CHAPTER XXIII SOMEBODY COMES

utbeforeshecouldaddachidingwordtothedog,Sanchgaveanexcitedhowl,andflewattheman'sthroatasifabouttothrottlehim. Bettyscreamed,andBabwasabouttogototherescuewhenbothperceivedthatthedogwaslickingthestranger'sfaceinanecstasyofjoy,andheardthemansayashehuggedthecurlybeast,— "GoodoldSanch!Iknewhewouldn'tforgetmaster,andhedoesn't." "What'sthematter?"calledBen,comingupbriskly,withastronggripofhisstoutstick.Therewasnoneedofanyanswer,for,ashecameintotheshadow,hesawtheman,andstoodlookingathimasifhewereaghost. "It'sfather,Bennydon'tyouknowme?"askedtheman,withanoddsortofchokeinhisvoice,ashethrustthedogaway,andheldoutbothhandstotheboy.Downdroppedthenuts,andcrying,"Oh,Daddy,Daddy!"Bencasthimselfintothearmsoftheshabbyvelveteencoat,whilepoorSanchtoreroundthemindistractedcircles,barkingwildly,asifthatwastheonlywayinwhichhecouldventhisrapture. WhathappenednextBabandBettyneverstoppedtosee,but,droppingfromtheirroost,theywentflyinghomelikestartledChickenLittleswiththeastoundingnewsthat"Ben'sfatherhascomealive,andSanchoknewhimrightaway!" Mrs.Mosshadjustgothercleaningdoneup,andwasrestingaminutebeforesettingthetable,butsheflewoutofheroldrocking-chairwhentheexcitedchildrentoldthewonderfultale,exclaimingastheyended,— "Whereishe?Gobringhimhere.Ideclareitfairlytakesmybreathaway!" BeforeBabcouldobey,orhermothercomposeherself,Sanchobouncedinandspunroundlikeaninsanetop,tryingtostandonhishead,walkupright,waltzandbarkallatonce,forthegoodoldfellowhadsolosthisheadthatheforgotthelossofhistail. "Theyarecoming!theyarecoming!See,Ma,whatanicemanheis,"saidBab,hoppingaboutononefootasshewatchedtheslowlyapproachingpair. "Mypatience,don'ttheylookalike!IshouldknowhewasBen'sPaanywhere!"saidMrs.Moss,runningtothedoorinahurry. Theycertainlydidresembleoneanother,anditwasalmostcomicaltoseethesamecurveinthelegs,thesamewide-awakestyleofwearingthehat,thesamesparkleoftheeye,good-naturedsmileandagilemotionofeverylimb.OldBencarriedthebaginonehandwhileyoungBenheldtheotherfast,lookingalittleshame-facedathisownemotionnow,forthereweremarksoftearsonhischeeks,buttoogladtorepressthedelighthefeltthathehadreallyfoundDaddythissideheaven. Mrs.Mossunconsciouslymadeaprettylittlepictureofherselfasshestoodatthedoorwithherhonestfaceshiningandbothhandsont,sayinginaheartytone,whichwasawelcomeinitself, "I'mrealgladtoseeyousafeandwell,Mr.Brown!Comerightinandmakeyourselftohome.Iguessthereisn'tahappierboylivingthanBenisto-night." "AndIknowthereisn'tagratefulermanlivingthanIamforyourkindnesstomypoorforsakenlittlefeller,"answeredMr.Brown,droppingbothhisburdenstogivethecomelywoman'shandsahardshake. "Nowdon'tsayawordaboutit,butsitdownandrest,andwe'llhaveteainless'nnotime.Benmustbetiredandhungry,thoughhe'ssohappyIdon'tbelieveheknowsit,"laughedMrs.Moss,bustlingawaytohidethetearsinhereyes,anxioustomakethingssociableandeasyallround. Withthisendinviewshesetforthherbest