the side street。 A little curiosity straggled after him in the shape of
small Dutch boys； too short to look over the shoulders of men at the
queens； and too weak to make their way through them to the front； but for
them； Boyne seemed alone in the world with the relentless officers； who
were dragging him forward and hurting him so with the grip of their iron
hands。 He lifted up his face to entreat them not to hold him so tight；
and suddenly it was as if he beheld an angel standing in his path。 It
was Breckon who was there； staring at him aghast。
〃Why； Boyne！〃 he cried。
〃Oh； Mr。 Breckon！〃 Boyne wailed back。 〃Is it you？ Oh； do tell them I
didn't mean to do anything！ I thought she beckoned to me。〃
〃Who？ Who beckoned to you？〃
〃The Queen！〃 Boyne sobbed； while the detectives pulled him relentlessly
on。
Breckon addressed them suavely in their owe tongue which had never come
in more deferential politeness from human lips。 He ventured the belief
that there was a mistake； he assured them that he knew their prisoner；
and that he was the son of a most respectable American family； whom they
could find at the Kurhaus in Scheveningen。 He added some irrelevancies；
and got for all answer that they had made Boyne's arrest for sufficient
reasons； and were taking him to prison。 If his friends wished to
intervene in his behalf they could do so before the magistrate； but for
the present they must admonish Mr。 Breckon not to put himself in the way
of the law。
〃Don't go； Mr。 Breckon！〃 Boyne implored him； as his captors made him
quicken his pace after slowing a little for their colloquy with Breckon。
〃Oh； where is poppa？ He could get me away。 Oh； where is poppa？〃
〃Don't！ Don't call out； Boyne；〃 Breckon entreated。 〃Your father is
right here at the end of the street。 He's in the carriage there with
Miss Kenton。 I was coming to look for you。 Don't cry out so！〃
〃No； no； I won't； Mr。 Breckon。 I'll be perfectly quiet now。 Only do get
poppa quick！ He can tell them in a minute that it's all right！〃
He made a prodigious effort to control himself； while Breckon ran a
little ahead； with some wild notion of preparing Ellen。 As he
disappeared at the corner； Boyne choked a sob into a muffed bellow； and
was able to meet the astonished eyes of his father and sister in this
degree of triumph。
They had not in the least understood Breckon's explanation； and； in fact；
it had not been very lucid。 At sight of her brother strenuously upheld
between the detectives； and dragged along the sidewalk； Ellen sprang from
the carriage and ran towards him。 〃Why； what's the matter with Boyne？〃
she demanded。 〃Are you hurt； Boyne； dear？ Are they taking him to the
hospital？〃
Before he could answer； and quite before the judge could reach the
tragical group； she had flung her arms round Boyne's neck； and was
kissing his tear…drabbled face； while he lamented back； 〃They're taking
me to prison。〃
〃Taking you to prison？ I should like to know what for！ What are you
taking my brother to prison for？〃 she challenged the detectives； who
paused； bewildered； while all the little Dutch boys round admired this
obstruction of the law； and several Dutch housewives； too old to go out
to see the queens； looked down from their windows。 It was wholly
illegal； but the detectives were human。 They could snub such a friend of
their prisoner as Breckon； but they could not meet the dovelike ferocity
of Ellen with unkindness。 They explained as well as they might； and at a
suggestion which Kenton made through Breckon； they admitted that it was
not beside their duty to take Boyne directly to a magistrate； who could
pass upon his case； and even release him upon proper evidence of his
harmlessness； and sufficient security for any demand that justice might
make for his future appearance。
〃Then；〃 said the judge； quietly； 〃tell them that we will go with them。
It will be all right； Boyne。 Ellen； you and I will get back into the
carriage； and〃
〃No！〃 Boyne roared。 〃Don't leave me； Nelly！〃
〃Indeed； I won't leave you； Boyne！ Mr。 Breckon； you get into the
carriage with poppa； and I〃
〃I think I had better go with you； Miss Kenton；〃 said Breckon； and in a
tender superfluity they both accompanied Boyne on foot； while the judge
remounted to his place in the carriage and kept abreast of them on their
way to the magistrate's。
XXIV。
The magistrate conceived of Boyne's case with a readiness that gave the
judge a high opinion of his personal and national intelligence。 He even
smiled a little； in accepting the explanation which Breckon was able to
make him from Boyne； but he thought his duty to give the boy a fatherly
warning for the future。 He remarked to Breckon that it was well for
Boyne that the affair had not happened in Germany； where it would have
been found a much more serious matter； though； indeed； he added； it had
to be seriously regarded anywhere in these times； when the lives of
sovereigns were so much at the mercy of all sorts of madmen and
miscreants。 He relaxed a little from his severity in his admonition to
