Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/79

68 Open de door, little Missy, kase dere's a pow'ful fuss 'roun' here!

Just for an instant Dorothy hesitated. She realized that it might not be prudent to trust the old servant with the secret of the spy's whereabouts, for the troublous times in which the little maid lived had caused her to be cautious beyond her years, and then she said in a tone of command:

"Go straight back and find mother. We are locked in here, so no harm can befall us, and she may need you."

It is possible that Scipio might have questioned any other order which involved leaving his young mistress with whose care he had been charged; but to return to the scene of the festivities under a positive command which would absolve him from all blame, was too tempting to be resisted.

"Is yer suah yo' wants me ter go?" he asked as if to soothe his own conscience.

"Of course I am," Dorothy replied sharply. "No harm came to us while you were loitering outside and the door was unfastened, therefore now that it is locked we shall be safe."

"An' yo' ain't a teeny littly bit 'fraid?"

"We are getting on famously, and you may tell mother so, though I hope she will come soon."

"Den I'se gwine."