The Grave Robber's Secret by Anna Myers

feeling rather proud of knowing his way about. “They have an elevator here,” he said. “Have you ever been on an elevator?”
    Martha shook her head. “Me neither,” he said. “This one is for doctors and nurses to ride, not regular people, but I mean to see it when I start work here tomorrow.” The place smelled strongly of medicine and of the polish used to make the wooden floors shine.
    At the big counter, they asked to see Dolly. “Are you Robby?” the nurse asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œDr. Bell said you would be here and that we are to let you see the child, but only briefly. Follow me.” She smiled. “You may bring your friend. Do not go near the patient, just step inside the curtains for a moment.”
    They followed the nurse into a big room with curtains around beds. One curtain was open, and an old woman sat up in the bed. “Come see me, children,” she called, but the nurse shook her head.
    About halfway through the huge room, the nurse stopped. A woman sat in a chair just outside the curtain. Her dress was shabby, but her face was pretty. Robby could see that she looked like Dolly. “This is Dolly’s mother,” the nurse said. “The child was able to tell us this morning where she lives.”
    The woman stood. “Are ye Robby?” A big smile covered her thin face. “The doctor said you saved my little girl, getting her here so quick-like. I’m obliged to you, ever so obliged.”
    The nurse pulled back the curtain for Robby and Martha to step inside the cubicle. Dolly was asleep, but her skin no longer looked like chalk. “She looks better,” Robby whispered. He wondered if she had been able to eat anything, and he asked the nurse.
    â€œToo soon,” she said, “but by this evening we can give her broth. She’s going to be all right, we believe.” She pulled the curtain closed. “You two should go out quietly now,” she said. “I am going to tend to another patient.” She hurried away.
    â€œI have something for you,” Martha said to Dolly’s mother, who had sat back down, and she took the bills from her pocket. “My papa wanted you to have this,” she said, and she laid the money in the woman’s lap.
    â€œOh!” Tears spilled from the woman’s eyes. “Thank you for bringing this gift, and thank your sainted father for me too.”
    â€œI will,” said Martha. Robby looked down at his shoes, thinking how wrong the word “saint” sounded in describing Burke.
    The ride home was uneventful. Robby avoided seeing Burke at both the noon and evening meals by carrying his plate up along with the one he took to Miss Stone.
    That night as he lay on his pallet, Robby made a plan. Tomorrow he would go to the hospital to work, but first he would follow Burke. Telling his mother that he wanted to get an early start, he would leave before breakfast. He knew the direction the man took. Perhaps he could press himself into a doorway and watch for Burke to walk by. Then he could follow after him and learn where he went.
    In the morning, Robby got to the kitchen just before Ma. “I need to go to the hospital today to work for Dr. Bell,” he said.
    â€œTake time to eat something first.” Ma carried the water bucket to the stove to dip up water for boiling.
    Robby shook his head. “I’m not hungry,” he said, but he took some bread and a cake of sausage, wrapped the food in a cloth, and put it in his pocket. He hurried down the street, looking behind him every few feet to make sure Burke was not yet out on the sidewalk. Not far from where he had seen the man turn, Robby spotted a house with a sheltered front stoop. He could hunker down there and wait. If someone came out the front door, the worst that could happen would be that they might hit him with something. He had been hit before.
    Crouching so that he was not noticeable from