Betsy and the Boys by Carolyn Haywood Read Free Book Online Page B

colossal!"
    "OK," said Betsy. And the two children walked into the store.
    They came out with the suspenders, neatly wrapped.
    Billy's face was beaming, but Betsy looked longingly at the pink satin bow tie.
    "How about it if I keep the suspenders until Monday?" asked Billy just before they parted.
    "All right," replied Betsy.
    Now that Betsy was alone she thought more and more about the pink necktie.
    Finally she got her bank and opened it. Inside she found seventy-five cents. She put the money in her pocketbook and trotted back to the men's store. To her great delight the necktie was only seventy-five cents.
    On Sunday she opened the package five or six times, just to look at the shiny pink satin bow.
    When Betsy showed it to her father and mother, Mother said, "Do you think Mr. Kilpatrick will like a pink necktie, dear?"
    And Father said, "Like it! Why, he'll be the hit of the police force in that tie."
    The following morning Betsy stopped for Billy on the way to school. Billy had the box with the red suspenders under his arm, but Betsy had the box with the pink satin necktie in her coat pocket.
    The children could hardly wait to see Mr. Kilpatrick, so they ran all the way.
    When they reached Mr. Kilpatrick, he said, "Sure, and what's all the hurry this morning?"
    "We have a present for you," cried Billy, handing the package to Mr. Kilpatrick.
    "It's a just-for-instance present," said Betsy. And because Mr. Kilpatrick was Irish, he knew what a just-for-instance present is without being told.

    "A just-for-instance present!" shouted Mr. Kilpatrick in his great big voice. "Sure, they're the best presents of all. Here! Wait until I open it."
    The children watched the big policeman as he unwrapped the box. When he lifted the lid, he said, "My! Oh, my! Now did you ever see a more beautiful pair of suspenders! I always wanted a pair of red suspenders to match my red car. I can't thank you enough for such a present."
    The children beamed with happiness. With each word that Mr. Kilpatrick spoke they felt more pleased.
    Finally Betsy and Billy pranced off to school.
    The other package stayed in Betsy's coat pocket all day. When school was over, Billy said, "So long, Betsy! I gotta run. We have a game on for this afternoon."
    "So long!" replied Betsy and started off alone.
    When she reached Mr. Kilpatrick, she said, "Mr. Kilpatrick, I have another present for you."
    "Another present!" cried Mr. Kilpatrick.
    "Yes," said Betsy. "It's just extra."
    "Oh, Little Red Ribbons! You shouldn't have done all this," said Mr. Kilpatrick. "Two presents in one day!"
    Mr. Kilpatrick unwrapped the box and took
off the lid. He picked up the pink satin bow. "Well! Well!" he said. "Now, isn't that magnificent! A magnificent necktie, I call that."
    Betsy was so pleased she beamed. "I knew you would like it," she said as she started for home.
    Several weeks later Father took Betsy and Billy to the movies. The two children were just settled in their seats when they spied Mr. and Mrs. Kilpatrick coming up the aisle.
    "Hiya, Mr. Kilpatrick!" cried Billy.
    "Hello, Mr. Kilpatrick!" said Betsy.
    Mr. Kilpatrick waved his hand. Then he pushed his coat open. Then he put his thumbs under his red suspenders and winked at the children.
    Mrs. Kilpatrick was all dressed up. She was wearing a pink satin bow in her hair.

8. The Christmas Fairies

    Over the garden wall from Betsy's house was the house where the Jacksons lived. Mr. Jackson had married Betsy's first teacher, Miss Grey. Betsy and her little sister, Star, loved Mr. and Mrs. Jackson very much indeed. They spent many happy hours playing in the Jacksons' house.
    Mrs. Jackson's maid, Clementine, had a little girl named Lillybell. Lillybell was three years old, and Betsy and Star were very fond of her.
Star played a great deal with Lillybell while Betsy was in school.
    Lillybell and her mother lived in the apartment that Mr. Jackson had built for them, over his garage. Lillybell had her own bedroom and she had a