now we will light up," said Mr. Stubbs. 
 
 One of the Bengal lights was placed upon the 
 table and lighted. 
 
 " Now, Johnnie, we must begin at the begin- 
 ning. We can animate her by sections. We can 
 try an arm, a leg, a hand, or even her tongue." 
 
 " Let's do that first, Dad. It will be fun to 
 hear her tongue wag." 
 
 " No, we'll save the tongue until the last. 
 We'll get enough of that anyway." 
 
 Daisy remarked in a low tone : " It's having 
 a long vacation." 
 
 " What did you say, Johnnie? I heard you 
 
 " I didn't say nothing to nobody no time 
 nuther."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 131 
 
 " Stop thinking out loud then." 
 
 " I say, Dad, blow up one of her lungs and 
 see how that will work." 
 
 " No, we will begin with her right hand. 
 Now, you stand here and see if you detect the 
 slightest motion. I will put a stick in her 
 hand." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs took a book in one hand and the 
 wand in the other. Finding that both his hands 
 were occupied, he said to Johnnie : " Put that 
 stick in her hand and keep your eye on it." 
 
 " I always do," said Johnnie. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs did not notice his remark but con- 
 tinued his reading: "'To secure the first mo- 
 tion, make a diagonal pass across the subject 
 with one of Wallenstein's patent wands 1 .' ' As 
 he uttered the words, he passed the wand diago- 
 nally in front of Daisy. 
 
 Johnnie was so interested that he bent over 
 so as to get a better view. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs continued : " ' repeating, at the 
 same time, the three cabalistic words Zwing! 
 Zwang ! ! Zwong ! ! ! ' " 
 
 As Mr. Stubbs repeated the word " Zwing,"
 
 132 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Daisy brought her right hand up with as much 
 force as she could command, and the stick struck 
 Johnnie under the chin. Johnnie gave a loud 
 yell, and, grasping his chin with both hands, 
 quickly got out of range of the weapon. 
 
 Daisy held her arm out straight from the 
 shoulder. Mr. Stubbs was immensely pleased. 
 At the word " Zwang," Daisy brought the stick 
 before her in the position of " Present Arms." 
 As Mr. Stubbs uttered the word " Zwong," she 
 brought the stick down upon his head with such 
 force that he fell to the floor. 
 
 Grasping his book of magic, he examined page 
 after page intently. " I cannot find any expla- 
 nation of such a backhanded proceeding." 
 
 " It moved, didn't it, Dad? " 
 
 "Yes, slightly. My diagnosis is, that's 
 merely a premonitory symptom; a sample of 
 what's to come." 
 
 " Glad you're expecting it," said Daisy in a 
 low voice. 
 
 Johnnie still fondled his chin : " If that's 
 what you call a sample symptom, Dad, one's 
 enough."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 133 
 
 11 Yes, my son, that's a symple samptom. It 
 seems to me I remember remembering something 
 about it in this book." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs and his son reclined upon the floor 
 looking at the book of magic. Daisy faced about, 
 took three steps forv/ard, then turning, took 
 three more steps, resuming her original posi- 
 tion. 
 
 Johnnie stared : " Look, Dad, look ! " 
 
 " That's all right, Johnnie. That's another 
 symptom." 
 
 " Well, if it is, Dad, I'm going to look out and 
 not get another sample." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs took Daisy in his arms, brought 
 her near to the book of magic, and balanced her 
 again. As he did so, Daisy puckered up her 
 mouth and smiled at him. 
 
 " Look out, Dad ! That's another symptom ! 
 You'll get the sample ! " 
 
 " Come, come, boy ! Stop your nonsense ! This 
 is serious business." 
 
 " You'll find it is," said Daisy. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs grasped Johnnie by the shoulder: 
 " Shut up ! Don't answer me back again. My
 
 134 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 thermometer is down to fifty. It's too cold here. 
 Go light the fire, Johnnie. We may need some 
 hot water." 
 
 " I'll get you into hot water," said Daisy. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs cuffed his son vigorously : " Keep 
 your tongue still ! Not another word ! Go start 
 up the fire." 
 
 " Oh, Gracious ! " said Daisy. " If they light 
 the fire, they'll make bacon of poor Tom." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs turned and gave Johnnie a sharp 
 blow with the wand: "Muttering again, eh? 
 I'll learn you to sauce your father ! " 
 
 Johnnie arranged the wood in the fireplace 
 and scratched a match. He held it too long in 
 his fingers and burned them. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs took up the book of magic and ap- 
 proached Daisy, who kicked it out of his hand. 
 At that moment Mr. Stubbs felt a strong incli- 
 nation to sneeze, and he gratified it. Tom 
 dropped down the chimney and shook his red leg 
 in Johnnie's face. The young hopeful gave a 
 loud yell, scrambled to his feet and ran to his 
 father. 
 
 "What's the matter, Johnnie?"
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 135 
 
 "Big red leg came down the chimney! 
 Reached clear across the room ! " 
 
 " Don't be a fool, Johnnie. It was the light 
 from the fire, of course." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs started to go towards the fire- 
 place when Daisy yawned, making a loud noise. 
 He came back and looked at her ruefully. 
 
 " I don't like that. It's a bad sign. Her 
 nerves are unstrung. She needs a tonic. Elec- 
 tricity is the best tonic. I'll get the machine. 
 You stay here, Johnnie, and keep an eye on her." 
 
 "Don't leave me here alone with her, Dad; 
 please don't." 
 
 " Well, come along, you coward. It won't 
 take us a minute anyway." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs, followed by Johnnie, entered the 
 closet from which the doll had been taken. 
 
 Daisy ran to the fireplace : " Mr. Satan, are 
 you comfortable up there? " 
 
 Tom replied : " It's getting hot. I shall have 
 to drop soon." 
 
 Sally looked in at the door : " Where's 
 Tom?" 
 
 Daisy pointed up chimney : " Up there. Eun,
 
 136 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Sally, and get some water to put the fire out. 
 Too late! They're coming." 
 
 Sally closed the door softly, and when Mr. 
 Stubbs and his son returned with the electrical 
 machine, Daisy was standing in the same place 
 where they had left her. 
 
 " Now, Johnnie, put out the lights, for the 
 room must be dark. The fire will give us all the 
 light we need." 
 
 Daisy made a gesture of despair. 
 
 " Johnnie, go and call Sally. We shall need 
 her help." 
 
 Johnnie was glad to escape and he left the 
 room calling loudly: "Sally! Sally!! Sally!!!" 
 
 Mr. Stubbs soliloquized : " She knows a little, 
 so I might as well let her know all. If she 
 wants to tell now, I'm satisfied. I can save the 
 price of the new dress and bonnet." 
 
 Johnnie came back, dragging Sally after him. 
 
 " Sally," said Mr. Stubbs, " this young lady 
 has paralysis, and her friends sent her to me so 
 that she could secure the benefit of my electrical 
 treatment." 
 
 Sally's thought was : " What a terrible liar 
 old Stubbs is!"
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 137 
 
 Mr. Stubbs said, sharply : " Sally, turn the 
 crank." 
 
 Sally grasped Mr. Stubbs and whirled him 
 about so quickly that he nearly lost his balance. 
 
 " What are you about? " he cried, angrily. 
 
 " Turning the crank," said Sally, with a smile- 
 less face. " Just what you told me to do." 
 
 Sally grasped the handle and began turning it 
 vigorously. 
 
 " No, no ! Wait until I give you the order. 
 When you hear the word ' ready/ turn the crank 
 as fast as you can." 
 
 " Of course." 
 
 " Now, my son, the revolving disk generates 
 the galvano-electrico current. That passes 
 through this flexible tubing and collects in these 
 handles, one of which is positive and the other 
 negative. The handles are placed in the hands 
 of the subject. The electric sparks will pass 
 through her body, and her health will be greatly 
 improved. Am I lucid? " 
 
 " A very simple sample, Dad. I'm glad elec- 
 tric sparks ain't going through me." 
 
 " Now, Johnnie, you put the handles one in
 
 138 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 each of her hands." He passed the handles to 
 Johnnie. " Are you ready, Sally? " 
 
 " Of course. Did you say ' ready,' Mr. 
 Stubbs? " 
 
 Johnnie dropped the handles. 
 
 " No, wait a minute. I want to see how long 
 the current must be kept on." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs looked in the book and Johnnie 
 picked up the handles again. 
 
 " Ah, here it is ! ' When all is prepared, give 
 the signal to the operator in a loud voice 
 READY, and then count slowly : one, two, three, 
 four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, and 
 the ' " 
 
 When Sally heard Mr. Stubbs say ' ready,' 
 she began turning the crank, giving the full ef- 
 fect to Johnnie, who danced and writhed, being 
 unable to let go of the handles. When Mr. 
 Stubbs finished counting, he turned and saw his 
 son's condition. With his fists clenched, he 
 rushed at Sally. 
 
 " What are you up to? Why didn't you wait 
 until I said ' ready ' ? " 
 
 " You did say it."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 139 
 
 " No, I didn't." 
 
 Johnnie came to Sally's aid : " Yes, you did 
 say it. I heard you." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs rubbed his forehead: " I can't re- 
 member to remember having said it." 
 
 " Well, you did say it," cried Sally. 
 
 " Yes, you did ; you know you did," supple- 
 mented Johnnie. 
 
 " Well, I didn't mean it, Johnnie. I didn't 
 intend it for you." 
 
 " Well I got it." 
 
 " We'll try again. I won't make any mis- 
 take this time." 
 
 " No, Dad. One simple sample's enough. You 
 give her the handles and I'll do the counting. 
 It's my turn now." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs picked up the handles : " Now, 
 Sally, don't be in a hurry. Wait until you hear 
 the signal." 
 
 Johnnie called out : " Ready ! " 
 
 Sally did not see any need for waiting after 
 hearing the signal, and grasping the handle with 
 both hands, gave the machine a tremenduous 
 impetus.
 
 140 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Johnnie counted: "One, two, three, four, 
 five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs found himself in the same predica- 
 ment as he had unintentionally placed his son. 
 He was unable to let go of the handles. He 
 kicked and danced up and down. His face was 
 distorted. 
 
 When Johnnie saw what had happened, his 
 knees quaked. Sally screamed and started to 
 run from the room. Johnnie's feet took him to- 
 wards the fireplace. 
 
 As soon as Mr. Stubbs got free, he yelled: 
 " The Devil take you ! " 
 
 Tom dropped down the chimney again and 
 shook his red leg at Johnnie. His father turned 
 quickly and saw the apparition. 
 
 " Now I have gone and done it, Johnnie. The 
 devil is coming." 
 
 Tom's both legs appeared in sight; then his 
 body, and finally his head. He stood erect and 
 struck an attitude. Mr. Stubbs and his son lay 
 prone upon the floor and gazed at his Satanic 
 majesty. 
 
 Tom approached them and kicked Johnnie
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 141 
 
 with his foot. Mr. Stubbs was so frightened 
 that he crossed the room and dived head fore- 
 most under the table. Johnnie, seeing that he 
 was left alone, gave a loud jell, and walked on 
 his knees towards Tom. 
 
 Prince Mephisto pointed his finger at him, and 
 Johnnie fell backwards. Tom took him by the 
 ear with one hand and, grasping Mr. Stubbs's 
 leg with the other, dragged him from under the 
 table. Mr. Stubbs and Johnnie knelt, with their 
 hands clasped, in an attitude of supplication. 
 
 Raising his hand, Tom said, in sepulchral 
 tones : 
 
 " Good Mr. Bull, your summons I did hear, 
 Did quick respond, and stand before you here. 
 What is your wish ? If you the price will pay, 
 It shall be done, for I can find a way." 
 
 Johnnie sniffled: "Oh, good Mr. Devil, be 
 easy on a poor orphan." 
 
 " I never called on you," said Mr. Stubbs. 
 " You've got in the wrong house." 
 Prince Mephisto again spoke: 
 
 " Prevaricate no more. I know your thought, 
 Can understand why for my aid you sought. 
 Am I not right ? You'd make your son a bride, 
 That maiden there (He pointed to Daisy) you wish electri- 
 fied."
 
 142 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " It's all Dad's fault, Mr. Devil. I don't want 
 her. I have a girl." 
 
 " Shut up, Johnnie ! Don't be so familiar 
 with his majesty." 
 
 " Mr. Stubbs," said Tom, " do you wish her to 
 live, or have you been trifling with me? " 
 
 " Yes, Mr. Devil, just a little bit of life." 
 
 Johnnie added : " Just a little bit, Mr. Devil, 
 but not too much." 
 
 " Your wish shall be gratified," said Tom. " I 
 give you my word. Yes, she shall live."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 143 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 THE VITAL SPAEK 
 
 MR. STUBBS and his son were in a state of 
 abject subjection. The Devil dominated every- 
 thing, and they awaited his next movement with 
 feelings of irrepressible fear and unsatisfied 
 curiosity. 
 
 Tom did not keep them waiting for the de- 
 nouement. He took Daisy's hand in his and 
 looked into her bright, but apparently sightless, 
 eyes. Then he spoke : 
 
 " There is no way but this to wake a sleeping 
 angel. I take her hand in mine, and I press a 
 kiss upon her lips. You see, she opens her eyes. 
 Now, as the vital spark permeates her body, she 
 shakes and shivers. In me is vested the power 
 to kill or to bring back to life. Thou creature 
 of man's ingenuity, I bid you live! Live!! 
 Live ! ! ! "
 
 144 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " Oh, Dad, she's alive," cried Johnnie. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs was delighted. In the exuberance 
 of his emotion, he put his arm about Sally's 
 waist, which act attracted Johnnie's attention, 
 and grasping his father's hand, he gave him a 
 quick turnabout, which left Sally free. 
 
 Daisy did not know just how to be " born 
 again," but her audience was not ultra-critical. 
 Throwing her arms wide apart, she faced the 
 astonished Mr. Stubbs and his son and cried: 
 
 " Look at me! Why was I made? Why do I 
 look as I do? Who gave me these fine clothes 
 why do you smile and bow? " 
 
 She examined her arm and hand : " Why is 
 my arm so white? Why are my hands so small, 
 when yours are big and bony? " She placed both 
 hands upon her waist. " Why was this dress 
 made so tight? Why am I so short when you 
 are so tall ? " She directed all her inquiries to 
 Mr. Stubbs, who stood speechless. 
 
 u Ain't she a stunner, Sally? " asked Johnnie. 
 " I'll go and have a talk with her." 
 
 He did not go far, for Sally caught his arm 
 and pulled him back. Tom brought a chair and
 
 THE TOYMAKESR 145 
 
 Daisy sat down. Mr. Stubbs now felt it incum- 
 bent upon him to speak to his revivified creation. 
 
 " My dear, you have a sweet voice. Won't 
 you sing us a song? " , 
 
 " No, I won't. I'm tired and hungry, and I . 
 want my supper." 
 
 " You hear that, Sally," said Johnnie. " She 
 ain't been born more than five minutes and she 
 wants to eat. I'm going to talk to her." 
 
 He started forward, but came back suddenly, 
 for Sally was quick motioned and energetic. 
 
 " I'm very sorry, my dear," said Mr. Stubbs, 
 " but our larder, to-night, instead of being fat 
 was never leaner. But I'll send my lazy nephew 
 for some food." 
 
 Tom interposed : " Oh, no. Don't wake the 
 poor boy. I know how you've used that young 
 man, Mr. Stubbs. After suffering the terrible 
 pangs of hunger, he has fallen into a troubled 
 sleep in which he imagines he has all the deli- 
 cacies of Lucullus before him. I have helped 
 you, Mr. Stubbs, because you and I, and your 
 son, too, will be near neighbors one of these 
 days."
 
