human
I had to run down to Mrs. Doyle's for Daddy Doctor, she explained.
gpt
Poor little Johnny is dreadfully sick. He never really recovered from the shock, or the cold, when he fell into the sewer basin. He's such a poor, weak little thing now. It would make your heart ache to see him, Laura.
human
Lil says that Hester goes there all the time, and that she's always doing something for Rufe, or the rest of them,
gpt
I know, she said.
human
I saw Hester and Rufie in the park together the other day. They seem to be very good friends. And I'm sorry.
gpt
Why--for pity's sake?
human
Why, father is on the Board of Education this year, you know, and he told us--but you mustn't repeat it!--that Bill Jackway had admitted that the night the gym. was first raided Rufus slipped into the building unbeknown to him early in the evening, and was there until after midnight. Then he cried to go home, being afraid, he said. But Jackway let him out without ever making the rounds of the gym., and so he doesn't know for sure whether the damage to the apparatus was done while Rufe was there, or afterward.
gpt
My goodness me! gasped Nellie.
human
How awful!
gpt
Could it be that half-foolish boy, do you suppose?
human
He isn't so foolish. Rufe is dreadfully cunning about some things, replied Laura.
gpt
Think of those footprints in the athletic field. I _know_ the person who made them walked backwards. Maybe Rufe got into the gym. again unknown to his uncle; and he'd be just sharp enough to get out of that window backward and so reach the fence.
human
And he could be hired to do that for a little money,
gpt
Oh, I wouldn't say that! exclaimed Nellie.
human
It's too dreadful.
gpt
But Mr. Jackway can't make Rufe admit it. The boy won't speak. And the Board doesn't know what to do about it, Laura said.
human
Now, I've told you girls this; don't let it go any farther.