132 THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 



" You're a trump, Kate." 



" Now be quiet, and don't break your neck in climbing 

 down." 



Johnny disappeared and Kate softly closed the sash. 



1 ' What a boy ! Who would have thought it of him ? 

 Not a bad idea though, there's heaps and heaps of berries, 

 and they'd bring some money if we could sell 'em. What 

 time is it ? Half-past three, if the moon says true. It will 

 be light soon. I know what I'll do. I'll help the boy, and 

 and let him in at the back door." 



A few moments later a dark-robed figure might be seen 

 creeping from the back door of the house, and stealing along 

 the damp walk that extended down the centre of the dewy 

 moon-lighted garden. 



An odd little spot, half-hid by tall trees and the neigh- 

 boring houses. On the north side a row of pear-trees 

 nearly shut off the view from the dwelling-house, and made 

 the garden a quiet and secluded spot. A board fence, 

 covered with grape-vines, extended for two hundred feet 

 along the west side, and on the south a low stone wall 

 divided the grounds from the open fields beyond. On the 

 east a large wooden house pushed its windowless back close 

 up to the boundary line. More board fence finished the 

 outline. 



As for the general aspect of the place, and the things 

 growing in it, nothing could be said, as all was dark and 

 shadowy. It was only by knowing the locality well that 