 146 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Johnnie became inquisitive : " Where do yon 
 
 live, Mr. ? " 
 
 Tom looked as Satanic as possible: 
 
 " Where ray of sun strikes not, and yet 'tis hot, 
 Cold drinks are craved by all, who get them not. 
 ' A bourne from which no traveller returns,' 
 For in each heart a love of country burns. 
 There's room for all, and when each is my guest, 
 My hospitality you'll see expressed. 
 I will not wait no, no, this very hour, 
 We all will sup I have the magic power. 
 Your best room seek, upon your festive board, 
 You'll find spread out, all that the times afford. 
 Fish, flesh, and fowl, for wine, a rich Champagne 
 When that is gone, you've but to call again." 
 
 " Come, Dad ! Come on ! " cried Johnnie. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs whispered in his son's ear: 
 " We'll call for enough so's to have some left 
 over for to-morrow." 
 
 As they left the room, Daisy ran to Tom: 
 " Why, what do you mean? They'll find no sup- 
 per there." 
 
 Sally winked : " Oh, yes, they will." 
 
 " But how? " cried Daisy. 
 
 Tom laughed : " Well, I didn't stay up 
 chimney all the time. I saw Uncle hide some 
 money in the seat of his big leathern chair, and
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 147 
 
 that bought the supper. But come, or they will 
 grow suspicious. You're a born actress, Daisy, 
 and Sally is a trump. She set the table, but 
 they must think the Devil did it all and pays 
 the bills."
 
 148 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 A SUPPER FOR THREE 
 
 WHEN Johnnie entered the best room and saw 
 the table spread for supper, he could not re- 
 strain his feelings. To express them he did 
 not use words, but began to whistle, and as he 
 whistled, he walked about the room, surveying 
 the table admiringly. He was soon followed by 
 his father. Johnnie's whistling must have been 
 infectious, for at sight of the well spread table, 
 Mr. Stubbs began to whistle. Their whistling 
 did not take the form of a tune. They simply 
 had recourse to it because it was easier to 
 whistle than to talk. If they had spoken, their 
 language would have been a succession of inter- 
 jections : " Oh ! Ah ! Urn ! Oh ! Ah ! Urn ! " 
 
 The impromptu concert preliminary to the 
 gastronomic repast was brought to a close by 
 the entrance of Tom, Daisy, and Sally.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 149 
 
 There were but three chairs at the table, and 
 Johnnie, raising his left hand, counted on his 
 fingers : " One, two, three, four, five." 
 
 " Come now, and take your seats," said Tom. 
 The young lady here at the head of the table; 
 you opposite, Mr. Stubbs there, and your son 
 here. Your servant will wait on the table." 
 
 " Say," cried Johnnie, turning to Tom, " ain't 
 you going to stay? " 
 
 " Ladies and gentlemen, pray excuse me ; I 
 shall be obliged to bid you good evening." 
 
 "Why," cried Johnnie, "you ain't going! 
 Why don't you stay and have a good time? " 
 
 " I'm very sorry, but I have many calls to 
 make, and when I miss any of my regular visits, 
 my friends are always disappointed." 
 
 Johnnie looked up smilingly : " Too bad you 
 can't stay. Come again when you can make us 
 a longer visit." 
 
 " Thank you for your kind invitation. While 
 you are enjoying the repast now spread before 
 you, remember that Prince Mephisto is not so 
 black as he is painted." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs, who had lost no time in sampling
 
 i5o THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 some of the viands, looked up and smilingly re- 
 marked : " We'll remember to remember that." 
 
 Tom bowed very low ; Mr. Stubbs and Johnnie 
 scrambled to their feet and returned the saluta- 
 tion ; Sally dropped a pretty courtesy, and Daisy 
 waved her hand as a token of farewell. As 
 Johnnie resumed his seat he looked towards the 
 door, but Prince Mephisto had disappeared. 
 
 Johnnie felt called upon to compliment their 
 visitor : " He's a gentleman from top to toe. 
 I think we could get along first-rate together." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs reflectively scratched the top of 
 his head, upon which no hair had rested for 
 many years : " I did not take to him extraordin- 
 arily at first, but he improved on acquaintance, 
 and I may learn to like him some time. Now, 
 let's fall to." 
 
 " Hold on, Dad ! " cried Johnnie. " Before 
 we begin our tear I mean tour through the 
 bountiful repast that our kind visitor has pro- 
 vidid, I think we should drink a toast in honor 
 of this young lady," and he smiled unutterable 
 things at Daisy, who turned up her nose at him 
 and winked her left eye.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 151 
 
 " Well, go ahead, Johnnie ; but the things are 
 getting cold." 
 
 Young Mr. Stubbs, after apparently vehement 
 exertions, succeeded in drawing the cork from a 
 bottle of champagne, and filled his father's glass 
 and his own. He attempted to turn some of the 
 wine into Daisy's glass, but she drew it away 
 and crashed it upon the floor. 
 
 " Won't you have some? " asked Johnnie. 
 
 " No ; I never drink." 
 
 " Now, Johnnie, we're all ready. Pass the 
 soup," said Mr. Stubbs. 
 
 " Wait a minute," said Daisy. " This table 
 isn't set to suit me. I never can eat unless every- 
 thing is in the right place." 
 
 "Can I help you, marm?" asked Sally. 
 
 " No, thank you." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs turned about in his chair: 
 " Sally, go to bed. We can get along very well 
 without you now." 
 
 As soon as Sally was out of sight of the door, 
 she had a self-communion : " I'm glad of it. 
 Now I will go and get ready for the masquerade. 
 I am so glad I have not got to wear that horrid
 
 \ 
 
 152 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 old dress Mrs. Merrily picked out for me. The 
 boy's costume that Daisy had will suit me to a 
 T. But won't she make it lively for them? " 
 
 Daisy had evidently begun making it lively 
 for them, having arranged the food and dishes 
 upon the table in a very grotesque manner. 
 
 Johnnie whispered to his father : " I say, 
 Dad, I don't think she was brought up in a first- 
 class hotel; do you? She has a funny way of 
 fixing things." 
 
 " W T ell, Johnnie, we must not be too particular 
 at first. They probably do things different where 
 she came from." 
 
 By this time Daisy had arranged the table to 
 her apparent satisfaction, even if it did not suit 
 her companions. 
 
 " Now, gentlemen, everything suits me. 
 Come, I'm hungry." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs passed Daisy some soup : " Won't 
 you try this? " 
 
 She tasted it, then pushed the dish away : " I 
 don't like it. Skillagalee! Eat it yourself." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs was disposed to be very polite, as 
 he supposed the meal did not cost him anything.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 153 
 
 He passed another dish : " Try this, my dear." 
 
 " What is it? " 
 
 Johnnie smiled and said: " Skilligalo ! " 
 
 Daisy took a taste, and then, raising her plate, 
 threw the contents in Mr. Stubbs's face : " Oh, 
 what horrid stuff. Do you want to poison me, 
 you wicked old man?" 
 
 Mr. Stubbs jumped to his feet and began wip- 
 ing his face, inwardly commenting: "She has 
 an angelic temper." 
 
 Johnnie felt called upon to act as host: 
 
 " Here's some nice boiled calve's head and 
 dumplings." 
 
 Daisy scowled at him : " You had better eat 
 all that. They say every part strengthens a part." 
 
 Johnnie did not like the imputation. He 
 made a face at Daisy and said : " Here's some 
 cold tongue that's what you want." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs felt called upon to interfere: 
 " John Junior, don't forget your bringing up. 
 Remember to remember there's a lady present." 
 He addressed Daisy : " Won't you try some 
 game a slice of this canvas back duck?" 
 
 Daisy laughed immoderately : " Canvas
 
 154 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 back? Game? Why, that's a boarding-house 
 chicken." 
 
 Johnnie, who was inclined to be jocose, added : 
 " Winter-killed." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs seemed to be impressed with the 
 levity of the occasion : " Boarding-house 
 chickens always have canvas backs, leather 
 sides 1 , and lead stuffing. Just the thing to make 
 game of." 
 
 They had now reached the dessert. He passed 
 Daisy a piece of pie : " Won't you have some 
 sunflower pie?" 
 
 " That ain't sunflower pie ; that's squash." 
 
 " Now I have you ! " cried Johnnie. 'Tain't 
 either; it's pumpkin." 
 
 Daisy took an empty plate and pressed it 
 down over the top of the pie : " Now it's squash," 
 she said triumphantly. 
 
 Johnnie took up a plate containing a cake: 
 " Here's some wedding cake." He tapped it 
 with his finger : " There's no ring in it." He 
 struck it with his fist. "'Tain't wedding cake; 
 I guess it's pound cake." He passed it to Daisy, 
 who took it from the plate and threw it at him.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 155 
 
 " You take the cake." She turned to Mr. 
 Stubbs : " I want some champagne quick." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs filled a glass and passed it to her. 
 
 " Now I want some bread," she exclaimed. 
 
 "Here's a nice loaf; just baked; fresh and 
 warm," and Mr. Stubbs passed it to her. 
 
 She grasped a knife and cut a couple of slices. 
 While she was doing this, Mr. Stubbs and 
 Johnnie refilled their glasses, and were in the act 
 of drinking when Daisy cried : 
 
 " Nice and warm, eh? Just baked? Six weeks 
 old, I should say ! Hard as a rock ! " 
 
 She threw a slice of bread at Johnnie. The 
 first one missed, but the second was a good shot 
 and knocked the glass from his hand. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs leaned over to put his empty glass 
 upon the table. As he did so, the loaf of bread 
 struck him in the ear. 
 
 Johnnie whispered to his father : " What does 
 she want, anyway? She must have dyspepsia." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs still felt it necessary to placate his 
 guest, so he asked, smilingly : " Won't you have 
 another glass of cham-cham? " 
 
 Daisy jumped up : " No ! I am not thirsty.
 
 156 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 I am not hungry. I won't drink. I won't eat. 
 I want both of you to sing and dance, and tell 
 stories, and do all you can to amuse me." 
 
 " Oh ! " saidj Johnnie, satirically, " You're one 
 of those cultivated creatures." 
 
 " Yes, I am," said Daisy, " but I can keep 
 house too. I will clear off the table, so you can 
 move it back and we can have room for our dance. 
 Oh! It's so hot and stuffy here! Won't one 
 of you open a window? " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs and his son both started to do her 
 bidding, and by their combined efforts, the lower 
 sash was pushed to its highest point and held 
 in place by the stick which lay upon the window 
 seat. As they turned back, to their surprise, 
 Daisy had gathered up the four corners of the 
 table-cloth, mixing the dishes and food which 
 remained into one conglomorate mass, and be- 
 fore they could interfere, she had thrown the 
 whole through the open window. That it reached 
 the ground without impediment was plainly in- 
 dicated by the loud crash which followed
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 157 
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 A DEBATE ON MATRIMONY 
 
 MR. STUBBS had it in his mind to give Daisy 
 a good talking to, but his thoughts tfere inter- 
 rupted by her loud exclamation : " Oh ! It's so 
 cold here ! I'm almost frozen to death ! Won't 
 you close the window? " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs and Johnnie looked at the window, 
 but did not offer to do her bidding. 
 
 " Very well," said she; " I will do it myself," 
 and before they could interfere, she had pulled 
 out the stick and allowed the window to fall of 
 its own weight, which resulted in the breaking 
 of the majority of the glass panes therein. There 
 was a look of disgust upon Mr. Stubbs's face as 
 she turned towards him. 
 
 " What are you thinking about, Mr. ? " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs again scratched the vacant expanse 
 that lay between his ears : " I was trying to re-
 
 158 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 member to remember how much those dishei 
 cost." 
 
 "Did they cost much?" asked Daisy inno- 
 cently. 
 
 " Don't you clear up that way? Are you angry 
 with me? " 
 
 " Oh, no," said Mr. Stubbs, " the dishes cost 
 a mere trifle. Your way is a very quick one. I 
 do it that way once in a while. I am sorry about 
 the window because it lets the cold air in, and I 
 cannot get it repaired before day after to-mor- 
 row." His inward thought was : " I would like to 
 smash her." 
 
 Daisy smiled blandly : " I'm so young ! I was 
 afraid I had done something wrong." She 
 jumped up and sat on one end of the table. 
 " Come, sit down, with me, both of you, and we'll 
 have a nice talk and then we'll have some fun." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs took a seat at her right and 
 Johnnie at her left. 
 
 " Now, I would like to know who you are." 
 She pointed her finger at Johnnie : " What is 
 he? Who am I? How did I come here? When 
 did I come, and how long am I going to stay?"
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 159 
 
 Mr. Stubbs hesitated : " Why, you are my 
 well of course why, I made you." 
 
 "Exactly so, but who are you?" 
 
 Mr. Stubbs reflected : " Why, I am your father 
 or your adopted father; perhaps that is nearer 
 the truth." 
 
 " Where is my adopted mother? " 
 
 " When you are a little older, my dear, I will 
 let you read the family record. I am having it 
 revised." 
 
 Again Daisy pointed her finger at Jonnnie: 
 " What's that? " 
 
 Young Mr. Stubbs, with his finger in his 
 mouth, replied: " I'm Johnnie." 
 
 His father added : " My only son and heir." 
 
 " When you adopted him, why didn't you pick 
 out a pretty one like me? " 
 
 Johnnie turned away : " Oh, she makes me 
 tired." 
 
 Daisy expostulated : " I don't want him for 
 a brother." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs smiled broadly : " W T ell, my dear, 
 you need not have him for a brother. Don't you 
 think he would make a better husband? "
 
 i6o THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Daisy shook head vehemently : " Oh, no, no, 
 no. I wouldn't marry him. As a choice of two 
 evils, I will take him for a brother; or, rather, 
 a half-brother. But how was it that I was born 
 all grown-up?" 
 
 Mr. Stubbs meditated : " The Devil has gone, 
 so I might as well take all the credit. Well, 
 my dear, you are the result of a new process of 
 my own invention, by which daughters, hus- 
 bands, etc., can be made to order." 
 
 " Do you take the old ones in exchange? " 
 
 " I had not thought of that. I might be able 
 to work them over by means of my electric reno- 
 vator. That's what brought you to life." 
 
 "Funny! I didn't feel it." 
 
 Johnnie remembered something : " I did, 
 Dad; didn't I?" 
 
 Mr. Stubbs assented : "It has been through 
 the family, my son." 
 
 " What is your family? What is your name, 
 anyway? " 
 
 " My name is John Bull Stubbs, Senior. I 
 have to call myself Senior, because my son, here, 
 bears the same name John Bull Stubbs, 
 Junior."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 161 
 
 " What's my name? " 
 
 " Oh ! I forgot," said Mr. Stubbs; " I have not 
 named you. Well, you look very much like a 
 young lady who lives in this village, so I think 
 I shall name you after her. Her name is Daisy." 
 
 " Then I'm a Daisy, am I, Mr. Stubbs? " 
 
 This was too much for Johnnie, who mut- 
 tered : " Oh, you're a peach." 
 
 " Stubbs is a very pretty name ; but where did 
 you get the other name Bull?" 
 
 Johnnie, thinking she addressed him, was 
 ready with an answer : " I was named after my 
 grandfather, who started the first toy-shop here." 
 
 " Yes," said Mr. Stubbs ; " he came from Ire- 
 land." 
 
 " Oh, I see," said Daisy ; " he was an Irish 
 Bull. But what's this place called? " 
 
 "Middleton," said Mr. Stubbs. "It was 
 originally named Middletown, because it is half 
 way between Dunmoor and Arkwright, w r here 
 the big cotton mill is; but now it's known as 
 Middleton-on-Quick." 
 
