No, she wouldn't mind. She backed up to the corner like a gentle
little lamb. While I hooked with one hand, I dropped the little
bag where the carpet was still turned up, and with the toe of my
shoe spread it flat again.

"You're real handy for a boy," she said, pleased.

"Thank you, ma'am," I answered, pleased myself.

Moriway was still watching me, of course, when I came out, but I
ran downstairs, he following close, and when the Major got hold
of me, I pulled my pockets inside out like a little man.

Moriway was there at the time. I knew he wasn't convinced. But he
couldn't watch a bell-boy all day long, and the moment I was sure
his eyes were off me I was ready to get those diamonds back
again.

But not a call came all that afternoon from the west side of the
house, except the call of those pretty, precious things snug
under the carpet calling, calling to me to come and get them and
drop bell-boying for good.

At last I couldn't stand it any longer. There's only one thing to
do when your chance won't come to you; that is, to go to it. At
about four o'clock I lit out, climbed to the second story and
there--Mag, I always was the luckiest girl at the Cruelty, wasn't
I? Well, there was suite 231 all torn up, plumbers and painters
in there, and nothing in the world to prevent a boy's skinning
through when no one was watching, out of the window and up the