`` It 's that worthless dog of Martin 's , I suppose , '' said Clemantiny , grasping a broom handle with a grimness that boded ill for the dog . `` Mussing up my clean doorstep with his dirty paws again . I 'll fix him ! '' Clemantiny swept out through the porch and jerked open the door . There was a moment 's silence . Then Miss Salome heard her say , `` For the land 's sake ! Salome Whitney , come here . '' What Miss Salome saw when she hurried out was a white-faced boy stretched on the doorstep at Clemantiny 's feet . `` Is he dead ? '' she gasped . `` Dead ? No , '' sniffed Clemantiny . `` He 's fainted , that 's what he is . Where on earth did he come from ? He ai n't a Hopedale boy . '' `` He must be carried right in , '' exclaimed Miss Salome in distress . `` Why , he may die there . He must be very ill . '' `` Looks more to me as if he had fainted from sheer starvation , '' returned Clemantiny brusquely as she picked him up in her lean , muscular arms . `` Why , he 's skin and bone .
He XXXXX n't hardly heavier than a baby .
's Is Mussing ai fainted gasped heard hurried jerked sniffed