The fact that he was barefooted did not seem to bother
her and she treated him exactly as though his clothes were whole
instead of torn and poorly patched.
Now when she asked him why he had thrown the tar, it was hard for
him to tell the truth. But he did. When Mickey once made up his
mind to do a thing, he always went through with it.
"It was 'count of the barbwire," Mickey explained in a low voice.
"I didn't know you put it up, and I climbed the fence one night,
to scare you through the window, and I thought you'd run out and
chase me. And I tore my coat on the wire and scratched my face. So
after that I was always looking for a chance to get even."
"When I saw the tar, I came back after supper and made Nina carry
it for me while I slung it--we had a tin bucket. I'm awful sorry,
Miss Putnam; honest I am!"
"But--did you let me send a policeman to the Morrison's house?"
asked Miss Putnam uncertainly.
"I never knew about that till just before I came here to work,"
said Mickey earnestly. "And ever since I've felt mean as dirt, not
telling. Nina is just as old as Betty. It wasn't her fault--
Nina's, I mean; she does whatever I tell her to."
"Well, I'll go call on Mrs.
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