FullReads

And this was the region she had traveled so far to find! Her heart beat so wildly that it stirred the plaid of the little gingham dress.

“Say! I hear a quacking!” announced Puffy, staring up into the sky.

Gwendolyn heard it, too. It seemed to come from across the Field of Double-Ended Candles. She peered that way, to where a heavy fringe of trees walled the farther side greenily.

She saw him first!—while the others (excepting the Bird) were still staring skyward. At the start, what she discerned was only a faint outline on the tree-wall—the outline of a man, broad-shouldered, tall, but a trifle stooped. It was faint for the reason that it blended with the trees. For the man was garbed in green.

As he advanced into the field, the chorus of quacks grew louder. And presently Gwendolyn caught certain familiar expressions—”Oh, don’t bozzer me!” “Sit up straight, Miss! Sit up straight!” (this a rather deep quack). “My dear child, you have no sense of time!” And, “What on earth ever put such a question into your head!” She concluded that the expressions were issuing from the large bell-shaped horn which was pointed her way over one shoulder of the man in green. The talking-machine to which the horn was attached—a handsome mahogany affair—he carried on his back. It was not unlike a hand-organ. Which made Gwendolyn wonder if he was not the Man-Who-Makes-Faces’ brother.

She glanced back inquiringly at the little old gentleman. Either the stranger was a relation—and not a popular one—or else the quacking expressions annoyed. For the Man-Who-Makes-Faces was scowling. And, “Cavil, criticism, correction!” he scolded, half to himself.

He in green now began to move about and gather silk-shaded candles, bending this way and that to pluck them, and paying not the slightest attention to the group of watchers in plain view. But not one of these was indifferent to his presence. And all were acting in a most incomprehensible manner. With one accord, Doctor and Piper, Bear and Policeman, Face-maker and Bird, were rubbing hard at the palm of one hand. There being no trees close by, the men used the sole of a shoe, while Puffy raked away at one paw with the claws of the others, and the Bird pecked a foot with his beak.

And yet Gwendolyn could not believe that it was really he.

The Policeman drew near. “You’ve heard of Hobson’s choice?” he inquired in a low voice. “Perhaps this is Hobson, or Sam Hill, or Punch, or Great Scott.”

The Man-Who-Makes-Faces shook his head. “You don’t know him,” he answered, “because recently, when the bears were bothering him a lot in his Street, I made him a long face.”

The man in green was pausing where the candles clustered thickest. Gwendolyn, still doubtful, went forward to greet him.

“How do you do, sir,” she began, curtseying.

His face was long, as the Man-Who-Makes-Faces had pointed out—very long, and pale, and haggard. Between his sunken temples burned his dark-rimmed eyes. His nose was thin, and over it the skin was drawn so tightly that his nostrils were pinched. His lips were pressed together, driving out the blood. His cheeks were hollow, and shadowed bluely by a day-old beard. He had on a hat. Yet she was able (curiously enough!) to note that his hair was sparse over the top of his head, and streaked with gray.

Nevertheless there was no denying that she recognized him dimly.

Something knotted in her throat—at seeing weariness, anxiety, even torture, in those deep-set eyes. “I think I’ve met you before somewhere,” she faltered. “Your—your long face—” The Bird was perched on the fore-finger of one hand. She proffered the other.

He did not even look at her. “My hands are full,” he declared. And again, “My hands are full.”

She glanced at them. And saw that each was indeed full—of paper money. Moreover, the green of his coat was the green of new crisp bills. While his buff-colored trousers were made of yellowish ones, carefully creased.

He was literally made of money.

Now she felt reasonably certain of his identity. Yet she determined to make even more sure. “Would you mind just turning around for a moment?” she inquired.

“But I’m busy to-day,” he protested, “I can’t be bothered with little girls. I’ll see you when you’re eight years old.” Nevertheless he faced about accommodatingly.