I--"
"Mr. Crow," she broke in, "if there is anything you or anybody in
Tinkletown wants to know about me you will have to deduce it for
yourself. I believe that is what you call it--deduce? And now good-bye,
Mr. Crow. Recess is over," she said pointedly; and Mr. Crow shuffled out
as the children galloped in.
That evening Ed Higgins and 'Rast Little came to call, but she excused
herself because of her correspondence. In her little upstairs room she
wrote letter after letter, one in particular being voluminous. Mrs.
Holabird, as she passed her door, distinctly heard her laugh aloud. It
was a point to be recalled afterward with no little consideration. Later
she went downstairs, cloaked warmly, for a walk to the post-office. Ed
Higgins was still in the parlour talking to the family. He hastily put
in his petition to accompany her, and it was granted absently. Then he
surreptitiously and triumphantly glanced through the window, the scene
outside pleasing him audibly. 'Rast was standing at the front gate
talking to Anderson Crow. Miss Banks noticed as they passed the confused
twain at the gate that Anderson carried his dark lantern.
"Any trace of the heiress, Mr. Crow?" she asked merrily.
"Doggone it," muttered Anderson, "she'll give the whole snap away!"
"What's that?" asked 'Rast.
"Nothin' much," said Anderson, repairing the damage.
Pages:
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105