{"product_id":"2940013740396","title":"The Conspirators","description":"Arriving opposite the Franklin house, Tom Foley took position in a\u003cbr\u003enear-by alley, where he could keep close watch on the front gate.\u003cbr\u003eAfter hours of nervous waiting, little Lillian Franklin came out, and\u003cbr\u003eTom's heart gave a jump. She was alone, and began to roll a hoop,\u003cbr\u003ewhich her friend Sandy had given her that morning. Down the street she\u003cbr\u003etripped, all smiles and happiness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTom watched her until she had turned a corner, then he rushed up the\u003cbr\u003ealley to intercept her. When he emerged into the street, he saw her\u003cbr\u003eresting on a rustic bench, and hastened to join her. As he came up, he\u003cbr\u003ewas greeted with:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Why, Tom, I thought you went fishing with Gil, and papa, and Sandy,\u003cbr\u003eand the rest.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"No, Lily. I felt so bad 'bout my dad being arrested yest'day I\u003cbr\u003ecouldn't git up no courage to go,\" answered the boy with simulated\u003cbr\u003econtrition. What d'yer say? let's s'prise Gil, and go down to the\u003cbr\u003elandin' an' meet him when he comes in from fishin',\" suggested Foley,\u003cbr\u003eknowing the intense love she had for her brother.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"That'll be lovely, won't it? And Gil will be so glad if I come.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLillian whipped the hoop rapidly, and Tom kept pace with her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Gil will be surprised, sure enough, when he sees me coming, won't\u003cbr\u003ehe?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Yes, he'll be s'prised, you bet!\" said the boy, taking a firmer hold\u003cbr\u003eof her hand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe night was fast approaching and Foley was leading the child through\u003cbr\u003eunfrequented alleys and streets.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"But maybe Gil won't come back this way, and it's getting awful dark.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Oh, he'll come back this way, all right.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThey were now on the shore of the river, dark and desolate in its\u003cbr\u003ewinter dress. The restless splash of the water sent icy sprays over\u003cbr\u003ethe child, and, clinging still closer to her treacherous companion,\u003cbr\u003eshe stopped him for a second and begged him to return.","brand":"WDS Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47070245552368,"sku":"2940013740396","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013740396_p0.jpg?v=1763589612","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013740396","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}