Page:Georgie by Dorothea Deakin, 1906.djvu/197

The Scarlet Runner Told me to give up his address and the five pounds when he was well out of the way, and then he asked me if I funked the owner's wrath. Of course I said I didn't. I said I thought it was a giddy lark, and so it was."

His sister was speechless. Dickie went on:

"He got in and began to turn the thing's silly handles. He tried and tried, but it must have been quite different from his own, for nothing happened. Georgie got redder and redder, and at last he sat quite still and gave it up."

"Oh, Dickie—what did he say?"

"He said 'Damn!'" said Dickie earnestly. "And then the swing door of the shop swung open, and the owner came out!"

"Dickie!"

"Yes, it did; with Georgie sitting there saying it. I don't wonder she was surprised."

"She?"

"Yes, it was a girl. A pretty sort of 181