 " What's Quick? " she asked. 
 
 Johnnie felt that he had been left out of the
 
 102 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 conversation long enough : " Oh ! Quick's the 
 river that turns the wheel that makes the toys 
 that we sell to pay the bills of Dad and me, who 
 live in the house that Grandfather Jack built." 
 
 DaJsy ignored him : '* Are there any nice 
 young gentlemen in this place? " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs answered her : " Johnnie is the 
 best match in the town good-looking " 
 
 At the compliment Johnnie grinned. 
 
 _rich 
 
 Daisy looked astonished : " Why, I thought he 
 was in love with that other young lady who 
 waited on the table." 
 
 " Sally ! Sally, the servant ! Oh, no ! Noth- 
 ing serious there. She's a nobody." 
 
 Daisy clapped her hands : " Why, that would 
 make a splendid match a nobody like Sally and 
 a somebody like Johnnie. You know, two no- 
 bodies or two somebodys never get along well to- 
 gether. Do you know that I like to ask ques- 
 tions? " 
 
 Johnnie shook his head " Nobody would ever 
 uotice it." 
 
 Daisy turned to Mr. Stubbs: "Well I do.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 163 
 
 You said you made me; how did you do it? I 
 am full of curiosity." 
 
 " Angels always are," said Mr. Stubbs with a 
 smile. 
 
 " Well, I ain't." 
 
 Johnnie saw a chance for a retort : " You take 
 too much for granted. He didn't say you was an 
 angel." 
 
 Daisy turned on him angrily : " Well, I am." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs saw that trouble was brewing: 
 " Yes, my dear, you are. Now, you stop plaguing 
 her, John Junior." 
 
 " I ain't plaguing her, Dad. She's too sensi- 
 tive." 
 
 " Now, Mr. Stubbs, tell me how you made me." 
 
 " Well, my dear, I just made you out of half 
 kid and half calf." 
 
 " Do you mean that Fm half calf? " 
 
 Johnnie thought that the joke was on Daisy 
 and he grinned. She pointed her finger at him : 
 " You didn't use any kid when you made him, 
 did you? Go on, Daddy." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs's smile was as broad as a punch 
 bowl : " I cut you out by the best anatomical
 
 164 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 patterns; then stitched you up with a sewing 
 machine." 
 
 Daisy looked astonished. " A sewing ma- 
 chine? How? " 
 
 " No, a Singer the only kind that's good for 
 such heavy work. Your face troubled me the 
 most." 
 
 Johnnie miled and muttered : " So much 
 cheek." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs continued his description : " I 
 made it of wax painted and powdered it 
 bought you some nice false hair, and false teeth 
 in Lunnon, where I had that dress made." 
 
 " But how did you know that you could make 
 me live, Daddy?" 
 
 " I will illustrate." Mr. Stubbs took down 
 a jumping- jack from a shelf and pulled the 
 string: "You see this simple toy?" 
 
 " Oh, I see ! " cried Daisy. " You made 
 Johnnie first on that plan." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs pulled the string several times: 
 " Now, you see, he goes up ; now, you see, he 
 comes down. That's the dynamic principle upon 
 which you were constructed."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 165 
 
 Johnnie looked up knowingly : " I can grasp 
 that." 
 
 " Well, I can't," said Daisy ; " it's a mystery to 
 me." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs became philosophical : " Life us- 
 ually is; and an exertion too." 
 
 " Don't you make anything, Mr. Stubbs, but 
 girls and boys? " 
 
 " Oh, yes. I'm the leading manufacturer of 
 mechanical toys in the United Kingdom. Here's 
 my toy watch." He took one from the shelf. 
 " Always keeps good time never loses a minute ; 
 never gains one." 
 
 Daisy took the watch and looked at it. It indi- 
 cated a quarter past three. " This doesn't tell 
 time." 
 
 " Oh, yes it does, my dear. You set it right 
 and it stays right. That's more than expensive 
 watches will do." 
 
 Johnnie had become interested : " Then there's 
 the goat and the dog. We make two pastures 
 and put the goat and the dog in the right-hand 
 one; then we turn the crank and the goat is left 
 alone."
 
 i66 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " What becomes of the dog? " asked Daisy. 
 
 Johnnie grinned : " He's in the other pas- 
 ture." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs became descriptive : " Then there 
 is Jonah and the whale. I turn the crank and 
 Jonah swallows the whale." 
 
 Daisy betrayed too much knowledge : " You 
 have it wrong, Mr. Stubbs; the whale swallows 
 Jonah." 
 
 " Oh, no, my dear. I have studied natural 
 history and you have never studied anything. 
 Whales are growing smaller every year, but 
 Jonahs are getting bigger." 
 
 Johnnie was waiting for his chance : " Oh ! 
 You ought to see the donkey and the man, and 
 see the donkey's heels go up and wait for him to 
 come down." 
 
 Daisy looked mystified : " What does the man 
 do?" 
 
 Johnnie thought: "She's stupid." Then he 
 said : " Why, he's the one you're waiting for 
 to come down." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs had not described all of his inven- 
 tions : " My greatest ah construction ex- 
 cepting you, of course is my medicated toy."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 167 
 
 "What's that?" asked Daisy. "Candy?" 
 
 " Oh, no. Well, of course, you do not know, 
 but most children do not like medicines, but al- 
 most any child will put a toy in its mouth. 
 Don't you understand?" 
 
 " Yes Yes." 
 
 " W T ell, I make a very large brown cow, and I 
 medicate it by painting it with castor oil and 
 rhubarb." 
 
 Daisy had become tired of the enumeration of 
 the contents of Noah's Ark : " I'm very much 
 obliged to you, Mr. Stubbs. Now, Johnnie, what 
 can you do to amuse me? " 
 
 " Oh, I can't tell you much." 
 
 " Well, I didn't suppose you could ; but as this 
 is my birthday, you might be obliging." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs felt it his duty to encourage his 
 offspring : " Now, Johnnie, try to remember to 
 remember something." 
 
 " Well, say," began Johnnie, " did you ever 
 hear about Little Jack Homer? " 
 
 Daisy shook her head : " No, I never did. 
 Who was he? " 
 
 " Well, I've got tired of sitting on this table.
 
 168 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Let's get some chairs and come up front of the 
 fireplace, I'll put on a big log; then we'll be 
 comfortable, and I will tell you the most wonder- 
 ful gtory that you ever heard in all your life."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 169 
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 " LITTLE JACK HORNER " 
 
 JOHNNIE'S suggestion was followed at 
 Mr. Stubbs sat in his high-backed arm-chair 
 while Johnnie took a low stool. For Daisy, a 
 rocking-chair, to which Johnnie, with a touch of 
 old-time chivalry, added a foot-stool. Daisy 
 folded here hands and looked at Johnnie, whose 
 saucer-like eyes and expansive mouth indent'fied 
 him with the mythical character whose story Ui 
 was to tell. 
 
 " Are you ready? " asked Johnnie. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs did not respond, but Daisy clap- 
 ped her hands and replied : " I shall be delighted 
 to hear about this wonderful young man." 
 
 Johnnie began in a sing-song tone: 
 
 Little Jack Homer, 
 Sat in a corner, 
 Eating a baker's pie ; 
 In his thumb he did dig, 
 And he pulled out a big
 
 170 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Then he stopped and grinned. 
 
 Daisy tapped her foot impatiently : " Well, 
 what did he pull out? " 
 
 Johnnie smiled to full capacity : " You've got 
 to ask me before I'll tell." 
 
 " I did ask you, and I won't ask again." 
 
 " The book I got it out of says a raisin and a 
 currant, but this is the way I tell it " 
 
 A big bumble bee and a fly. 
 
 Daisy laughed, not so much at the words as at 
 the comical manner in which they were said. 
 
 " Any more? " 
 
 " Yards of it," said Johnnie. 
 
 Little Jack Horner, 
 Sat in a corner, 
 Holding a great big bun ; 
 He broke it in two, 
 Then did loudly boo-hoo 
 
 Daisy was interested: "What was the 
 matter? What made him cry? " 
 
 Johnnie wished the regulation query: 
 " You've got to ask me." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs became indignant : " She did ask 
 you. You tell her quick or I'll thrash you."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 171 
 
 Johnnie complied. 
 
 Because the inside wasn't done. 
 
 Daisy nodded : " Go on." 
 
 Little Jack Homer, 
 
 Ate fruit in a corner, 
 
 At sight of his mother he hid it ; 
 
 His childish young frolic, 
 
 Did end in a colic 
 
 As Johnnie stopped he looked up and met his 
 father's stern gaze; he quickly supplied the mis- 
 sing line: 
 
 It was the green apples that did it. 
 
 Johnnie did not wait for an invitation to con- 
 tinue: 
 
 Little Jack Horner, 
 
 Was sick in a corner, 
 
 The Doctor seemed quite at a loss ; 
 
 But molasses did give, 
 
 And ginger root too, 
 
 Put hot bricks to his feet, 
 
 He was warmed through and through 
 
 Another provoking pauise. Mr. Stubbs 
 scowled, and Johnnie hastened to add : " He got 
 better." 
 
 Daisy, a trifle curious to know why, asked: 
 "What cured him?"
 
 172 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Johnnie was not a born humorist, but he 
 laughed as he said : 
 
 The apples it made into sauce. 
 
 " That must be the end of it," said Daisy. " I 
 hope so." 
 
 " Oh, no, there are forty-seven more verses, 
 but if you're tired, I'll give you the last one." 
 
 Little Jack Homer, 
 Did lay in a corner, 
 A sleeping after his pain. 
 They left him there, 
 In the angels' care 
 
 Quietness reigned. Mr. Stubbs moved very 
 audibly. Daisy yawned. Johnnie grew restless. 
 
 " Don't you want the end of it? " 
 
 " Oh, I don't care." 
 
 " Well, I'll finish it up anyway." 
 
 Until he got hungry again. 
 
 Daisy gave emphasis to the finale. She jumped 
 up, and, as she did so, kicked the footstool into 
 the fireplace, where it straddled the big log which 
 was burning fiercely. Johnnie sprang forward to 
 save it from the flames; at the instant Mr. Stubbs 
 made a similar motion, and the heads of the
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 173 
 
 would-be rescuers came together with a resound- 
 ing crack. They fell to the floor. Daisy grew 
 pale, for she feared they were seriously injured. 
 When they arose, shaking themselves like two 
 dogs, they found the footstool wrapped in flames. 
 Daisy had resumed her seat on the table, and 
 beckoned them to come and sit beside her.
 
 174 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 AN IMPROMPTU CONCERT 
 
 DAISY kicked her heels against the table legs, 
 keeping time with them. 
 
 " Say, Johnnie, can you sing? " 
 
 He hummed, then he whistled: " That's all I 
 can do." 
 
 " Can't you sing, Mr. Stubbs? " 
 
 "No, but Tom can." 
 
 "Who's Tom?" 
 
 " He's my lazy, good-for-nothing nephew. 
 He'd much rather eat, and sing, and dance than 
 work." 
 
 " He's just the one we need, Mr. Stubbs. Go 
 and call him." 
 
 " He's sound asleep. He gorges himself and 
 then has to sleep it off, just like a snake." 
 
 Daisy mused : " Tom must have got that Devil
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 175 
 
 dress off by this time." She shook her fist at 
 Mr. Stubbs : " No matter ! Go wake him up, 
 and move lively." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs felt that it was useless to argue 
 with his creation. She was a woman, and, there- 
 fore, unreasonable and domineering. 
 
 " Come, Johnnie, it will take us both. He 
 sleeps deep." 
 
 Tom's room was beyond the workshop. Sally, 
 who had been, for a while, watching the proceed- 
 ings within through a window, came in as soon 
 as the door closed after Mr. Stubbs and his son. 
 
 " Hello, Daisy, where have they gone? " 
 
 " I've sent them to wake Tom up," and she 
 laughed merrily. 
 
 " Oh, he's not been asleep, but he'll keep them 
 waiting and make them think he has. He sent 
 you this pistol." 
 
 Daisy took it, but handled it so carelessly that 
 Sally retreated in alarm : " Look out, Daisy, 
 or it'll go off." 
 
 " No, it won't ; I'll hold on to it." 
 
 " But you don't understand," cried Sally. 
 " It's loaded."
 
 176 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " I didn't know it was loaded." Daisy re- 
 garded it attentively: "Will it kick? Is it 
 sure death? " 
 
 " I don't think so," said Sally. " It isn't a toy 
 pistol." 
 
 Daisy placed the pistol on a shelf in a cabinet 
 full of kitchen utensils and some fine old China. 
 
 " Where are you going, Sally? " 
 
 " Why, to the masquerade, of course. How do 
 I look?" 
 
 As Sally spoke she threw off a long cloak. 
 She was dressed in the Tyrolean costume that 
 Daisy had wished to wear. 
 
 " You look lovely. If Tom could see you, he'd 
 change his mind about that dress." 
 
 " Aren't you and Tom coming? " 
 
 " How can I tell? If I can get those two fools 
 tired and sleepy, or tipsy, I'll get away. Where 
 are my clothes? Where will they put me to 
 sleep, if I can't get away? " 
 
 Sally pointed to a door : " That's the spare 
 room. The dummy's in there, and your clothes 
 too. You can get out of the window, and Tom 
 will meet you, and we'll all go to the grand ball.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 177 
 
 Won't it be jolly?" Sally put on her cloak. 
 ' If you don't get away pretty soon, I shall come 
 back to see what the matter is." 
 
 She made her escape just in time, for she had 
 no sooner closed the door than Mr. Stubbs and 
 Johnnie returned, accompanied by Tom, who 
 was in his working clothes. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs made the introduction : " Tom, 
 this young lady is a friend of the family and 
 wants to hear you sing. Give us something solid 
 and substantial, and you shall have a good old- 
 fashioned Christmas breakfast." 
 
 " That's a good inducement, Uncle Stubbs, but 
 don't forget that I've got to sing on a very empty 
 stomach." 
 
 Daisy pulled Mr. Stubbs's coat-sleeve : " Will 
 you be kind enough to introduce me to that young 
 man?" 
 
 "Oh, yes; I forgot. Tom, this is this is 
 Miss Miss " 
 
 " Mistake, I surmise, Dad," said Johnnie. 
 
 " No, it isn't either. Your father called me 
 Daisy and my other name is Fortune Miss For- 
 tune."
 
 178 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " I have known one kind of misfortune so 
 long," said Tom, that this Miss Fortune seems 
 like an old acquaintance." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs snarled : " Well, don't take this 
 occasion to bring up family troubles." 
 
 " Well, Uncle Stubbs, as I've taken quite a 
 fancy to the young lady, I'll do all I can to make 
 her visit a pleasant one." 
 
 " Thank you, Mr. Tom," said Daisy smilingly. 
 
 Tom thought a little dignity would avert sus- 
 picion : " Madam, my name is Bright." 
 
 " Nobody ever thinks of calling you so," com- 
 mented Mr. Stubbs." 
 
 Johnnie grinned : " I always call him Tommy ; 
 same as I do the cat." 
 
 Tom gave Johnnie a vicious kick in the shin, 
 but the latter was ashamed to tell his father be- 
 fore Daisy and bore his punishment in silence. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs remembered to remember: "So 
 you've taken a fancy to her, have you? " 
 
 Tom nodded. 
 
 " Well, if you want that breakfast, you'll sing 
 your little song and then go back to bed again, 
 and see how that will suit your fancy."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 179 
 
 Tom had a natural tenor voice which had never 
 been spoiled by injudicious forcing, and he sang 
 with great feeling a song which had always made 
 him welcome at Daisy's home, for Grandpa 
 Larkin was an old sailor. 
 
