Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/137

Rh and they came over with Ben to call on the other boys, and on the girls.

"This is fierce!" was Buster's comment. "And Ben says you rather suspect Merwell and Jasniff," he added, in a whisper.

"We do, but don't say anything to any outsiders about it," answered Dave.

"Say, that puts me in mind of a story," said Shadow. "A little girl once"

"Wow! Cut it out, Shadow!" burst out Phil.

"Stories don't go with robberies," supplemented Roger.

"Let him tell it," put in Dave, with a faint smile. "It will relieve his mind, and I guess I need a little fun to brace me up—I've been so depressed lately."

"This isn't so very much of a story," went on Shadow, as all looked at him. "Dave telling Buster not to let outsiders know put me in mind of it. Once the mother of a little girl told her that her uncle had been naughty and had been put in prison for it. Said the mother, 'Now, Lucy, don't tell anybody.' So Lucy went out to play and pretty soon, when she had all her companions around her she said, 'What do you think my ma said? She said that when anybody has an uncle in prison, like my uncle is, you mustn't tell