say directly to Boyne that queens； even when they wished to speak with
people； did not beckon them in the public streets。 When this speech
translated to Boyne by Breckon； whom the magistrate complimented on the
perfection of his Dutch； Boyne hung his head sheepishly； and could not be
restored to his characteristic dignity again in the magistrate's
presence。 The judge gratefully shook hands with the friendly justice；
and made him a little speech of thanks； which Breckon interpreted； and
then the justice shook hand with the judge； and gracefully accepted the
introduction which he offered him to Ellen。 They parted with reciprocal
praises and obeisances； which included even the detectives。 The judge
had some question； which he submitted to Breckon； whether he ought not to
offer them something； but Breckon thought not。
Breckon found it hard to abdicate the sort of authority in which his
knowledge of Dutch had placed him； and when he protested that he had done
nothing but act as interpreter； Ellen said； 〃Yes； but we couldn't have
done anything without you；〃 and this was the view that Mrs。 Kenton took
of the matter in the family conclave which took place later in the
evening。 Breckon was not allowed to withdraw from it； in spite of many
modest efforts； before she had bashfully expressed her sense of his
service to him； and made Boyne share her thanksgiving。 She had her arm
about the boy's shoulder in giving Breckon her hand； and when Breckon had
got away she pulled Boyne to her in a more peremptory embrace。
〃Now； Boyne；〃 she said； 〃I am not going to have any more nonsense。 I
want to know why you did it。〃
The judge and Ellen had already conjectured clearly enough； and Boyne did
not fear them。 But he looked at his younger sister as he sulkily
answered； 〃I am not going to tell you before Lottie。〃
〃Come in here； then；〃 said his mother； and she led him into the next room
and closed the door。 She quickly returned without him。 〃Yes；〃 she
began； 〃it's just as I supposed； it was that worthless fellow who put him
up to it。 Of course； it began with those fool books he's been reading；
and the notions that Miss Rasmith put into his head。 But he never would
have done anything if it hadn't been for Mr。 Trannel。〃
Lottie had listened in silent scorn to the whole proceedings up to this
point； and had refused a part in the general recognition of Breckon as a
special providence。 Now she flashed out with a terrible volubility：
〃What did I tell you？ What else could you expect of a Cook's tourist？
And mom mother wanted to make me go with you； after I told her what he
was！ Well； if I had have gone； I'll bet I could have kept him from
playing his tricks。 I'll bet he wouldn't have taken any liberties； with
me along。 I'll bet if he had； it wouldn't have been Boyne that got
arrested。 I'll bet he wouldn't have got off so easily with the
magistrate； either！ But I suppose you'll all let him come bowing and
smiling round in the morning； like butter wouldn't melt in your mouths。
That seems to be the Kenton way。 Anybody can pull our noses； or get us
arrested that wants to； and we never squeak。〃 She went on a long time to
this purpose； Mrs。 Kenton listening with an air almost of conviction； and
Ellen patiently bearing it as a right that Lottie had in a matter where
she had been otherwise ignored。
The judge broke out； not upon Lottie； but upon his wife。 〃Good heavens；
Sarah； can't you make the child hush？〃
Lottie answered for her mother； with a crash of nerves and a gush of
furious tears： 〃Oh； I've got to hush； I suppose。 It's always the way
when I'm trying to keep up the dignity of the family。 I suppose it will
be cabled to America； and by tomorrow it will be all over Tuskingum how
Boyne was made a fool of and got arrested。 But I bet there's one person
in Tuskingum that won't have any remarks to make； and that's Bittridge。
Not； as long as Dick's there he won't。〃
〃Lottie！〃 cried her mother； and her father started towards her； while
Ellen still sat patiently quiet。
〃Oh； well！〃 Lottie submitted。 〃But if Dick was here I know this Trannel
wouldn't get off so smoothly。 Dick would give him a worse cowhiding than
he did Bittridge。〃
Half the last word was lost in the bang of the door which Lottie slammed
behind her； leaving her father and mother to a silence which Ellen did
not offer to break。 The judge had no heart to speak； in his dismay； and
it was Mrs。 Kenton who took the word。
〃Ellen；〃 she began； with compassionate gentleness； 〃 we tried to keep it
from you。 We knew how you would feel。 But now we have got to tell you。
Dick did cowhide him when he got back to Tuskingum。 Lottie wrote out to
Dick about it； how Mr。 Bittridge had behaved in New York。 Your father
and I didn't approve of it； and Dick didn't afterwards； but； yes； he did
do it。〃
〃I knew it； momma；〃 said Ellen； sadly。
〃You knew it！ How？〃
〃That other letter I got when we first cameit was from his mother。〃
〃Did she tell〃
〃Yes。 It was terrible she seemed to feel so。 And I was sorry for her。
I thought I ought to