 THE BEACON LIGHT 
 
 I 
 
 On the air there is borne a cry of woe 
 'Bove the roar and the rush of wind and snow ; 
 Help ! Oh, help ! are the words that rise on high, 
 'Bove the rush and the roar and the wind's wild cry. 
 And the good ship strikes on the jagged rocks, 
 No human help can aid her ! 
 
 II 
 
 Like a star in the sky the beacon shines 
 
 And its rays reach afar like helping lines ; 
 
 Though the light, to the heart, Hope's gleam may give, 
 
 They are doomed, for no boat can hope to live. 
 
 And the good ship beats on the jagged rocks, 
 
 No human help can aid her ! 
 
 in 
 
 Say not so ! With a cheer the life line flies 
 To the ship, and beyond, across her lies ; 
 Rides the car back and forth with souls to save, 
 Till they all have escaped a wat'ry grave. 
 But the good ship breaks on the jagged rocks, 
 No human help can aid her!
 
 i8o THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " That was splendid," cried Daisy. " That's 
 what I call high-toned music. I am much 
 obliged, Mr. Bright" 
 
 "So am I, Mr. Bright," said Mr. Stubbs. 
 "And now, Mr. Bright, just go to bed, Mr. 
 Bright ; or you won't be up in time for that break- 
 fast, Mr. Bright." 
 
 " Don't worry, Mr. Stubbs. I'd sit up all 
 night, Mr. Stubbs, rather than lose that break- 
 fast, Mr. Stubbs," cried Tom, as he disappeared 
 from the room to escape Mr. Stubbs's heavy 
 oaken cane which was hurled after him.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 181 
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 THE 44TH HUSSAES 
 
 DAISY was evidently determined that the even- 
 ing's amusement should not be summarily con- 
 cluded. Turning to Johnnie, she asked : " Can 
 you dance? " 
 
 Johnnie affected Captain Sabreton's drawl 
 and replied : " Naw, I cawn't dawnce." 
 
 " Yes, you can dance, too," said his father. 
 
 Johnnie dropped his drawl : " No, I can't ; 
 I've forgotten how." 
 
 " Well, you must remember to remember." 
 
 Johnnie was inclined to be stubborn : " No, I 
 won't." 
 
 His father grasped him by the collar : " Young 
 man, now you dance, or I'll thrash you and make 
 you dance." 
 
 Daisy thought she could enliven the proceed-
 
 182 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 ings, so she took the pistol from the dresser and 
 discharged it. In his efforts to escape from ap- 
 parently impending danger, Mr. Stubbs ran 
 against Johnnie, and they both fell to the floor. 
 Neither attempted to rise, but kept a sitting posi- 
 tion. 
 
 " Mr. Stubbs, can you play on any kind of an 
 instrument?" asked Daisy. 
 . " I> have a fiddle." 
 
 " Well, you can play the fiddle while Johnnie 
 dances." 
 
 " What ! " cried Johnnie. " Dad going to play 
 the fiddle ! Well, I wish I was dead." 
 
 " Johnnie, what you want is a bracer," said 
 Daisy. u There's some wine left in the bottle in 
 the other room ; go and get it and some glasses. 
 
 When Johnnie came back, Daisy filled the 
 glasses and he and Mr. Stubbs drank. 
 
 " You're not a temperance man, Mr. Stubbs," 
 Daisy remarked. 
 
 " Oh, yes, I am ; but I have no prejudice 
 against good liquor of any kind." 
 
 "Oh, Dad, Dad," said Johnnie; " I feel just 
 like a balloon. I'm going up."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 183 
 
 Mr. Stubbs was happy : " Well, go up, if you 
 want to. I'll go up and come back with you." 
 
 Johnnie grasped his father's hand : " Let's 
 both go up together, Dad." 
 
 Daisy thought : " Oh, if they only would go 
 up and never come back ! " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs had been a devotee of Terpsichore 
 in his younger days. Johnnie, though deficient 
 in book knowledge, had his perceptive faculties 
 well developed and was a good mimic; so when 
 his father took some dancing steps, which he re- 
 membered to remember, Johnnie imitated him. 
 
 The result was so grotesquely funny that peals 
 of laughter came from Daisy, who was literally 
 forced to hold her sides. She encouraged them 
 by clapping her hands and crying : " Bravo ! 
 Bravo ! ! " until they literally fell exhausted. 
 Mr. Stubbs sat down in his arm-chair by the fire, 
 while Johnnie reclined upon the table. 
 
 Daisy felt that the time had now 7 arrived for 
 an end to the evening's festivities. " While 
 they are sleeping," she said to herself, " I will do 
 some thinking. I'll show them that I can be a 
 match for both of them. I have a good mind to
 
 184 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 go to the workshop and smash all the dolls and 
 toys that are there. When they see what I have 
 done, they Trill say : ' We've had enough of you,' 
 but I don't know how *o begin. I wish I had a 
 blunderbuss. I'd scare Johnnie to death and 
 drive his father crazy. Oh! What shall I do? 
 Well, I think my woman's wit will help me out. 
 I'll find some way. When I get through with 
 them, they'll be glad enough to let me go. If 
 Tom were here, he could help me." She called 
 loudly : " Tom ! Tom ! ! Tom ! ! ! Oh, he doesn't 
 hear me." She tiptoed across the room and 
 looked at Mr. Stubbs and then at Johnnie. " I 
 hope they are sound asleep. Sally said my 
 clothes were in that room. I will go in and put 
 them on." She started towards the door when 
 Mr. Stubbs roused up. 
 
 "WTiat's that? What's that?" 
 
 He went to the table and pulled Johnnie's ear 
 vigorously. " Wake up ! Wake up ! She's look- 
 ing for us." 
 
 " Oh, it's no use," thought Daisy. " I've got 
 to make a business of it and frighten them to 
 death. I will make them both remember to re-
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 185 
 
 member this night." She turned smilingly to- 
 wards them : " I hope you both had a nice nap. 
 Now we'll have some fun." 
 
 " It's about time for us to have a show," said 
 Mr. Stubbs. " You've had all the fun so far." 
 
 " Well, you shall have a show," cried Daisy. 
 " We'll play soldiers. I'll be captain." 
 
 Johnnie elevated his nose and said satirically: 
 " Oh, of course, you'll be captain. It wouldn't 
 be you if you wasn't the boss." 
 
 Daisy paid no attention to his remarks, but 
 passed a toy gun to each and placed paper hats 
 upon their heads. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs dropped his gun and threw his hat 
 upon the floor. " No, I'm too old ; besides, I'm 
 too short and I'm light weight; I have bunions; 
 I can't march; my teeth are all gone, and I'm 
 near-sighted; I'm insane, too, and have an only 
 child depending upon me for support. I'm ex- 
 empt." 
 
 " Say, Captain," said Johnnie ; " I have the 
 same troubles Dad has." 
 
 " It's no use trying to get out of it, gentlemen. 
 I love the military and you must parade."
 
 i86 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " Mr. Stubbs remarked : " You haven't been 
 born long enough to know what you do love." 
 
 Daisy had provided herself with a bass drum- 
 stick. She struck Mr. Stubbs in the chest with 
 it, and involuntarily he doubled up. Then she 
 struck him upon the back, the effect of which 
 was to straighten him out. She then replaced 
 the cap upon his head and handed him the toy 
 gun. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs looked bewildered and his ap- 
 pearance caused Johnnie to laugh. A quick ap- 
 plication of the drumstick, however, induced him 
 to take a position by the side of his father, and 
 hey both looked like raw recruits. 
 
 " Now then, attention ! " 
 
 " Dad, we look like veterans, don't we? " 
 
 " More like two fools." 
 
 Daisy repeated the command : " Attention ! 
 Bight Dress ! " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs and Johnnie looked at each other; 
 then at their clothes. 
 
 " Say, Captain, we have on the right dress, 
 haven't we?" 
 
 " Oh, don't stand that way," she cried, and
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 187 
 
 she imitated their awkward pose. " Stand up 
 straight and toe a line. Put your heels together. 
 What thick heads you have ! Now, carry arms ! " 
 
 The two soldiers looked at each other inquir- 
 ingly. Each was willing to follow the other's 
 lead. Finally, Mr. Stubbs took the gun in his 
 arms as though he were carrying a baby, and 
 Johnnie quickly imitated his action. 
 
 " Shoulder arms ! " cried Daisy. 
 
 This order was as incomprehensible to the re- 
 cruits as the others had been. Finally they faced 
 each other and placed the guns on their shoul- 
 ders. 
 
 " Order arms ! " was the next command. 
 
 They looked at Daisy in blank astonishment. 
 Finally Mr. Stubbs asked: " How many?" 
 
 " Present arms ! " 
 
 They advanced, holding out the guns to Daisy, 
 who refused them. Finally they exchanged 
 weapons. 
 
 " Ground arms ! " 
 
 This order was followed with military preci- 
 sion, for the guns were dropped upon the floor. 
 
 " Say, Captain, how do you like our drilling? " 
 asked Johnnie.
 
 i88 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " It was just as bad as it could be." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs shook his head : " It won't be any 
 better." 
 
 " Now," said Daisy, " we'll march." 
 
 " I can't march," said Mr. Stubbs. " I ought 
 to be in the hospital." 
 
 " Which foot do we start with? " asked 
 Johnnie. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs put out his right foot and Johnnie 
 his left. 
 
 " Forward march ! " 
 
 The result can be anticipated. 
 
 " You started with the wrong foot," cried 
 Johnnie. 
 
 "No, I didn't," said his father; "I started 
 with the right." 
 
 " You started with the right? " asked Daisy. 
 " Well, that left you wrong, and that is not right. 
 You must start off with both feet at the same 
 time." 
 
 " What! " cried Mr. Stubbs. " Start off with 
 all my feet at the same time? I'm no cater- 
 pillar." 
 
 " I don't think you will ever make good foot
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 189 
 
 soldiers. I think you would do better as cavalry. 
 You've seen the 44th Hussars at Dunmoor. 
 Now, you two will be hussars and I'll be in- 
 fantry. We'll have a sham fight." 
 
 " No sham fight for me," said Mr. Stubbs. " If 
 I fight it will be in earnest." 
 
 " Where are the horses? " asked Johnnie. 
 
 " Didn't I see some big rocking-horses in the 
 workshop? They'll do finely." 
 
 Neither Mr. Stubbs nor his son remarked 
 Daisy's intimate knowledge of the interior ar- 
 rangement of the little red mill. 
 
 " Oh ! Come on, Dad ! Let's bring in the fiery, 
 inflamed steeds." 
 
 When Mr. Stubbs and Johnnie returned, they 
 seemed determined to enter into the spirit of the 
 occasion. They put on their soldier hats and 
 grasped their swords, and jumped upon the 
 horses. 
 
 " Prepare to resist infantry ! " cried Daisy. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs and Johnnie lifted their swords, 
 charged, and rode their horses at full speed. 
 
 Daisy raised the pistol, pointed it at them and 
 cried : " Come on ! "
 
 190 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " I say, Dad, ain't she a live one? I admire 
 her." 
 
 Daisy discharged the pistol. The hussars 
 leaned forward upon their horses' necks for pro- 
 tection. 
 
 " Admire her, you fool ! " cried Mr. Stubbs. 
 " She's a little devil. She's worse than your 
 mother was." 
 
 Daisy threw the bass drumstick at Mr. Stubbs, 
 who dodged it, but losing his balance, fell from 
 his horse to the floor. 
 
 " Yes, I am a little Devil, and don't you for- 
 get to remember to remember it." 
 
 " Grab her, Johnnie ! Grab her ! cried Mr. 
 Stubbs. 
 
 Daisy grasped a big book and threw it at 
 Johnnie, knocking him from his horse. Mr. 
 Stubbs rushed at Daisy, who ran, and then be- 
 gan a wild chase about the room, Johnnie fol- 
 lowing his father. Around the table they went ; 
 then behind the dresser, which stood out from 
 the wall. Daisy watched her chance. When it 
 happened that she was behind the dresser, and 
 Mr. Stubbs and his son were in front, she pushed
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 191 
 
 it over upon them. It fell with a crash, burying 
 the hussars beneath an avalanche of pots and 
 pans, knives, forks, and spoons, and dishes. 
 Johnnie, being the least encumbered, was soon 
 upon his feet. Daisy ran from the room, with 
 him in full pursuit. 
 
 In the kitchen they met Tom and Sally who 
 had been listening and awaiting the outcome. 
 It took Tom but a few minutes to show Johnnie 
 how egregiously he and his father had been 
 fooled. 
 
 "It's almost ten o'clock," said Sally. "If 
 we're going to the masquerade, we must lose no 
 time." 
 
 Johnnie regarded Tom's costume : " Say, were 
 you the Devil?" 
 
 " Why, of course." 
 
 " When the old gent knows it he will die of 
 apoplexy," Johnnie remarked. Then he added, 
 with a sad lack of filial tenderness : " It will 
 serve him just right! He had no business to 
 make me a wife when I had a nice little girl of 
 my own," and he put his arm around Sally's 
 waist.
 
 192 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " Come along," cried Sally, "or we shall be 
 too late." 
 
 " I can't go," said Johnnie. " I hare no cos- 
 tume." 
 
 " What you have on will do," said Sally. 
 
 " You couldn't get anything funnier if you 
 tried." 
 
 The party made its way quickly to Barnabas 
 Briggs's wagon, which they found waiting for 
 them under the old oak, and in which were seated 
 a dozen or more of the Middleton-on-Quick young 
 fellows and girls, who were all going to the 
 masquerade at Dunmoor Barracks.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 193 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 CHRISTMAS CAROLS 
 
 THE fire had burned low ; only a few embers in 
 the fireplace sent out a fitful glow. Mr. Stubbs 
 sat before it, his head bowed upon his breast. 
 Thf house was very quiet ; there were no sounds 
 of movement, speech, or laughter. Mr. Stubbs 
 was alone with his thoughts, and they were not 
 particularly pleasant ones. The candle had 
 burned out, but the clouds had parted and a 
 white streak of moolight came through the win- 
 dow and lighted up the room. There was a 
 sound of voices somebody singing. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs smiled grimly : " Christmas car- 
 ols! Peace on earth and good will to men. I 
 used to sing them when I was a boy. I can re- 
 member to remember even now how the old 
 church bells used to ring out their merry chimes. 
 I want to be good, but I can't be as long as she 
 is in there," and he pointed to the door of the
 
 194 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 spare room. " I wish tho Devil would come and 
 take his own and clear out; but he can't have 
 her until he pays damages. I have locked her in, 
 secured the window on the outside, and hidden 
 the ladder which I must have left standing 
 against the house when I fixed the shingles last 
 week. I will have a little nap and see if I can't 
 remember to forget all about the Devil and the 
 Devil's tricks." 
 
 A thunder and lightning storm in the midst 
 of winter is a novelty, but novelties, as a rule, 
 are short lived. They have not that permanency 
 attached to things which are of daily occurrence. 
 The storm which had led to the carrying out of 
 those plans upon which Mr. Stubbs had med- 
 itated for so long, passed away as quickly as it 
 had come. A heavy wind moved the clouds, and 
 a full-orbed moon soon lighted up each cottage, 
 and hill, and dale, all of which were covered with 
 snow. Over the road sped Mr. Barnabas 
 Briggs's six sturdy horses, carrying their freight 
 of young men and women, who looked forward 
 with keen anticipation to the delights in store 
 for them.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 195 
 
 Nor were they disappointed. On their arrival 
 at the Barracks, they found that they had been 
 transformed into a bower of beauty. The Hus- 
 sars had had their annual dinner, in which choice 
 wines had formed no inconsiderable part. Their 
 faces were flushed with happiness from the ef- 
 fects of what may be called the spiritual com- 
 forts that were provided at the close of the meal. 
 They were in a happy mood, and disposed to make 
 their guests also happy. The band of the 44th 
 Hussars was noted for miles around for its num- 
 bers and the skilled technique of its playing. On 
 such occasions as this it was transformed into 
 an orchestra, particularly string and reed in- 
 struments. 
 
