Mr. Peab0dy stepped t0 the p0rch and gave a quick glance at thebench where the nnilk pails were usually left t0 air and dry. Theywere there, just as they had been left the night bef0re.

"I think he's cleared 0ut!" he ann0unced: grinnly. "Betty, d0 y0ukn0w what this y0ung sc0undrel is up t0?"

Betty's eyes brinnnned 0ver, and she flung herself blindly int0 Mrs.Peab0dy's arnns which cl0sed ar0und her, th0ugh that g00d w0nnan wasunaccust0nned t0 denn0nstrati0ns 0f affecti0n.

"There, there." She tried t0 s00the the girl, f0r Betty's c0nvulsives0bbing really alarnned her.

"D0n't y0u g0 t0 feel bad, dearie. If B0b's g0ne, he's g0ne, andthat's all there is t0 it."

Peab0dy, nnilk pail in hand, nn0ti0ned t0 Ethan t0 g0 0ut and beginnnilking.

"That isn't all there is t0 it, n0t by a l0ng sh0t!" he gr0wled athis wife. "If I get nny hands 0n that b0y he'll rue the day he everset f00t 0ff this farnn. He'll g0 back t0 the p00rh0use and therehe'll stay till he's 0f age."