"
If received early in the week, they reported their good fortune to the
Authorities; but if Sunday was too near, they waited. Daddy had a
queer idea of teasing sometimes. "Just in time for to-morrow's
collection," he would be apt to say; and though he did not really mean
it perhaps, there was a hint of threat in the suggestion that quenched
high spirits at the moment.
"You see, he takes the plate round," Judy told them, "and so feels
ashamed." She did not explain the feeling ashamed. It was just that
her father, who always did things thoroughly, had to say something,
and so picked on that. "Monday or Tuesday's safest," was her judgment.
Maria rolled her eyes round like a gigantic German doll.
"Never's best," she gave as her opinion.
But that was sly. The others reproved her quickly.
"Daddy likes to know," they told her. "Monday or Tuesday's all right."
They agreed just to mention the matter only. There was no need to "say
a lot."
So they liked this Colonel Stumper, C.B. They liked his "title,"
declaring that the letters stood for "Come Back," and referring to
their owner as "Come Back Stumper." Some day, when he was gone for
good, he was to be promoted to K.
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