Kit Kittredge: An American Girl Page #5

Of course, I have a spare cot in the attic.

- I'll get it ready for you.|- Thank you.

Miss Bond and I were just talking|about these hobo crimes.

Well, it's gossip, really.|You hear these things when you're mobile.

But they say|there's been a slew of hobo robberies.

- Well, not all hobos are alike.|- They've been ransacking people's homes...

...and mugging them in broad daylight.|Really, something should be done.

Well, there's talk of running them|out of town.

They are ransacking people's homes.

I wonder if it's not a bad idea|if we don't lock up our valuables.

I sew my money into my unmentionables.

Oh, Miss Dooley,|please, there are children here.

Don't they wear unmentionables?|I certainly hope so.

My father keeps our money|in the basement safe.

Ha! Isn't that a kicker?|The banker who doesn't trust the bank.

Mrs. K., would you mind keeping that|in your lockbox?

It's old and, they say, quite valuable.

Just in case.

Of course. It's beautiful.

Uh, yes?

Just wanna tell Ms. Kittredge|I found a place to put that coop...

...over in the north corner|by the, uh, clothesline there.

Excellent. Thank you, Will.|- Come on, Countee.

Good day.

- Bye, Will. Bye, Countee.|- Bye.

I think perhaps I should lock these up|as well.

Yes, I think I might follow suit.

I should hate to lose my father's watch.

And these rings as well.

But that's your wedding ring.

It's okay.|It's just for safekeeping, Stirling.

"Kindness and Honor|in the Hobo Community"?

There's no question mark.|It's a declaration.

"Kindness and Honor|in the Hobo Community."

You've got to admit, it's fresh.

Yes, but the thing is, sweetheart...

...you generally want people|to buy the newspaper, not laugh at it.

There are good hobos and bad ones, sir.

Just like with apples.

And with...

...editors.

Come here, Kit.

See that map?

Every one of those cities,|Dayton, Hamilton, Cincinnati...

...has reported crimes|where hobos are the prime suspects.

They're offering $ 150|to anyone who catches the hobo criminals.

So ask yourself, who's gonna pay a nickel|to hear what good folks hobos are?

That's exactly why|they should hear it now.

Let me give you a tip.

Sometimes you gotta play the tune|your audience wants to sing to, Kit.

There's been a burglary.|51 North Abbott Place.

- Got an ID on a hobo with a limp.|- That's where Ruthie lives.

It was a hobo.|Jumped right out in front of me.

Right out in broad daylight.

- Had a limp too.|Yes.

- Anything else?|- Did he have a tattoo?

Something unusual, like a bird, maybe?

- Okay, this is a crime scene, miss.|- Yeah, actually, he did have something.

- Uh, bright colors.|- That's it.

- That's the tattoo.|Frank?

Over here.

- What do you make of that, sheriff?|That I'd say is a calling card.

Will?

Will?

- Everything all right, Kit?|- Where's Will?

I don't know.|He was supposed to be here.

Maybe he got held up.

Mail call.

Ah. If it was only that easy.

Let's see, we have one for Mr. Berk.|I'll give that to him later.

Of course, Mrs. Kittredge.

From Dad?

Uh, it's from Aunt Millie.

And, Stirling, there's one for you.

Mother.

It's from New York.

From Dad.

And there's one in here for you too.

Forty dollars?

Um...

Excuse me.

There you are.

What are you doing up here?

- Sorry, I was just...|- No, no, it's fine.

I'm just changing the sheets.

I was looking for you earlier.|I forgot to ask you about the letter.

Does your father say|when he's coming back to Cincinnati?

Stirling?

Oh, no.

He wants you to move to New York,|doesn't he?

That's it. That's why you're so upset.

Your father found a job in New York...

...and now he wants you to move|with him.

Why can't people find jobs in Cincinnati?

I hate the mailman.

And mailing...

...letters and words. I hate words.

- What are you talking about?|- Because you believe them.

Even when they're not true.

He said he'd write.|He said, "You'll hear from me."

Your father?

I made him promise.

You did?

He kept his word at first.

I got a letter every week.

Then they got fewer and fewer...

...until one day, they just stopped.

And then she took her ring off.

You wrote that letter to your mother?

She just needs to hear from him.

But there was money inside.

He gave it to me before he left.

For an emergency.

I think I always sort of knew.

He's never coming back to us.

Hi, Kit.

I got something for you.

It's a scooter.

Thank you.

Will, what happened to your leg?

I hurt it the other night.

Are you sure it didn't happen|yesterday morning?

Do you mind|if I ask you a few questions, son?

No, sir.

How exactly did you hurt your leg?

I was jumped.

Is that so?

Yes, sir.

It was the other night.

Someone jumped me|and kicked me in the knee.

Are those the boots you were wearing?

- No, he took my boots.|- Now, isn't that a shame?

Now, if we wanted to identify a footprint,|we'd be hard-pressed.

Did you remember to report it?

- Being a hobo, sir, who's gonna listen?|- Hmm.

Do you know the Smithens?

Ruthie Smithens?

All these people seem to think|you know quite a bit about her.

- About her financial situation.|- No. I don't know.

Did you or did you not know|the Smithens were out of town?

I knew they were gone, yes, sir.

Do you remember her telling you...

...they kept their money|in a safe in the basement?

I'm gonna have to ask you|to remain local, son.

You flip a train|in the middle of the night...

...or you step one toe|outside the city limits...

...I will track you down|and lock you up so fast...

...you'll put those boots|right back on your feet.

You understand me?

Stop! Thief!

- Hey, you! Stop!|- Hello?

Mother? Are you there?

Kit? Stirling?|Who's there?

- What's going on?|We've been robbed!

One more time, Mr. Berk.

I couldn't sleep.

- I heard a noise, I thought, outside.|- So did I.

So I went to check,|and that was when I saw him.

Will Shepherd?

It was dark.

It was Will.|And he was carrying the lockbox.

Ms. Kittredge, any of your belongings|in that lockbox?

Um...

...every penny we had|was in that lockbox.

- He took your money?|- Of course he took their money.

Knowing they needed it for the mortgage?

- Let's pick him up, Frank.|- No.

What a horrible boy.

He talked a lot about Robin Hood, Kit.

About stealing from the rich.

But we're not rich, and he knows that.

I don't believe it. I just don't believe it.

Will Shepherd?|Has anyone seen Will Shepherd?

Will Shepherd?

I'm sorry to bother you so early, ma'am.

No, it's fine. Come in, please.

- Morning.|- Morning.

My deputy found these|in Will Shepherd's tent early this morning.

We were hoping you could ID them for us,|ma'am.

Are these the boots|you gave to Will Shepherd?

And this?

Oh, that's my brooch. Yes.

Did...? Did you happen|to see my mother's ring?

No, son.

We figured he started|at the Smithens' house...

...then moved on to yours.|It's an inside job, all right.

No, it's impossible.

The man who robbed the Smithens' house|had a tattoo.

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