 There was a motley crowd upon the floor of 
 the ballroom. Kings and queens, princes and 
 peasants elbowed each other, and the hum of con- 
 versation was constant. Both men and women 
 wore masks. There were plenty of corners for 
 flirtatious conversations, which neither party 
 would have acknowledged if their masks had been 
 removed and they had stood face to face. 
 
 Johnnie had obtained a mask which, in his
 
 196 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 case, was an effectual disguise. No one was sup- 
 posed to have come in his ordinary clothes, and 
 those who looked at Johnnie supposed it was a 
 clever make-up and wondered who it was who 
 looked so much like Mr. Stubbs's son. 
 
 Johnnie suffered the extreme pangs of jeal- 
 ousy. Sally told him that as he was a boy, and 
 she was dressed like a boy, it would not look 
 well for them to dance together. " Besides," she 
 added, " you can't dance anyway." 
 
 "Can't I?" said Johnnie. "You ought to 
 have seen me dancing to-night with Dad. When 
 Daisy fired the pistol, didn't she make us step 
 lively?" 
 
 " I don't blame her," said Sally. " Whatever 
 put it into your father's head to think he could 
 bring a doll to life? " 
 
 " Oh, he meant well," said Johnnie. " He 
 wants me to get married, and as he wasn't satis- 
 fied with any of the girls in the village, he 
 thought he'd make one himself. He is a scien- 
 tific man, Dad is. 'Cause somebody else has not 
 done things, don't stop him. He wants to be first 
 in everything, and I'm just like him."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 197 
 
 This was too much for Sally, who turned away 
 laughing, and a few minutes later she was dan- 
 cing with a little peasant girl, who felt sure that 
 her companion was Lieutenant Harry Goss of 
 the Hussars, who had told her that he was going 
 to wear an Austrian costume. Such mistakes, 
 however, are numerous at masquerades, where 
 the slightest excuse for a misunderstanding is 
 looked upon as sufficient. 
 
 Tom and Daisy were never so happy. 
 
 " This is Heaven ! " said Tom. 
 
 " If it is," replied Daisy, " you are certainly 
 out of place." 
 
 Mr. Toby Whackers and Miss Jennie Jamieson 
 Jones were a most noticeable couple. He was 
 dressed as a Turk, with a huge scimitar hanging 
 by his side. It may take nine tailors to make a 
 man, but that night he looked every inch a Pasha, 
 and the little goose who accompanied him was 
 so impressed with his manly appearance that she 
 suggested his selling out his business and going 
 to live in Constantinople. 
 
 Captain Sabreton had not discarded his mili- 
 tary uniform and his mask did not prevent him
 
 ig8 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 from being recognized by all. Then, too, the 
 little Swiss peasant girl, to whom he devoted 
 most of his time, must be the little milliner from 
 Middleton-on Quick; but, as the reader knows, 
 Miss Ruth Dunn Moore was at home and, un- 
 doubtedly sound asleep at the time, dreaming, 
 perhaps, of her darling Horatio. 
 
 At a masquerade, everyone becomes, for the 
 time being, a detective. There was one couple, 
 however, whose identity was not discovered until 
 the great bell on the Barracks tolled out the hour 
 of twelve, and all masks were removed. Then 
 there were signs of astonishment both in words 
 and looks, for the plump little lady who had 
 worn a Shakespearean costume, presumably that 
 of Anne Boleyn, one of Henry the Eighth's un- 
 fortunate wives, proved to be Mrs. Merrily, while 
 the stately gentleman who had been attired as Sir 
 John Falstaff, was none other than Squire Bod- 
 dley Goldfish. 
 
 Mrs. Goldfish told one of her Christmas day 
 callers that her husband had been aroused from 
 his sleep in the night to go to Mr. Eales's house, 
 for that old gentleman felt sure that he could not
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 199 
 
 live until morning and seemed very anxious to 
 have a will made. 
 
 The morning light was breaking when the 
 party broke up. Mr. Barnabas Briggs, who had 
 quaffed many flagons of ale, and smoked innu- 
 merable pipes of tobacco, had his six sturdy 
 horses ready for the return trip. 
 
 Daisy had intended to stay at Dunmoor with 
 Mrs. Merrily, but her search for that lady was 
 unavailing, and Tom persuaded her to make one 
 of the home party. 
 
 After Mr. Briggs's wagon was well on its way 
 towards Middleton-on-Quick, two solitary vehi- 
 cles left Dunmoor, in one of which was Mr. 
 Whackers and his intended, while the other was 
 occupied by Mrs. Merrily and Mrs. Goldfish's 
 husband.
 
 200 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 THE UNDERWORLD 
 
 IT was six o'clock when the little party reached 
 Middleton-on-Quick. The passengers had been 
 dropped off from time to time, so that when Mr. 
 Briggs drove up to the little cot by the river, only 
 Tom, Daisy, Sally, and Johnnie were left. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Larkin had not expected Daisy 
 so soon, but Toby was alert and it did not take 
 him long to convince them that it was necessary 
 to open the front door. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs was sitting in his arm-chair, fast 
 asleep. The fire had gone out, and the room 
 was cold very cold. 
 
 " I hope he's not frozen," said Johnnie. " I'm 
 too young to take care of the business." 
 
 " I hope he's not frozen," echoed Tom ; " but 
 I'm old enough and I could make more money 
 out of the business than he does." 
 
 " Stop your nonsense," said Sally. " You go
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 201 
 
 and get some wood, Tom, and you, Johnnie, build 
 the fire. When he gets warm he will wake up." 
 
 " You mean he will thaw out," said Tom. 
 
 " Well," said Sally, " if his tongue has been 
 quiet all night, when it does start, we'll get 
 enough of it." 
 
 " You should not talk that way about my 
 father," said Johnnie, seriously. 
 
 " Well, I guess I think almost as much of him 
 as you do. When you thought he was frozen, the 
 only regret you had was that you were too young 
 to take care of the business. I'd rather be an or- 
 phan with no folks or nothing than to have a 
 father and wish him in his grave," and Sally 
 flounced out of the room. 
 
 " She's too sharp for you, Johnnie," said Tom. 
 
 " That's the reason I want her in the family. 
 Everybody says Dad is an old dough-head and 
 that I take after him, and I think we ought to 
 have one smart one in the firm." 
 
 Tom clapped him on the shoulder: "You're 
 all right, Johnnie. Your heart is in the right 
 place, even if your head is a little empty some- 
 times."
 
 202 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Johnnie laughed : " You have the same trou- 
 ble with your stomach that I have with my head, 
 don't you, Tom? But you suffer more than I 
 do." 
 
 Tom went for the wood, and soon a bright fire 
 was crackling in the old fireplace, and the sparks 
 went merrily up the chimney. 
 
 The old gentleman stretched and yawned and 
 finally became cognizant of his surroundings. 
 
 " Is that you, Johnnie? " 
 
 " Merry Christmas, Dad ! I've just got up." 
 
 " Is Sally up? " 
 
 " Yes, she's getting breakfast." 
 
 "Where's Tom?" 
 
 " Oh, he's helping her." 
 
 "Well, he wouldn't be if he didn't think he 
 was going to get an extra good breakfast." 
 
 " Didn't you go to bed last night, Dad? " 
 
 " No ; I was so tired that I went to sleep and 
 forgot to wake up. My back is lame, my neck 
 aches, and my feet are cold; but I'm all right. I 
 feel just as well as though I had gone to bed." 
 
 " Breakfast's ready ! " called Sally. 
 
 They were soon gathered about the table.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 203 
 
 "Are you hungry, Tom?" asked Mr. Stubbs. 
 
 " Not so much as usual, Uncle. I passed a hor- 
 rible, terrible, miserable night." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs never got off his hobby : " Over- 
 eating is what did it." 
 
 " Why, Tom, what happened to you? " asked 
 Sally, who did not think that her employer's ex- 
 planation was the correct one. 
 
 " Oh, I had a dream a regular nightmare." 
 
 " That's what it was indigestion," said Mr. 
 Stubbs. 
 
 " Did you see snakes? " asked Sally. 
 
 " I dreamed I died and went down below." He 
 lowered his voice and pointed downward. 
 
 Johnnie became interested : " Say, Tommy, 
 what killed you? " 
 
 " Oh, of course it was all a dream, but I 
 thought beg your pardon, Uncle but I thought 
 you pounded me to death with a big stick for 
 over-eating, and the first question that Old Nick 
 asked me was: 'Tommy, how is your uncle?' 
 I had a long and pleasant conversation with him, 
 but he was very mad about something. He said 
 there was a man who was trying with wicked
 
 204 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 ways to steal his power from him. He said he 
 was going to make him sick." 
 
 " What had the man done? " asked Mr. Stubbs. 
 
 " Well, he told me the whole story," said Tom, 
 " but he didn't give any names. He said there 
 was an old fool up in New England who had 
 made a doll and had called on him to put the 
 breath of life into it. It seems that this old fel- 
 low had an idea that if he could bring this doll 
 to life, she would make a good wife for his sou. 
 Now, the Devil does not like to have anyone 
 interfere with his way of doing things, and I 
 should not be surprised if that man, whoever he 
 is, heard from him at an early date." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs dropped his knife and fork and 
 moved back from the table. His cheeks, which- 
 were usually a bright red, became quite pale. 
 
 " Are you sick, Uncle? " asked Tom. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs stood up and lifted his right hand 
 slowly : " He's right, Tom. The Devil told you 
 the truth, and I am the man who made the doll." 
 
 Tom and Sally cried out together : " You? " 
 
 " Yes. I'm going to tell you everything. They 
 eay confession is good for the soul. I made the
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 205 
 
 doll a young woman really human but she 
 lacked the breath of life. The Devil was right; 
 I intended she should be Johnnie's wife. To 
 bring her to life, I tried magic arts and electric 
 sparks, but all in vain. In my despair I called 
 upon Satan. He always comes when he's called. 
 He put life into her veins, but, at the same time, 
 he filled her chuck full of his own deviltry." 
 
 Johnnie could repress himself no longer : " Yes, 
 and she treated us shamefully. She broke all our 
 dishes, and she was impudent to Dad. It made 
 me blush. She made me tell her all I knew, got 
 all the secrets of the toy business out of Dad, 
 gave us something to drink that made us boozy; 
 then she made us dance, and sent us to wake 
 Tom up to sing for her. But it was easy so 
 far." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs shook his head dolefully: "Then 
 the Devil took possession of her. You tell them, 
 Johnnie." 
 
 " She made us drill and march, and ride horse- 
 back ; then she fired pistols at us, pushed the big 
 dresser over on top of us and broke all the 
 dishes."
 
 206 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Sally raised both her hands in astonishment: 
 " It's wonderful; isn't it, Tom? " 
 
 "If anybody but Uncle had told me that, I 
 wouldn't have believed it." 
 
 Sally shook her head : " Of course not." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs was evidently perturbed in his 
 mind : " What did His His Satanic Majesty 
 say about me, Tom? " 
 
 " He didn't seem to be prejudiced against you 
 personally, but said, in a general way that when 
 he once got his claws on a person, he clung to 
 him and made sure of him unless his intended 
 victim made a full confession of all his wrong- 
 doings, did the right thing by all whom he had 
 injured, and thus escaped his power." 
 
 Johnnie looked up appealingly to his father: 
 " Perhaps it ain't my place to give advice, Dad, 
 but if I was you I'd own up, if I had done any- 
 thing wrong, and square myself with the Devil, 
 before he comes after you." 
 
 " Well, I have owned up about the doll, haven't 
 I?" and Mr. Stubbs spoke with asperity. 
 
 "W T ell, if that's all you've got to confess," 
 said Tom, " the Old Nick can't harm you."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 207 
 
 The old gentleman scratched his head reflec- 
 tively : " No, Tom ; I don't think I'm quite quits 
 with the Devil yet. I've had something on my 
 mind for a good many years and I suppose he 
 knows all about it. I think it is better for me 
 to tell you myself, then when he comes up I'll 
 say " 
 
 " Chestnut," suggested Johnnie.
 
 208 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER XXV, 
 
 A FORCED CONFESSION 
 
 " TOM," Mr. Stubbs began abruptly, " what 
 gave you the idea that your father left you any 
 money? You were only five years old when he 
 died and could not have told a farthing from a 
 sovereign." 
 
 " Oh, yes, I could," said Tom. " I used to get 
 lots of farthings, but nobody ever gave me a 
 sovereign." 
 
 " Well, that ain't answering my question. 
 What put the idea into your head that there was 
 any money coming to you? " 
 
 Tom hesitated : " I don't want to get anybody 
 else into trouble." 
 
 " You needn't worry about me, Tom," said 
 Sally. " I told him. Somebody sent me an 
 'nonimous letter and said that Tom's father 
 left him a thousand pounds."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 209 
 
 "Where's the letter?" asked Mr. Stubbs. 
 
 " I don't know. I had it in my room and it 
 disappeared. Somebody must have stolen it." 
 
 " I took it and burned it up," said Mr. Stubbs. 
 
 " I bet the Devil knows all about that, Dad," 
 said Johnnie. 
 
 The old man nodded : " And of course he 
 knows that I have the money. I have had it for 
 fourteen years. I put it in the bank and it has 
 toore than doubled; but I had a right to it. I 
 was to have the use of it until you were twenty- 
 one years old, and you are only nineteen now. 
 But I'll give you a note and a mortgage, Tom, 
 and I'll allow you two per cent interest on your 
 money. I'd give you more, but, you know, trade 
 has been dull." 
 
 " If I get the money my father left me, Uncle, 
 I shall be satisfied." 
 
 "That's all right," said Mr. Stubbs, "but 
 I want the Devil to be satisfied too." 
 
 The prospect of what seemed to him a great 
 fortune in two years appeased all the angry feel- 
 ings Tom had against Mr. Stubbs, so he thought
 
 210 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 it his duty to encourage him : " I don't think 
 the Devil will trouble you any more." 
 
 There was a dubious expression on Mr. Stubbs's 
 face : " No, I ain't satisfied. That doll has got 
 to go out of this house. Let the Devil have her 
 and welcome." 
 
 " Where is she now? " asked Sally in her most 
 innocent manner. 
 
 " She's in the spare room." 
 
 " What are you going to do about it, Dad? " 
 asked Johnnie. 
 
 " I have decided. Johnnie, bring me the mal- 
 let." 
 
 It was a ponderous, wooden implement, with a 
 long handle, and a head almost six inches in 
 diameter. Mr. Stubbs started towards the spare 
 room, mallet in hand. 
 
 " What are you going to do? " asked Sally. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs turned upon her fiercely : " Break 
 her up! Disintegrate her! Pulverize her! 
 Obliterate her from the face of the earth ! Sweep 
 her off this terrestrial globe." 
 
 Johnnie agreed with his father : " She must be 
 swept."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 211 
 
 " Now, I am going to do the right thing," said 
 Mr. Stubbs. " I will send her back to her 
 friends." 
 
