Something had slipped from
under his feet and he was dangling in space, figuratively speaking.
"There's nothing to do, Rosalie, except to chase them down. Mr. Crow has
ruined everything. I'll leave you at Bonner Place with mother and Edith,
and I'll hurry back to Tinkletown."
The excitement was too much for Rosalie's nerves. She was in a state of
physical collapse when he set her down at his uncle's summer home half
an hour later. Leaving her to explain the situation to the curious
friends, he set speed again for Tinkletown, inwardly cursing Anderson
Crow for a meddling old fool.
In the meantime Tinkletown was staring open-mouthed upon a new
sensation. The race between Anderson and Bonner was hardly under way
when down the main street of the town came a jaded team and surrey.
Behind the driver sat a pretty young woman with an eager expression on
her pale face, her gaze bent intently on the turn in the street which
hid Anderson Crow's home from view. Beside the young woman lounged
another of her sex, much older, and to all appearances, in a precarious
state of health. The young men along the street gasped in amazement and
then ventured to doff their timid hats to the young woman, very much as
if they were saluting a ghost. Few of them received a nod of recognition
from Elsie Banks, one-time queen of all their hearts.
Roscoe Crow bounded out to the gate when he saw who was in the carriage,
first shouting to his mother and sisters, who were indoors receiving
congratulations and condolences from their neighbours.
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