Page:Ruth Fielding at Lighthouse Point.djvu/185

Rh chuckled Ruth. "At least, I know now that she was speaking of you, sir."

"She hit me off right," sighed Mr. Hicks. "I hadn't never been used to spending money. But, laws, child! I got enough. I been some waked up since I come East. Folks spend money here, that's a fact."

They found Mother Purling's door opened at the foot of the lighthouse shaft, and the flutter of an apron on the balcony told them that the old lady had climbed to the lantern.

"She doesn't often do that," said Heavy. "Crab does all the cleaning and polishing up there."

"He's left her without any help, then," Ruth suggested. "That's what it means."

And truly, that is what it did mean, as they found out when Ruth, the Cameron twins, and the Westerner climbed the spiral staircase to the gallery outside the lantern.

"Yes; that Crab ain't been here this morning," Mother Purling admitted when Ruth explained that there was reason for Mr. Hicks wishing to see him. "He told me he was mebbe going off for a few days. 'Then you send me a substitute, Jack Crab,' I told him; but he only laughed and said he wasn't going to send a feller here to work into his job. He is handy, I allow. But I'm too old to be left all stark alone at this light. I'm going