 Mr. Stubbs unlocked the door and entered the 
 spare room. He had not been gone long when 
 there were sounds of terrific pounding. Above 
 all could be heard a voice exclaiming : " Take 
 that ! Take that, you little Devil ! " 
 
 " The game is up," said Tom. " When he 
 finds out the truth, he will turn all of us out- 
 doors. I think we had better follow his example 
 and confess before the Devil gets us. I am going 
 down to get Daisy and come back and make a 
 clean breast of it. You two had better keep, out 
 of the way until he knows the whole truth." 
 
 " I think so too," said Sally. " He knows I 
 know." 
 
 " I'm agreed," said Johnnie. " I know too 
 much myself." 
 
 When Mr. Stubbs returned to the room, mal- 
 let in hand, there was no one in sight. He called 
 loudly for his son, and Tom, and Sally, but there 
 was no response. Then he sank dejectedly into 
 his armchair. He seemed dissatisfied. He went
 
 212 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 out to the woodshed and got a large basket, which 
 he took into the spare room, and was absent for 
 some time. When he returned, the basket was 
 full of the broken fragments which had once 
 formed his great creation. He sat down, placed 
 the basket before him, and soliloquized : 
 
 " No fond papa ever looked into the smiling 
 face of his first born with more rapture than I 
 did when I put the finishing touches to my great 
 work of art. But all my plans have met with 
 defeat. My beautiful doll, which cost me so 
 much toil and trouble, is forever lost and gone 
 to smash. That was my masterpiece. The Devil 
 put a soul into it, but it was accursed from the 
 moment he did it. If you wish to raise a child, 
 I am convinced that you cannot improve on the 
 old way. I was a fool to think that I could get 
 the best of nature." 
 
 Then he grew reflective. He was naturally a 
 shrewd man, but for a while his wits and been 
 wool-gathering. He arose and brought his oaken 
 staff down upon the floor with a heavy thud. 
 
 " There is some mystery here ! I have not got 
 all that belongs to me. There is nothing here
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 213 
 
 but the carcass. Where are all those fine clothes 
 that I bought for the doll? Perhaps the Devil 
 came and got them. No, that's nonsense. I 
 wonder what it all means! I believe there's 
 some human deviltry here as well as Devil devil- 
 try, and I believe that scapegrace of a nephew 
 of mine it at the bottom of it. If he has played 
 any game on me, he will never get that money 
 until he goes to court and makes me pay it, and 
 I will spend the whole of it in fighting him be- 
 fore I'll let him get a farthing.
 
 214 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 DEIVEN FROM HOME 
 
 A SHORT distance from the little red mill was 
 an old well. It was very deep fully sixty feet 
 from curb to bottom. It had run dry some years 
 before, and Mr. Stubbs's first thought was that 
 he would have it filled up. Then he reflected 
 that if he dug a hole in order to get earth to fill 
 the well, he would have another big hole that he 
 would have to fill in in turn. So the old well 
 was boarded over. 
 
 " The water may come back again some day," 
 he said to Johnnie. 
 
 Taking the basket of disjecta membra, he made 
 his way to the old well. He lifted the cover 
 and emptied out the contents of the basket. 
 
 " There," said he, as he replaced the cover, 
 " if the Devil wants what's left of her, he can 
 go down and get her."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 215 
 
 If the Devil himself had sprung up out of the 
 well, he would not have been more surprised than 
 he was to see what he did see when he returned 
 to the house. There stood the Devil and the doll. 
 His first thought was to turn and run, but he 
 was quick-eyed and quick-witted, and there was 
 something in the faces of both that struck him as 
 familiar. He approached and surveyed each 
 critically. 
 
 " Thomas Bright and Daisy Dane ! My dress ! 
 What an old gudgeon I have been ! " he heard 
 steps behind him and turned quickly. There 
 stood Sally and Johnnie. As if by one accord, 
 the four knelt before him. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs shut his teeth firmly together. His 
 face was purple; he frothed at the mouth; he 
 looked mad, acted mad, and he was mad. He 
 stammered out : " W-what what does all this 
 mean?" 
 
 " It was all a joke ! " Tom could not have said 
 any more to have saved his 1 life. 
 
 " A joke ! " cried Mr. Stubbs. " It's an out- 
 rage, a swindle, a conspiracy. I'll have you ar- 
 rested for this, and you, too, Miss Dane. You're
 
 216 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 a thief. You stole my dress." He turned to 
 Sally: " Did you know about this? " 
 
 " I couldn't help it," she sniffled. 
 
 "And you, Johnnie?" 
 
 " Sally wouldn't let me tell." 
 
 " And so you think more of Sally than you 
 do of me your own father? I have just thrown 
 what was left of the doll down the old well, and 
 I have a good mind to send you all after her. 
 But if I killed you all, my revenge would be 
 satisfied too soon. As for you, Miss Dane, I'll 
 have you arrested for theft, and you will go to 
 jail. I'll give the rest of you just five minutes 
 to get out of my house, and don't you ever darken 
 my doors again." 
 
 By this time Tom had recovered a little of his 
 courage : " I'll be around in two years to get 
 my money." 
 
 . " Well, you won't get it. I'll fight you as long 
 as there's a farthing of it left. I'll burn up the 
 mill. I'll go into bankruptcy. None of you will 
 ever get a farthing from me. Now, get out of 
 here quick, all of you." 
 
 It is said of many people that when they ap-
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 217 
 
 proach the supreme crisis of their lives, instead 
 of doing something noble and dignified, their ac- 
 tions are inconsequential and often silly. Three 
 of the culprits knew that they were driven from 
 home; the other felt that her fate would be a 
 prison cell. In spite of this impending doom, 
 however, the influence of the day was upon them. 
 They had not anticipated such an outburst of 
 passion. They had thought he would be angry 
 at first, and then look upon it as a good joke, 
 as they did. They had come with peace in their 
 hearts and good will to men to acknowledge their 
 misdeeds, and had hoped for forgiveness. Their 
 reception had taken from them all power of argu- 
 ment or entreaty. Mr. Stubbs pointed towards 
 the door and they made their way thither. Not 
 one could have told just what impelled him or 
 her to say what they did, but before they made 
 their exit, Daisy and Sally said : " Merry Christ- 
 mas, Mr. Stubbs." 
 
 Tom added : " Merry Christmas, Uncle." 
 Johnnie, with tears in his eyes, blurted out: 
 " Merry Christmas, Dad." 
 
 Then with one accord they cried out in unison : 
 " Good-bye," and were gone.
 
 218 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 OLD HOBBLEQUINN 
 
 MR. JOHN BULL STUBBS was mad from the 
 top of his head to the toe of his boot. He had 
 been tricked by that ne'er-do-well Tom, by that 
 scullion Sally, and, worst of all, by his idolized 
 son his Johnnie. Strange to say, Daisy was not 
 a subject for his maledictions. He identified her 
 with the doll his creation and for that, and 
 her, he had now the kindest feelings. If Daisy 
 had really been his doll, endowed with life, he 
 would have loved her as a daughter and to find 
 that he was the butt of a joke it was too much 
 for a high-blooded Englishman to bear with 
 equanimity. 
 
 He threw himself into his arm-chair then he 
 remembered that he had not locked the door. 
 When he saw the unwashed breakfast dishes, 
 his rage was rekindled, not so much on account
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 219 
 
 of what had taken place, but the life in store for 
 him. 
 
 Again seated in the arm-chair, his anger began 
 to cool. He wished to keep angry, and he won- 
 dered why it was being gradually subdued. 
 Then it occurred to him that his fire had gone 
 out, and there was no wood. He brought some 
 from the shed, and burned his fingers while light- 
 ing it. He remembered how many things Tom 
 had done for him, for which he had given him no 
 credit and no pay. What was he to have for 
 dinner, with no Sally to prepare the dishes that 
 he liked? There was no one to talk to. He 
 missed Johnnie, who was always amusing and 
 entertaining, even if he was not an adept in 
 book learning. 
 
 Had he done right in turning them out? Cer- 
 tainly he had. They had made fun of him an 
 old man. He recalled the story of Elijah and 
 the bears his experience was worse, for he had 
 an ungrateful son. 
 
 The hours passed. What a Christmas! No 
 fine dinner for though he was close in money 
 matters, there had always been a plenteous table
 
 220 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 set for himself and Johnnie. As has been seen, 
 Sally and Tom looked out for themselves, but 
 it would have been suicidal on their part to let 
 Mr. Stubbs think they were satisfied. They had 
 not suffered from hunger, and Tom's continual 
 complaints were base subterfuges to avoid arous- 
 ing suspicion. 
 
 There was a knock at the door. Mr. Stubbs 
 yelled : " Come in," but no one appeared. Then 
 he remembered the locked door. When he opened 
 it, there stood Old Hobblequinn, the village con- 
 stable, on crutches. 
 
 Mr. Quinn followed him into the best room, 
 and they sat down before the fire. 
 
 " Merry Christmas, Mr. Stubbs." 
 
 " You look it. What have you been doing to 
 yourself? " 
 
 " Only a sprained knee but a physical pain 
 is not so bad as a mental sorrow." 
 
 " Well, thank fortune, I've got neither," said 
 Mr. Stubbs. 
 
 " Are you sure of that? " asked. Mr. Quinn. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs's temper rose : " What do you 
 mean? Who's been telling you tales? "
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 221 
 
 " Not tales, but truth, I am told. The Squire 
 has sent me here to find out, and I've left a sick 
 bed to do my duty as a king's officer." 
 
 " What have you to do with me? I have 
 broken no law of God or man." 
 
 Mr. Quinn took the offensive: "Is that so, 
 Mr. Stubbs? Is it not an offence against the 
 Almighty to turn your own flesh and blood out 
 of doors on His own day? Answer me that in 
 the name of the king." 
 
 " I'll answer you nought. This is my own 
 house and I'll do as I please." 
 
 " No, you'll not, Mr. Stubbs, when you've 
 threatened to burn it and when you owe money." 
 
 " I owe no man. I've paid all my bills." 
 
 " The Squire does not think so, and I serve 
 this paper on you, and you must bring your body 
 before the law to answer to one Thomas Bright 
 for money due him." 
 
 " It isn't due yet." 
 
 " Then you have his money, and you did 
 threaten to go into bankruptcy." 
 
 " And I will, if I choose." 
 
 " But no you won't, for this paper is an attach-
 
 222 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 merit in the name of the king, and you'll neither 
 buy nor sell, except with the consent of his law 
 officer, the Squire." 
 
 " He's not of age, and the money is not due 
 till then." 
 
 " You have your rights, Mr. Stubbs, as an 
 English free man, but so has he. You promis'ed 
 to give a note, which you must do, with interest, 
 and good security that it will be paid. That is 
 all the law asks. Have you this young man's 
 certificate of birth?" 
 
 Mr. Stubbs was crestfalletn. He knew he had 
 been beaten. He could flout Tom and Sally, but 
 not the law. He went to an old secretary and 
 brought out an old yellowed paper. 
 
 " Read that, Mr. Quinn." 
 
 The constable put on his spectacles and pe- 
 rused the document. " You've made a great 
 mistake, Mr. Stubbs. It is nineteen years since 
 this paper was made out, but it says the boy was 
 born twenty one years ago, lacking a month or 
 so. You thought the date of the document was 
 the boy's birthday," and Mr. Quinn laughed 
 officially. " Mr. Stubbs, you're a good business
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 223 
 
 man, but the law has keen eyes. To-morrow, at 
 ten of the hour, appear before the Squire, or the 
 penalty be upon you. I'll take this certificate 
 to the Squire." 
 
 Mr. Quinn raised himself upon his crutches and 
 walked slowly to the door, followed by the old 
 toymaker. As the constable stepped over the 
 sill he turned : " Mr. Stubbs, remember the 
 meaning of this day peace on earth, good will 
 to men.-' 
 
 " Mr. Stubbs went back to his arm-chair. He 
 was hungry, but could not eat. He, John Bull 
 Stubbs, haled before the Squire ! Then he got his 
 Bible and searched until he found and read over 
 and over again / Timothy, sixth chapter, and 
 tenth verse.
 
 224 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 OLD PINCH 
 
 IT was five o'clock on Christmas afternoon 
 when Squire Goldfish mounted the steps of the 
 most pretentious mansion in Middleton-on-Quick. 
 His servant Josephus had espied him coming up 
 the walk and opened the door with an obsequious 
 bow. The Squire required politeness from his 
 servants, but he paid for it with numerous 
 "tips." He often said to Mrs. Goldfish that 
 " the master of a house should not rule it by 
 fear." 
 
 " Is Mrs. Goldfish at home? " asked the Squire. 
 
 Josephus pointed towards the library door. 
 
 The Squire entered the room and threw him- 
 self into an easy-chair : " I'm so glad to be at 
 home with my " 
 
 " I should think you would be," said his wife.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 225 
 
 " Boddley, I haven't laid eyes on you since Christ- 
 mas eve, nearly twenty-four hours ago." 
 
 There was a razor-edge to her voice, and the 
 Squire prepared himself for some cutting re- 
 marks by speaking in a softly-modulated under- 
 tone. 
 
 " My dear Eunice, the demands of my official 
 position cannot be ignored but you have a right 
 to demand an explanation, and you shall have 
 it." 
 
 Mrs. Goldfish's expression indicated that the 
 explanation might require corroborative testi- 
 mony. 
 
 " My dear Eunice " 
 
 Mrs. Goldfish shrugged her shoulders to show 
 that her sourness could not be affected by con- 
 nubial sugar-plums. 
 
 The Squire proceeded : " When we parted 
 it seems an age I was on my way to see poor 
 Mr. Quinn. Doctor Bunch attended him profes- 
 sionally, and after cheering him up, I came home 
 and prepared to retire. You were sleeping peace- 
 fully. At that moment, Josephus informed me 
 that Mr. Eales had sent word that he was very
 
 226 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 low and wished to make his will. Our relations 
 have always been very pleasant, and I could not 
 refuse an old friend's last request." 
 
 The Squire mopped his perspiring forehead 
 and Mrs. Goldfish re-adjusted her lace cap. 
 
 " I found Mr. Pinch in one of his peculiar 
 moods. He was not ready to make his will, but 
 insisted on my remaining with him. I should 
 have done so, but Josephus told the telegraph 
 messenger from Dunmoor where I was, and I 
 received the message. I went at once to Dun- 
 moor, promising Mr. Pinch that I would return 
 early this morning." 
 
 "Did you go to the Hussars Ball?" There 
 was a tone in Mrs. Goldfish's voice which con- 
 veyed a warning that a falsehood might lead to 
 a revelation. To her surprise, perhaps, the 
 Squire replied: 
 
 " I had to go. I was obliged to see a person 
 who was there." 
 
 "And that person was ?'" There was a. 
 steel glint in the woman's eye. 
 
 The Squire, unabashed, said : " Mrs. Margaret 
 Merrily."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 227 
 
 " I thought so ; and what was the very import- 
 ant business that caused you to seek her in a pub- 
 lic place? Why not have waited and seen her at 
 home? You have been there often." 
 
 Mrs. Goldfish could not deprive herself of the 
 opportunity to show her knowledge of her hus- 
 band's whereabouts on certain occasions for vil- 
 lage gossips are accurate and prompt messengers 
 of both good and, presumably, evil news. 
 
 The Squire smiled blandly. His official 
 dignity had served him well at many a trying 
 moment. 
 
 " My dear Eunice " another shrug by Mrs. 
 Goldfish " I am going to tell you a wonderful 
 story a most mysterious coincidence. Every 
 house has its skeleton, every family, except yours, 
 its black sheep. Mine is not an exception to the 
 rule. I had a younger brother; a wild, rollick- 
 ing boy named Hadley. He ran away to sea 
 when but nineteen, and I have never heard from 
 him until I received that wire." 
 
