shock again.
Kottman’s grin was still on his lips. “I know that many businesses donate money to the Society. That’s how you exist. My colleagues and I merely want to have a part in this great work. Well, I know you are busy people, and I won’t detain you any longer.” The bank president rose to his feet. “God bless you both.”
The Braces bid Lee Kottman good-bye for the time being, thanked him again for his generosity, and left the bank.
Outside in the bright sunshine, Charles helped Letitia into the buggy, untied the horse’s reins from the post, and climbed in beside her. He took her hand and said, “Honey, let’s pray.”
They bowed their heads and Charles led them as they gave God the glory for His goodness and mercy toward the Society.
When Charles put the horse into motion and they moved down the street, the Braces talked together, making plans for all that they could accomplish with this unexpected largesse that the Lord had bestowed on the Society.
Still praising their heavenly Father to the sound of clopping hooves and the city sounds around them, they wove their way through the traffic, heading back toward the Children’s Aid Society headquarters to share the good news.
Chapter Five
W hen Charles and Letitia Brace had gone only two blocks from the Central Bank and Trust Company, they were still chattering exuberantly about the unexpected boon that had just come to the Children’s Aid Society. Charles pulled rein momentarily to allow a bread wagon to leave the curb, then put the horse into motion once again.
They were approaching a corner, and suddenly they heard loud, angry voices. Their attention was drawn to a group of teenagers on the corner yelling indignantly at two young teenage girls who were both weeping. People were passing by and gawking at the scene, but no one was interfering.
Brace swung the buggy to the curb. “I don’t like the looks of this,” he said as he started out of the buggy.
Letitia said, “I don’t, either,” and climbed out her side.
Brace looked at her. “Honey, you don’t need to get in on this.”
“Yes, I do,” she said, moving up to his side and taking hold of his arm. “Those poor girls are being picked on unmercifully.”
The shouting went on, and as the Braces drew up they saw that the two girls who were under verbal attack were identical twins. Letitia let go of her husband’s arm and stepped between the twins, placing an arm around each of them. They bothturned and looked at her through tear-filled eyes.
Charles moved up between the angry group and the twins and ran his gaze over the sour faces. “What’s going on here?”
The shouting suddenly faded away.
As with all of the street urchins’ groups, this one had a leader. He was a husky boy of fifteen with a sullen look about him. There was intense displeasure in his fiery eyes as he set them on Brace, and his voice was thick when he spoke. “My friends and I live on the street, mister. We have a spot in that alley over there where we sleep. This has been our corner for begging since almost a year ago.”
He set his blazing eyes on the auburn-haired twins. “Those two redheads were already on the corner when me and my friends came from the alley to do our daily beggin’. They were gettin money from people who usually give money to us. This is our corner! They had no business beggin’ here!”
“Calm down now, son,” said Charles Brace. “What’s your name?”
“Darold,” came the reply as the boy bolted the twins with a hateful look.
Letitia felt the trembling in the twins’ bodies. She gently patted their backs, trying to soothe them.
Darold turned and frowned at Brace. “Why should I calm down? This is our corner, and when I told those intruders I wanted the money they had collected, they refused to give it to me. They said they had as much right to beg on this corner as we do.”
Deena Mitchell met Darold’s gaze. “We didn’t think we were doing anything
Kottman’s grin was still on his lips. “I know that many businesses donate money to the Society. That’s how you exist. My colleagues and I merely want to have a part in this great work. Well, I know you are busy people, and I won’t detain you any longer.” The bank president rose to his feet. “God bless you both.”
The Braces bid Lee Kottman good-bye for the time being, thanked him again for his generosity, and left the bank.
Outside in the bright sunshine, Charles helped Letitia into the buggy, untied the horse’s reins from the post, and climbed in beside her. He took her hand and said, “Honey, let’s pray.”
They bowed their heads and Charles led them as they gave God the glory for His goodness and mercy toward the Society.
When Charles put the horse into motion and they moved down the street, the Braces talked together, making plans for all that they could accomplish with this unexpected largesse that the Lord had bestowed on the Society.
Still praising their heavenly Father to the sound of clopping hooves and the city sounds around them, they wove their way through the traffic, heading back toward the Children’s Aid Society headquarters to share the good news.
Chapter Five
W hen Charles and Letitia Brace had gone only two blocks from the Central Bank and Trust Company, they were still chattering exuberantly about the unexpected boon that had just come to the Children’s Aid Society. Charles pulled rein momentarily to allow a bread wagon to leave the curb, then put the horse into motion once again.
They were approaching a corner, and suddenly they heard loud, angry voices. Their attention was drawn to a group of teenagers on the corner yelling indignantly at two young teenage girls who were both weeping. People were passing by and gawking at the scene, but no one was interfering.
Brace swung the buggy to the curb. “I don’t like the looks of this,” he said as he started out of the buggy.
Letitia said, “I don’t, either,” and climbed out her side.
Brace looked at her. “Honey, you don’t need to get in on this.”
“Yes, I do,” she said, moving up to his side and taking hold of his arm. “Those poor girls are being picked on unmercifully.”
The shouting went on, and as the Braces drew up they saw that the two girls who were under verbal attack were identical twins. Letitia let go of her husband’s arm and stepped between the twins, placing an arm around each of them. They bothturned and looked at her through tear-filled eyes.
Charles moved up between the angry group and the twins and ran his gaze over the sour faces. “What’s going on here?”
The shouting suddenly faded away.
As with all of the street urchins’ groups, this one had a leader. He was a husky boy of fifteen with a sullen look about him. There was intense displeasure in his fiery eyes as he set them on Brace, and his voice was thick when he spoke. “My friends and I live on the street, mister. We have a spot in that alley over there where we sleep. This has been our corner for begging since almost a year ago.”
He set his blazing eyes on the auburn-haired twins. “Those two redheads were already on the corner when me and my friends came from the alley to do our daily beggin’. They were gettin money from people who usually give money to us. This is our corner! They had no business beggin’ here!”
“Calm down now, son,” said Charles Brace. “What’s your name?”
“Darold,” came the reply as the boy bolted the twins with a hateful look.
Letitia felt the trembling in the twins’ bodies. She gently patted their backs, trying to soothe them.
Darold turned and frowned at Brace. “Why should I calm down? This is our corner, and when I told those intruders I wanted the money they had collected, they refused to give it to me. They said they had as much right to beg on this corner as we do.”
Deena Mitchell met Darold’s gaze. “We didn’t think we were doing anything
Similar Books
