went around the back like a dark streak, cutting off their way through Evans Tea Shoppe's alley by blocking off the far
end. Ben and Amy came dashing across the square in the gang's wake, effectively penning them in the narrow alley.
Ben tipped Amy the wink. "You tackle Wilf. Leave Regina to me!"
Amy pushed her way through the melee of milling gang members and found Wilf standing paralyzed in front of
a snarling Ned. She grabbed the big boy by his shirtfront and shook him. "Get back to the almshouse and help my
brother!
You were the one who thought all this up and dared him. Come on, I'm going to see that you carry out your end
of the dare!" She began to drag Wilf away from the wall that he was huddled against.
Everyone saw it, Wilf Smithers collapsed to the ground, clutching his bandaged hand and blubbering like a
baby. "Waahahaah! I'm sick, my hand's hurting, let go of me, please, I want to go home. Waaaaahh!"
Regina had been scrambling her way to the back of the gang, intent on escaping into the square, when Ben
grabbed her hand. "What about you going to help Alex? You were the one calling all the names. Why don't you take
the dare for Wilf?"
She broke out in tears. "It wasn't anything to do with me! It was all Wilf's idea, he said we should do it!"
Ben called to the others. "Amy and I are going back to the almshouse. You lot run and get some help. Fetch a
policeman, quick!"
The mention of police involvement sent them all stumbling past the big black Labrador and off into the
darkness, crying.
"My dad doesn't even know I'm out!"
"I'm not going to any police station!"
"Nothing t'do with us, it was Wilf!"
Ned let them go. Amy planted her shoe firmly against Wilf's bottom and shoved him on his way. "Get out of my
sight, coward!"
Ben released Regina, and she shot off sobbing. In a trice the alley was deserted, save for Amy, Ben, and his dog.
The sound of bolts being withdrawn from Evans's side door caused Ned to melt back into the shadows. A light went
on, throwing a golden shaft across the alley. Bludwen Evans's huge night-gowned figure appeared in the open
doorway. She was holding a hooked window-blind pole and holding on to her mobcap, squinting at Ben.
"Indeed to goodness, what's all the row out here, boyo, eh?"
Ben flicked at his tousled hair and smiled disarmingly. "Sorry about the noise, Miz Evans. My dog's got loose
and I was out calling for him. I don't suppose you've seen him?"
A gruff bark from nearby sent the boy running off, followed by Amy, who was calling. "Here, Ned! Good dog!
Here, boy!"
Mrs. Evans shook her head as she closed the door. "I 'opes they get him, I need my sleep!"
30.
THE OLD SHIP'S CARPENTER AND ALEX had cocoa made for Ben, Amy, and Ned as they entered the
almshouse through the back window. They related what had happened in the alley, the younger boy and Jon roaring
with laughter at Amy's impression of Wilf sobbing and wanting to go home, hugging his injured hand.
Ben sipped his cocoa and winked at Alex. "Wait'll they find out tomorrow that you faced the Mad Professor and
lived to tell the tale. I don't think the Grange Gang or Wilf will ever bother you again, Alex. It was great to see how
you went at the bully and had him bawling in front of his own gang. They'll respect you and your sister from now on."
Alex put his empty mug down. "But only because of you, Ben."
The blue-eyed boy patted Alex heartily on the back. "Nonsense, mate, all I did was suggest a thing or two. The
rest was you, having confidence in yourself. Isn't that right, Ned?" The dog nodded. Jon looked over the rim of his
cocoa mug at him. "I suppose that was his collar itching him again, eh, Ben?"
The strange boy's eyes twinkled. "You supposed right, mate."
Alex was beginning to feel sleepy; he blinked. "Supposed what?"
The black Lab leaped to the window frame, followed by Ben, who chuckled. "Supposed to meet at the library
first thing in the morning, so we can have a word with Mr. Braith-waite. G'night, pals. Jon, will you see Amy and
Alex get home all right?"
Ben and Ned vanished into the night like twin shadows.
Amy stared at the empty window space. "There's something rather odd about Ben. It's almost as if he and Ned
are magic. What do you think, Jon?"
The ex-ship's carpenter wiped the last of the lampblack off with a damp rag. "Ben's no more magic than you, me,
or Alex. He's just good, aye, and clever. He's certainly taught me a thing or two, as old as I am. Come on, mates, I'll
walk you as far as your house."
"Not quite as far," Alex replied. "Leave us at the end of the lane, we've got to sneak in by the pantry window."
Jon's craggy face broke into a smile. "See, you're learning fast, pal!"
At breakfast next morning Hetty the maid brought the post into the dining room. She placed it next to Obadiah
Smithers's plate, bobbed a brief curtsy, and left.
Mrs. Smithers cast a worried glance at Wilf's empty chair. "Poor Wilfred, perhaps he's stayed in bed because
he's still feeling poorly. I'll tell Hetty to take him a tray up."
"No, you won't, madam!" Smithers slit an envelope vigorously with his egg-stained breakfast knife. "Let the
young whelp stay abed until he's hungry enough to get himself down here and take his place at table. Confounded fool,
punchin' a wall of all things, losing to a lad half his size. Oh, I've heard all about it from Reggie Woodworthy, Regina
told him. Can't hold my head up in the village! Man with a great, strappin' son who doesn't know the difference
between the other fellow's nose and a schoolyard wall. Huh!"
Maud Bowe helped herself to a boiled egg and tapped the top daintily with her spoon, remarking caustically,
"About what anyone could expect from that silly oaf."
Smithers slammed the letter down on his side plate, cracking it in the process. He glared at Maud.
"Keep your opinions to y'self, missie. It's not your place to criticize my family while you're a guest in my
house!"
Sensing another verbal battle, Mrs. Smithers withdrew from the room quietly. She would take Wilfred a tray
herself.
Maud thrust her chin out defiantly at the older man. "Sir, an oaf is an oaf, in any circumstances, more so when
he is a bad-mannered oaf. That is my opinion, like it or not!"
Smithers, pretending not to hear, sorted a letter from the small pile of mail and tossed it across the table. "This
is for you, young lady, from your father by the writing."
She took a nail file from her pocket and slit the letter neatly open, her eyes blazing at Smithers. "Sir, I give you
your proper title. My name is Maud, you may address me as Maud, Miss Maud, or Miss Bowe. I resent being called
missie or young lady. I trust you will refrain from such expressions in future!"
Smithers pretended to read his letter; he tapped it with his knife. "From the county planning office, final
approval of compulsory purchase of Chapelvale lands two days from today. Providing, of course, that no majority
property holder turns up with deeds to more than one section. Huh, even old Mrs. Winn can't argue with that, she can
only prove the ownership of her own house. She has no papers for that almshouse ruin, or any other land. I've made
sure of that, got a friend in the official search office, y'know. Look, there's a formal notice with this letter, to be posted
in the square. I'll remove the old one an' put this one up, eh. How's that for progress? Well, what's your father got to
say?"
Maud folded the letter carefully and placed it on the table. "He says that the four men I asked for should be up