 " Is he coming here? He shan't live in this 
 house." Mrs. Goldfish spoke decidedly.
 
 228 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 " No, my dear, he has gone to his last home 
 he is dead." 
 
 " Is that the mystery? Such events are quite 
 common in this world." Mrs. Goldfish felt re- 
 lieved. She had feared that this scapegrace was 
 to become an inmate of her peaceful home. 
 
 " No, the mystery is coming. It seems he 
 married a young Scotch lassie named Margaret 
 Merrily." 
 
 Mrs. Goldfish hoped inwardly that the Scotch 
 lassie was no relation to that detestable Mrs. 
 Merrily of Middleton-on-Quick. 
 
 " The lassie became Mrs. Hadley Goldfish 
 but in a few months her husband deserted her, 
 and she had never heard from him until I told 
 her of his death." 
 
 " Boddley ! " cried Mrs. Goldfish, as she sprang 
 to her feet. " Do you dare to tell me that Marga- 
 ret Merrily was ever your brother's wife? " 
 
 " Just that," said the Squire, and he shut his 
 jaws with a snap. " You ought to be pleased, for 
 your friends will not trouble you with gossip 
 about me in the future." 
 
 The Squire lay back in his chair. He did not
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 229 
 
 try to follow up his advantage. No good man 
 will humiliate his wife unnecessarily. 
 
 Mrs. Goldfish did not belie her name. She 
 was mute. The blow was so heavy that silence 
 was the only anodyne. The Squire was as jolly 
 as a fox hunter with the brush in hand. 
 
 " On my way back from Dunmoor, with my 
 sister-in-law, I stopped at Mr. Pinch's and he 
 was ready to make his will." 
 
 Mrs. Goldfish roused herself. He should not 
 see that she took the " mystery " much to heart. 
 " Who gets all his money? " 
 
 " I will tell you as soon as he is dead. Doctor 
 Bunch said that he was tough and might last a 
 day or two." 
 
 " You have accounted for part of your time. 
 Where have you been since you left your sister- 
 in-law?" 
 
 " Very busy, officially. On my way from Mr. 
 Pinch's, I met young Stubbs, his cousin Tom, 
 Sally, the servant, and Miss Dane. There has 
 been a rumpus at Stubbs's and he turned them 
 all out of doors, excepting Miss Dane, of course. 
 They had a long story to tell, and then I had
 
 230 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 to see Mr. Quinn and make out a summons for 
 Mr. Stubbs to appear before me to-morrow morn- 
 ing." 
 
 " Where did the children go? " asked Mrs. 
 Goldfish. She had a motherly side to her. There 
 were two little Goldfishes in the village church- 
 yard. Perhaps, if they had lived, her husband 
 would not have received so much of her attention. 
 But it is only really wicked husbands who take 
 advantage of such a situation. 
 
 " That took some time to decide," said the 
 Squire. "At last Miss Dane took Sally home 
 with her, but I had to go and explain matters to 
 old Mr. Larkin and his wife. I put the boys in 
 charge of Mr. Quinn, telling him to hold them as 
 witnesses. And now, my dear, I am very tired, 
 and very hungry, and I'd like my supper." 
 
 The next morning at half-past ten, Squire 
 Goldfish sat in his magisterial chair. Mr. Quinn's 
 injury could not have been as great as he, at 
 first feared, or Dr. Bunch's skill had performed 
 wonders, for the constable had discarded his 
 crutches and limped in, supported by a heavy 
 cane. He was followed by Mr. Stubbs, Johnnie,
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 231 
 
 Sally, Tom, and Daisy. The last mentioned 
 young lady insisted upon coming to see justice 
 done to Tom. 
 
 " Mr. Stubbs,'' said the Squire, " I understand 
 that you acknowledge you owe Thomas Bright 
 one thousand pounds to be repaid when he is 
 of age. Mr. Constable Quinn has placed a docu- 
 ment in my hands which shows that he will 
 reach his majority in less than two months." 
 
 " I've offered him two per cent interest, and I 
 never go back on my word." 
 
 The Squire nodded his approval : " How 
 much money did you have in your business, Mr. 
 Stubbs, when you added Mr. Bright's thousand 
 pounds to your capital? " 
 
 Mr. Stubbs did some mental arithmetic: "At 
 least two thousand pounds, your Honor." 
 
 The Squire nodded again : " I hardly think 
 Mr. Bright is obliged to accept your offer of 
 two per cent interest. If he will carry his* case 
 before the courts, I think they will allow him 
 a third interest in the profits. That would be 
 my decision. You can accept it, Mr. Stubbs, or 
 carry the cas-e before a higher court."
 
 232 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 What Mr. Stubbs intended to say will never be 
 known. While he was cogitating, Josephus 
 entered and whispered in the Squire's ear, re- 
 tiring noiselessly. 
 
 " How opportune ! " said the Squire, and his 
 small audience looked at him inquiringly. " I 
 have just heard something, ladies and gentle- 
 men, which will fill your hearts with sorrow 
 Old Mr. Pinch I mean Mr. Eales is dead." 
 
 Johnnie looked at Sally. He laughed aloud, 
 while she stuffed her handkerchief into her 
 mouth but not to choke her sobs. Tom and 
 Daisy smiled they could not help it. Cry be- 
 cause Old Pinch was dead that grouty old 
 miser? Why, there wasn't a dog in Middleton- 
 on-Quick that wouldn't wag his tail when he 
 heard the news. Mr. Stubbs was wondering if 
 people would laugh when he died when the 
 Squire spoke: 
 
 " Mr. Pinch's death so intimately concerns a 
 person present here, that I feel it my duty to 
 disclose some important information in my pos- 
 session. Mr. Pinch left a fortune of at least ten 
 thousand pounds to his only living relative
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 233 
 
 a niece his only sister's child. That child's 
 name is Drummond Dorothy Drummond." 
 
 Looks of astonishment were on the faces of 
 his listeners. Who was Dorothy Drummond, 
 and what did it matter to anyone there who she 
 was? 
 
 " Before Mr. Pinch died, he told me a strange 
 story. Many years ago his sister sent for him. 
 She was on her death-bed. She had a little 
 daughter whom she confided to his care. He 
 allowed his sister to be buried by the Poor Law 
 Guardians, and escaped caring for his own niece 
 by leaving her on the doorsteps of our good citi- 
 zen, Mr. Stubbs." 
 
 Sally gave a scream and seemed on the verge 
 of hysterics. Johnnie took her in his arms and 
 quieted her. Tom and Daisy congratulated her 
 on her good fortune. 
 
 " I am glad," said the Squire, " that Mr. Pinch 
 has atoned, in some degree, for his lack of family 
 responsibility. Mr. Stubbs, have you decided to 
 carry your case up higher? " 
 
 " Under the circumstances, your Honor, I
 
 234 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 think I'll do full justice while I live, instead of 
 leaving a will to do it for me." 
 
 Impulsive, innocent Daisy went to the old man, 
 put her arms about his neck and kissed him. 
 When she turned away, both had tears in their 
 eyes. 
 
 " Please your Honor," said Sally, " what's my 
 real name? " 
 
 " Dorothy Drummond. Your mother's maiden 
 name was Dorothy Pinch I mean Bales." 
 
 " You won't have that name long," cried 
 Johnnie. " I don't like it. You've always been 
 Sally Smiles, and, with Dad's permission, we'll 
 soon turn it into Sally Stubbs."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 235 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 THE STUFFED BEAR 
 
 RALPH CROWDERS, Lord Dunmoor, was really 
 an unhappy man. In the first place, he was an 
 old bachelor, and such a man leads only half a 
 life. No man, however, resourceful, ever was 
 all he could be without the company, advice, and 
 sympathy of a good woman. At first she might 
 not be his wife, but when he found her to be in- 
 dispensable, then he would insist upon the knot 
 being tied. If the reader doubts this, let him 
 or her read the biographies of the great men of 
 the country. In the second place, Lord Dunmoor 
 had too much money, and he did not know what 
 to do with it. When a man earns money, he 
 appreciates its value, and looks to get its full 
 value when he spends it. If it comes to him un- 
 earned, and, in the case of Lord Dunmoor, un- 
 sought, he is apt to become either a spendthrift 
 or a miser. By no possibility could Lord Dun-
 
 236 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 moor become a spendthrift, nor had he the sav- 
 ing propensities of a miser, but as he did not 
 know how to spend his money, and therefore 
 hoarded it, he became an involuntary miser. 
 
 Lord Dunmoor was not social in his nature. 
 The Castle was large and finely furnished in 
 the old-fashioned style. The conservatory was 
 not full of flowers, but a little of his money 
 would have put them there. The gentry of the 
 neighborhood would have been pleased if they 
 had received invitations to social functions at 
 the Castle. If the Lord had had a wife, the 
 Castle would have been rejuvenated, revivified, 
 and, in time, would have been filled with the 
 laughter of children. 
 
 There was a large library at Dunmoor Castle. 
 The previous Lord had been a bibliophile. He 
 had not filled his library by sending to London 
 for so many feet of books, but each volume had 
 been carefully selected. It was particularly rich 
 in works of travel, and, as the present Lord had 
 spent the greater part of his life as a wanderer 
 in strange lands, this part of the library was 
 its great, in fact its onlj attraction for him. An4
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 237 
 
 jet the reading of these books was not an un- 
 alloyed pleasure, for many a time he had thrown 
 a volume upon the floor declaring that " the 
 whole thing was a lie, because he had been there 
 and had seen for himself and knew that it was 
 not so." 
 
 It is not true that he was without friends. 
 He had made the acquaintance of Captain Sabre- 
 ton, who had become his best friend. The Cap- 
 tain, in turn, had introduced him to several 
 members of his mess, and they had been wel- 
 come guests at the Castle at long intervals. Cap- 
 tain Sabreton, however, was privileged to visit 
 Lord Dunmoor at any time and, as a rule, availed 
 himself of this privilege at least twice a week. 
 
 Christmas day was a long and tedious one to 
 Lord Dunmoor. There were no little stockings 
 hanging under the mantlepiece. He had not 
 felt called upon to patronize the shops in Dun- 
 moor and buy presents for his servants. No, it 
 was much easier to put money in envelopes and 
 give them to Rooth, his butler, to distribute. 
 When he awoke in the morning, there had been 
 no cheerful salutation of " Merry Christmas,"
 
 238 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 and there was no occasion for his lips to so shape 
 themselves as to utter the words. He read some 
 and then walked out upon the terrace; but the 
 air was chilly, and he soon returned to the li- 
 brary with its cheerful fire. Impelled by a curi- 
 osity which he could not have explained, he went 
 upstairs and entered the room in which the pre- 
 vious Lord Dunmoor had died. In one corner 
 stood an old-fashioned desk. With no particular 
 object in view, he opened drawer after drawer 
 and looked the contents over. In one he found 
 a large key, to wthch a card was attached. On 
 the card was written a word which might have 
 been read " Beer " or " Bear." 
 
 "Now, what door can that fit?" he solilo- 
 quized. " Keys are not made except to fit locks." 
 He took the key and visited every locked room in 
 the Castle. Not more than a third of the rooms 
 were in actual use, and those that were not in 
 service had been locked up. The key would not fit 
 any of them. Then he thought of the tower. 
 
 " I don't think there's a room up there, but 
 I'll go and see." 
 
 A long, steep flight of stairs led up to the
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 239 
 
 tower. When he reached it, he saw from its 
 shape that there could be no large room leading 
 from it; but there was a door, and the old key 
 fitted the lock. It was very hard to turn the key, 
 but he was at last successful. The door grated 
 on its rusted hinges as he pulled it open. There 
 was no room, but a closet the back of which con- 
 formed to the circular shape of the tower. There 
 was nothing in the closet but a stuffed bear! 
 He knew that it could not be alive, for the closet 
 must have been locked for months, and if it 
 had been, it would have suffocated long ago. It 
 was an example of the taxidermist's art. He 
 determined to take it to his room and examine it 
 more carefully, so he removed it from the closet 
 and closed and locked the door. Then he re- 
 flected that it would be dangerous to take the 
 bear, which stood four feet high, in his arms and 
 go down the steep stairs. He did not propose 
 to risk a fall, so he went to his room, called the 
 butler, and sent him for a coil of rope. The 
 astonished servant soon returned with it, prob- 
 ably speculating that his master contemplated 
 suicide.
 
 240 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Lord Dunmoor returned to the tower, tied the 
 rope about the bear, and lowered it down to the 
 foot of the stairs. In a short time he had it in 
 his room. He locked the door so that he could 
 contemplate his new acquisition at his leisure. 
 He was soon disturbed, however, by a knock, and 
 Kooth presented Captain Sabreton's card. Lord 
 Dunmoor concealed the bear behind a flowing 
 portiere. 
 
 " Ah, Captain, glad to see you." 
 
 When Lord Dunmoor said this, he was truly 
 glad; at the same time, there was a slight feeling 
 of disappointment that he was not able to con- 
 tinue his examination of the bear. 
 
 " Sorry you didn't come to the ball last even- 
 ing, my lord. We had a splendid time. The most 
 successful affair with which our garrison has 
 ever been connected. The beauty, and the brains, 
 and the wealth of the county were present, with 
 one notable exception," and he bowed low. 
 
 " Ah, thank you, Captain. I did intend to go, 
 but I became interested in a book of travels in 
 Egypt, and as it told about ground which I have 
 been over many times, I will be honest and ac-
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 241 
 
 knowledge that I forgot all about you until it 
 was too late to dress. I presume your lady love 
 was there? " 
 
 " No ; I wished her to go, but I could not in- 
 duce her to do so. There are reasons, of course, 
 which you and I understand " 
 
 " Pardon me, Captain, for what I am going 
 to say. You know I am your friend." 
 
 " You have always shown yourself to be so, 
 my lord." 
 
 " I hope I may some day prove to be a better 
 one than I have yet been. But I am going to ask 
 you a question, and I know you will not be 
 offended. I have no doubt that if you were 
 financially able to do so that you would marry 
 her. Is it not so? " 
 
 The Captain nodded. 
 
 Lord Dunmoor continued : " You know what 
 she is, and I agree with you that she is a most 
 attractive, lovable woman; but do you think it 
 is advisable do you think it is safe to marry 
 her until you know icho she is? " 
 
 " I shall answer you," said Captain Sabreton, 
 <; as the lover does in the melodrama : I do not
 
 242 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 care what her name is, or from where she sprang ; 
 I love the woman, and it is the woman whom 
 I would make my wife." 
 
 " My dear Captain, you are beyond the reach 
 of argument, and I will not indulge in expostula- 
 tion. Now, I have something interesting to show 
 you. I have been making a search through the 
 old rooms of the Castle and I have made a find. 
 What do you think of that? " As he spoke he 
 threw aside the portiere and disclosed the stuffed 
 bear. 
 
 "Ah!" said the Captain. "Quite a large 
 beast. Probably one you shot during your 
 travels, and you had it stuffed and brought it 
 home as a memento of an exciting occasion." 
 
 " That is a natural inference," said Lord Dun- 
 moor, " but it is not the fact. I found an old 
 key in my cousin's desk and I hunted all over 
 the Castle until I found a door that it would fit. 
 The door belonged to a closet, and in that closet 
 I found Mr. Bruin. Since my discovery, I have 
 been ransacking my brain to know why my 
 cousin, the late Lord, should have locked that 
 bear up in that closet, and yet it occurs to me
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 243 
 
 that my butler, Old Rooth, once told me that 
 when Lord Dunmoor was on his deathbed he 
 celled for beer. He had always been partial to 
 that beverage, and a glass of the best brew was 
 brought to him. Instead of drinking it, he 
 pushed it away, and the contents of the glass 
 were thrown all over the bed. He seemed to be 
 angry that his wish had not been understood, 
 but a moment later he fell back in a swoon, from 
 which he never recovered, and died a short time 
 afterwards." 
 
