Free The Grave Robber's Secret by Anna Myers Page B

here.”
    â€œIt’s early yet. Likely I’ll be back.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Should I happen not to be, just tell Papa you tried to stop me. I’ll deal with him when I get home.” She leaned to look at Robby. “Can you show me the way?”
    â€œI can.” He climbed from the bench, but he looked at his mother. “I was going to feed Miss Stone her porridge.”
    â€œLeave that to me, son.” She frowned and shook her head. “It’s Martha that troubles me now, her weak as that kitten yesterday and now traipsing off for such a walk.”
    Martha stood too, and held out her hand to Jane. “Don’t fret, Mrs. Hare. We will be fine,” she said, and she led Jane to the back door.
    Ma sighed. “You surprise me, Martha. You’re a determined little thing, and brave.”
    Martha laughed. “Not brave, but I do know to do right. My mother taught me that.”
    â€œShe knows to do right,” Jane repeated. “She knows to do right.” Martha led her out, and Robby followed.
    â€œLet me get you a shawl, child,” Ma called from the back door, but Martha waved her away.
    â€œThe sun is warm,” she called.
    Jane held out one arm. “The sun is warm,” she repeated.
    Outside the iron fence around Christ Church burial ground, Robby pointed inside to a grave near where they stood. “That’s Benjamin Franklin’s grave. He was real important in starting our country, but his stone just says he was a printer.”
    â€œI know who Benjamin Franklin was, Robby.” Martha sighed. “Do you think me stupid? I had fine tutors when we lived in Boston.” She pointed to a nearby bench. “Let’s sit and rest a bit.”
    When they were settled, Jane leaned toward Martha. “I saw Robby at a different cemetery,” she said in a half whisper.
    Robby bit at his lip. “She means St. Mary’s Churchyard,” he said. “I go there sometimes because that’s where Lolly is buried.”
    â€œNot at night,” said Jane. “You shouldn’t go at night.”
    Robby stood. “We’d best move on if we’re to be home by noontide.”
    They had walked another block when Jane stopped moving. “Don’t go to the cemetery anymore at night, Robby, please.”
    Robby looked at Martha and rolled his eyes as if to say he had no idea what Jane could mean. “I won’t,” he said, trying not to sound impatient. “Now let’s quit talking about graveyards and get some walking done. Martha, why don’t you tell Jane about Benjamin Franklin’s kite?”
    By the time the story was finished, the hospital was in view. Jane stopped walking and tugged her hand away from Martha. “I won’t walk that way, not in front of that place. They put me in chains there.” Her face twisted in thought. “I can’t remember when that was, but I remember the chains.” Her face brightened. “Now I remember. My mother came, and she made them take the chains off.” She rubbed at her wrist. “Do you know where my mother is?”
    Martha stepped closer to Jane. “We won’t let anyone put chains on you.”
    Robby had heard that mental patients were kept on the third floor, and he felt certain Jane’s story about chains was true. “There’s a medical school on the first floor,” he said. “I’m going to work there, Jane, sweeping floors and such, but we aren’t going into the hospital, not now.” He reached for Jane’s arm. “We’ll just walk by really fast.”
    Martha leaned around Jane as they walked, and she studied the hospital. “I’ve thought about being a nurse when I grow up,” she said. “Papa says that nursing isn’t a fit job for a lady, but I disagree. Maybe I’ll work in that hospital.”
    â€œYou’ll go against your father?” Robby was