CHAPTER VII
A THIEF IN THE NIGHT
"Ladies and gentlemen," cried Hippy. "We have a noble animal for salehere. He is tame and gentle. A lady could ride him without fear. He seesequally well out of both eyes and is neither lame nor spavined. If youwill just stand back a little we will let you see his paces."
The crowd drew back on either side of the lane between the rows of tentsand booths and from somewhere in the back there was heard a great pawingand trampling, with cries of "Whoa, there! Whoa, there, Lightning!"
Then down the aisle there dashed the most absurd comic animal that hadever been seen in Oakdale. A dilapidated old horse, with crooked legsand sunken sides through which its ribs protruded. He had widelydistended nostrils and his mouth drawn back over huge teeth. One ear layflat, while the other stood up straight and wiggled, and his glazed eyesstared wildly. On his wobbly back sat David, dressed like a jockey andflourishing a whip.
"Gentlemen," went on Hippy, "you here behold an animal of splendidparts. He is pasture-fed and as gentle as a lamb, never kicks--"
The strange animal here kicked out one of his hind legs so wildly thatDavid was obliged to hold on with both arms to keep from falling off.
"He has a happy, sunny nature, ladies. Is there any one present whowould like to try his gait? Ten cents a ride."
The horse crossed his front legs and sat down on his haunches with anair of patient endurance. There were roars of laughter and no oneenjoyed the fun more than Miss Thompson.
"I declare, Hippy, I should like to have a ride on the back of thatanimal!" she exclaimed, producing ten cents.
David leaped to the ground and gallantly assisted the principal tomount, while Hippy whispered something into the ear of the horse.
The animal trotted gently up to one end of the room and back, depositingMiss Thompson safely on her feet.
Miriam Nesbit then took a trial ride and no bucking bronco everexhibited such traits of character as did that battered-lookingquadruped. Miriam was obliged to jump down amid the cheers of thecompany. Many people rode that night, and rides went up to twenty-fiveand even fifty cents, until finally the poor, tired animal lay flat onthe floor in an attitude of complete exhaustion. Then Hippy undidseveral hooks and eyes along the imaginary line which divided Lightningin half, and there came forth, very warm and fatigued, Tom Gray andReddy Brooks.
On the whole the bazaar was proving an unqualified success. Peopleentered into the spirit of the thing and spent their money without amurmur.
Eleanor's confetti proved a drawing card, and young people and oldwandered about, bestowing handfuls of it upon their friends whenever agood opportunity presented itself.
Long before the fair was over Grace and Anne retired to one end of thegypsy encampment to begin counting the proceeds of their labors. Thegirls in charge of the various booths turned in their money almost asrapidly as they made it, and by the time the crowd had begun to thin thegirls had arrived at a tolerably correct estimate of what the bazaar hadnetted them.
"Is it possible that I have counted correctly, Anne!" exclaimed Grace toher friend, who was helping to sort small silver into various piles.
"I don't know," said Anne, "it looks like a lot of money. How much doesit all come to?"
"Roughly speaking, nearly five hundred dollars. Just think of that."
"Splendid!" cried Anne, clasping her hands joyfully. "But what shall weput it in?"
"I shall put it in this iron box of father's. You see, it has acombination lock and he loaned it to me to-night just for this purpose.As soon as the rest of the money is in I'll lock it and he will takecharge of it. Will you go and find him?"
Anne departed and Grace began to deposit the money in the box, smilingto herself at the success of their undertaking.
The few remaining people who were now taking leave of each other hadconcentrated in one spot. There was a loud buzz of conversation andlaughter, when suddenly, without a moment's warning, the electric lightswent out. The gasoline torches had burned down by now and the place wasin utter darkness.
Somewhere in the hall there was a cry, the sound of scuffling and thenabsolute silence.
Many of the men began to strike matches and peer into the darkness, andat last David groped his way over to a corner of the hall where heremembered he had seen the switch. As he felt for the electric buttonhis hand encountered another hand, that grasped his with an iron grip,gave his wrist a vicious twist, pushed him violently away and was gone.David gave an involuntary cry of pain as he felt for the switch again.In another moment he had found it and the hall was again flooded withlight. Instantly he looked about for the vicious person who had twistedhis wrist, but he was alone in that part of the hall.
The excitements of that evening, however, were not yet at an end. Peoplebegan running toward the last booth. There were cries and exclamations,and David, who had followed quickly after them, arrived there just intime to meet Mr. Harlowe carrying the limp figure of his daughter Gracein his arms. He deposited her on four chairs placed in a row, a bottleof smelling salts was put to her nose, while Hippy and Reddy ran forwater.
Grace opened her eyes almost immediately and sat up.
"I'm not hurt," she said. "I was only stunned. Some one hit me on thehead from behind, but my cap softened the blow. They were trying to getthe box of money. Oh, is it gone?" she cried anxiously.
David and Tom examined the booth.
The money was gone.