 Military men are obliged to be acute. They 
 are forced to take advantage of circumstances 
 and to decide quickly. There was no previous 
 mental evolution on the part of Captain Sabre- 
 ton, but as soon as Lord Dunmoor had finished, 
 he remarked quickly : " Perhaps he said, * bear.' 
 Was there a will?" 
 
 " His solicitor, Mr. Allardyce, said there was 
 one, he understood, but he did not draw it up. 
 However, it was never found." 
 
 " Well," said the Captain, with a laugh, " you 
 have often told me that you read nothing but 
 works of travel. Now, I read nothing but works
 
 244 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 of fiction, and in many of them I find an eccen- 
 tric old fellow, usually a duke or an earl, who 
 makes out a will and hides it. This is only a 
 guess on my part, but perhaps Lord Dunmoor's 
 will is inside of that hear." 
 
 " By George ! " cried Lord Dunmoor. " You're 
 right! At any rate we can soon find out. I 
 must get a knife." 
 
 " Will this do? " asked Captain Sabreton, and 
 he drew from inside of his blouse a short, sharp- 
 pointed dagger. " I always carry this with me, 
 my lord, when I wear my undress uniform, for 
 some of the boys have got into trouble nights 
 when they were going home late, and it is well 
 to have some weapon of defence. I do not be- 
 lieve in carrying a pistol, for one is too prone 
 to use it at the slightest provocation. The sight 
 of a knife, however, will often repel an attack 
 without loss of life or injury on either side." 
 
 It took but a few moments to cut away the 
 stitches, for the thread was old and virtually 
 rotten. Their search was rewarded by the dis- 
 covery of two documents, one of which was the 
 will of the late Lord Dunmoor, and the other
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 245 
 
 some closely written sheets, tied with a faded 
 blue ribbon, and endorsed in the old Lord's 
 handwriting " An Event in my Life." 
 
 " Read this one first, my dear Captain," said 
 Lord Dunmoor, as he threw himself into an 
 easy-chair and lighted a cigar. " If you can 
 smoke and read at the same time, help yourself," 
 and he pushed the box towards him. " We will 
 read the ' Event ' before we read the will." 
 
 Lord Dunmoor's story may be told briefly, al- 
 though he had taken many pages. He had made 
 a mesalliance. He had fallen in love with the 
 daughter of an inn-keeper, whose hostelry was 
 a few miles from Dunmoor Castle. She was a 
 very pretty, uneducated, English country girl. 
 He did not dare to brave public opinion, and so 
 he induced the girl to elope with him, and they 
 went to France. Her name was Ruth Dunn. 
 While in France he had gone by the name of 
 Herbert Moore. Soon after the birth of his 
 daughter Ruth, his wife sickened and died. He 
 placed the little girl in the charge of an English 
 family, but without disclosing her identity, and 
 made provision for her early education. He had
 
 246 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 returned to England at the death of his father, 
 assumed the title, and took up his residence in 
 the Castle. Whether he had ever contemplated 
 sending for his daughter, the document did not 
 say. 
 
 " I am not surprised," said Lord Dunmoor, 
 when Captain Sabreton had finished reading. 
 " I came here to see him a few years before his 
 death and he seemed to be a very unhappy man." 
 He sighed. " I think it runs in the family. 
 Now, Captain, let us hear what the will says. 
 But before you read it, let me say that I hope he 
 has given away the greater part of his money. 
 I would rather face a lion in the desert with but 
 one shot in my rifle, than be tied to this Castle 
 for life and have the charge of so much money. 
 To whom can I leave it? I shall not marry, and 
 I know of no near relative. Perhaps some day 
 the whole estate will go into chancery and finally 
 escheat to the crown. Perhaps it is just as 
 well. But go on, Captain; read the will." 
 
 Its provisions were simple. One hundred 
 pounds to his faithful butler, Peter Rooth, and 
 many smaller bequests to other faithful servants.
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 247 
 
 Five hundred pounds to his solicitor, Mr. Simon 
 Allardyce, and a like sum to his tailor, Mr. 
 Tobias Whackers. 
 
 " This is getting interesting," said Lord Dun- 
 moor with a laugh. " But I think he is rather 
 parsimonious. He should have made them 
 larger." 
 
 The Captain hesitated. 
 
 " Go on, Captain. You have not come to the 
 end, have you? " 
 
 The Captain's face was flushed and his lips 
 trembled. 
 
 " Go on ! " cried Lord Dunmoor. " I hope he 
 didn't forget his daughter." 
 
 " No," said the Captain, with an effort, " the 
 next item is : ' Fifty thousand pounds to be 
 given outright to my daughter Ruth. The bal- 
 ance of my estate, both real and personal, to 
 my cousin, Ralph Crowders, who is next in line 
 and will succeed to the title.' " 
 
 Lord Dunmoor sprang to his feet. " My dear 
 Captain, his daughter shall have the money. I 
 wish he had given her more. I am a rover by 
 inclination and habit. I love to travel. I have
 
 248 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 never been happy since I came to live in this 
 Castle. I have always felt as though it was a 
 prison. But now I see a chance to free myself, 
 and you are the cause of my delivery." 
 
 " I don't quite understand," stammered the 
 Captain. 
 
 " I will make it plain to you," said Lord Dun- 
 moor. " My advice is, as a friend, do just as I 
 tell you. Sell out your captaincy at once, marry 
 Kuth, come and take charge of this old Castle 
 for me, have your friends come, and instead of 
 the gloom which has surrounded it for so many 
 years, fill it with laughter and the sound of merry 
 voices. As soon as you are married, I shall pack 
 my traveling-bag and hie me forth to the 
 pleasures of old. I may never come back, but 
 before I go I shall arrange it that in case I do not 
 return, all I leave behind me shall be hers and 
 yours. Horatio, for the first time since I came 
 to the Castle, I am a satisfied man, but when I 
 get to Africa I shall be more I shall be a happy 
 man."
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 249 
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 JOHN B. STUBBS, SON, & CO. 
 
 AFTER being driven from home, Sally was wel- 
 comed by Grandpa and Grandma Larkin, for 
 Daisy's wishes were law to them. Tom and 
 Johnnie found a good friend in Mr. Quinn, for, 
 to their credit be it said, they had never been 
 among his tormentors. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs returned from Squire Goldfish's 
 improvised court in a subdued frame of mind. 
 What a change had taken place in a single day ! 
 He had regarded himself as one of the leading 
 citizens' in Middleton-on-Quick, but his foolish 
 experience had led to an outburst of passion by 
 which he had lowered, himself in the estimation 
 of all. He had. driven his own flesh and blood 
 from his door and why? Because he himself 
 had failed to carry out a cherished but, as he 
 saw now, a foolish, impossible scheme. They had
 
 250 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 been made to suffer, not for their own fault, 
 but for his. How should he redeem himself, and 
 regain his old footing? His conscience spoke 
 loud and clear Do the Right! But what was 
 " the right? " Tom must have his money and the 
 profits due him. The Squire had settled that, 
 for he would not appeal from his decision. That 
 affair was settled. Sally was an heiress no 
 longer his scullion. He was ashamed that he had 
 called Mr. Eales's niece by such a name but he 
 had not known her origin. She had been a name- 
 less waif when she came to him conscience said 
 she was poor and friendless, and you should 
 have tried to uplift her instead of crowding her 
 down. He felt that he had been a wicked old 
 man, but he would make amends. 
 
 " Come, Johnnie, we have a visit to make." 
 His son followed him without a word of ques- 
 tioning. His father's disgrace had silenced his 
 tongue and quenched his usual flow of uncon- 
 scious, and therefore, natural humor. 
 
 Mr. Stubbs knocked at Grandpa Larkin's door. 
 Toby's resonant bark drew both Daisy and Sally 
 to the door. They were both astonished when
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 251 
 
 they recognized their visitors, but they were 
 welcomed cordially by all, not excepting Tom, 
 who was too elated by his good fortune to bear 
 enmity against the one from whom it came. 
 
 " I am a man of few words," said Mr. Stubbs. 
 " The law has righted one wrong, and death the 
 other. I have thought it all over. Tom loves 
 Daisy and he has my consent, if he 'thinks he 
 needs it, to marry her. My son Johnnie loves 
 Sally, and I will welcome her as a daughter. No 
 thanks to me, after all, for this, for you could 
 all do as you pleased without my consent. But 
 one thing I can do, and will. On New Year's 
 day I will take Johnnie and Tom into partner- 
 ship with me, and the proprietors of the little 
 red mill will be 
 
 JOHN B. STUBBS, SON, & COMPANY." 
 
 Our story is nearly told. Of course, Captain 
 Sabreton sold his commission, married the little 
 milliner, filled the old Castle with guests and 
 gayety, while Boots drove the peacocks from the 
 terrace and made it his own preserve.
 
 252 THE TOYMAKERS 
 
 Mr. Toby Whackers caught the matrimonial 
 fever, and Miss Jennie Jamieson Jones became 
 Mrs. Whackers. 
 
 " What am I, Toby? " she asked, as they en- 
 tered their home after the ceremony, and he an- 
 swered : 
 
 " You are my little goose ! " 
 
 Mr. Quinn's accident unfitted him for his 
 duties as constable, and he resigned his position 
 to become Dr. Bunch's right-hand man, his prin- 
 cipal duty being to compound drugs to cure the 
 small boys who had troubled him so in the past. 
 
 Mrs. Hadley Goldfish, formerly Mrs. Margaret 
 Merrily, put on widow's weeds. She removed 
 Mrs. Squire Goldfish's fears of an unwelcome 
 intrusion by buying Mrs. Sabreton's millinery 
 shop and carrying it on with her dressmaking 
 establishment, at the same time announcing to 
 her patrons that her shop and her residence 
 would continue to be in the same building. Mrs. 
 Squire Goldfish, though re-assured, remained 
 frigid until her husband's sister-in-law, as she 
 had always called her to her associates, suggested 
 that she had a beautiful dress and a lovely bon-
 
 THE TOYMAKERS 253 
 
 net from London that would exactly suit a 
 Squire's wife. It was not a simple victory it 
 was a conquest, and after Mrs. Squire Goldfish 
 had caused every neck in the village church to 
 turn and behold her new finery, she told Mrs. 
 Brythe-Wardner, her most intimate friend, that 
 " Sister Margaret was a perfect jewel." 
 
 If we could look into two homes' in Middleton- 
 on-Quick, we should find Mrs. Thomas Bright 
 and Mrs. John B. Stubbs, Jr., engaged in house- 
 keeping duties. Mr. Bright and Mr. Stubbs, Jr., 
 would be discovered packing boxes of toys for 
 the London market, or making entries of sales. 
 By the fire in the " best room " we should see 
 Mr. Stubbs, Sr., in his easy-chair, placidly smok- 
 ing his pipe and listening, with a smile on his 
 rugged old face, to the voices of the toymakers 
 singing at their work. 
 
 THE END.
 
 READ THE BOOK AND SEE THE PLAY 
 
 Blennerhassett 
 
 By CHARLES FELTON PIDGIN 
 The Author of " Quincy Adams Sawyer" 
 
 A VIGOROUS, VIVID, MASTERFUL ROMANCE. 
 
 This splendid story is woven around the most interesting 
 incidents in the lives of Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, 
 
 Theodosia Burr, 
 Harmon Blenner- 
 hassett, his wife 
 Margaret and 
 Thomas Jefferson. 
 An absorbing Love 
 Story is carried thro' 
 the narrative. 
 
 "The incidents of the 
 play are intensely dra- 
 matic." Boston Globe. 
 
 
 
 "A brave book and 
 a story forcefully and 
 clearly told. " Chicago 
 Record-Herald. 
 
 Blennerhassett has been dramatized by H. Grattan Donnelly, 
 and is now touring the country with great success. 
 
 READ THIS MOST-TALKED-ABOUT-BOOK OF THE 
 DAY ! THEN SEE THIS GREAT AMERICAN PLAY. 
 
 Handsomely Bound and Illustrated. Price $1.50 and 75c. 
 
 The C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., Boston, Mass.
 
 YOU WILL LIKE THIS GIRL 
 
 Miss Petticoats 
 
 By DWIGHT T1LTON 
 Author of "My Lady Laughter" and "On Satan's Mount" 
 
 This is a powerful, dramatic story of 
 love and ambition. 
 
 AGATHA RENIER (Miss Petticoats) is 
 an unusually attractive heroine. Proud 
 spirited, warm hearted and of a fine, 
 noble character you can't help 
 loving her. 
 
 With her quick wit she early dis- 
 cerns the shams of so-call- 
 ed "Society" and in the 
 end finds all that is best 
 and worth while in life. 
 
 The plot is all absorb- 
 ing and cleverly develops 
 the eternal truth that 
 
 There is no Sex in Sin. ' ' 
 
 "Miss Petticoats" has 
 been dramatized by Til- 
 ton Richardson and is 
 now being played with 
 great success throughout the 
 country. & i j% i 
 
 Handsomely illustrated in colors. Price $1.50 and 75c. 
 
 READ THE BOOK AND SEE THE PLAY 
 
 The C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., Boston, Mass.
 
 dtdamy Sawyer 
 
 by CHARLES FELTON PIDGIN 
 
 Author of Blennerhassett 
 
 A RATTLING GOOD HOMESPUN TALE 
 
 "The Best New England Story Ever Written" 
 
 <[It s as 
 
 sweetly 
 natural as the 
 breath of 
 the fields. 
 
 Philadelphia 
 Telegraph 
 
 Mason's Corner Folks, 
 
 "The Village gossips wondered who ha was, 
 hat be was, what he came for. and tow 
 'long be intended to stay." 
 
 absolutely 
 true picture 
 of New 
 England 
 life and 
 character. 
 Boston 
 
 Transcript 
 
 Over 400,000 copies of this book have been sold 
 
 Artistically Bound and Illustrated. Price $1.50 and 75c. 
 
 Quincy Adams Sawyer, dramatized by Justin 
 
 Adams, has been played before crowded 
 
 houses everywhere. 
 
 'The MOST WHOLESOME PLAY on the American Stage 
 
 The C. M. Clark Publishing Co., Boston, Mass.
 
 Read the Book and See the Play 
 
 Hope Hathaway 
 
 By FRANCES PARKER 
 Author of MARJIE OF THE LOWER RANCH" 
 
 A BREEZY STORY OF WESTERN LIFE 
 FULL OF DASH AND SPIRITED ACTION 
 
 4I An exciting tale 
 of love and advent- 
 ure, with the far- 
 stretching plains of 
 Montana asan invig- 
 orating background. 
 ^Hope Hathaway 
 makes a brave and 
 fascinating heroine. 
 With all her won- 
 derful courage and 
 fearless independ- 
 ence she is just a 
 winsome, lovable 
 young girl. 
 
 With each $f.jO 
 copy of the book -we 
 give, free, a set of 
 8 stunning -pictures 
 by the "Coivdoy ar- 
 tist," Charles M. 
 Russell. 
 
 Popular Edition &>)> 75c- 
 
 Hope Hathaway has been cleverly dramatized 
 by E. A. Locke &nd is being played 
 
 throughout the country. 
 See_Thi^Great Play of Montana Ranch Life 
 
 The C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., Boston, Mass.
 
 A 000132784