Part 12 (1/2)

”Well, this time, sis, I will be at home when they call, unless something very unforeseen happens.”

Jack pushed the bolt on the heavy door, and Cora went over the first floor of the house, attending to the duties, with which her mother, upon her departure for the city, had entrusted her.

Then, handing the silver to Jack, she put out the lights, and bade him an affectionate good-night.

CHAPTER XI

ANDY'S WARNING

The parlor maid tapped at Cora's door. Gentle as was the touch, it awakened the girl, who answered quickly.

”Miss,” said the maid, ”there is a little boy downstairs who says he must see you at once. He simply won't take no for an answer.”

”A little boy?” repeated Cora, sleepily. ”Why, it's only six o'clock!”

”Yes, I know that, miss,” went on the girl, ”but Mary says he was outside on the step when she came down at five. He's a poor-looking little boy, but he doesn't want anything to eat. He says he must speak to you.”

Without the slightest idea who her caller might be, Cora hurried into a robe and went down.

”He's on the side porch, Miss Cora,” said the maid.

Cora went out through the opened French window.

”Why, Andy!” she exclaimed, for her early visitor was none other than the boy from the strawberry patch. ”Whatever brought you into Chelton so early?”

”It's about the girls,” he said under his breath, looking around suspiciously. ”And it's about that old Mrs. Blazes!”

”No one will hear you,” Cora a.s.sured him, taking a seat by his side.

”What about the girls, and Miss Schenk?”

”Yes, and I was afraid I would not get here in time. She's comin' in here--to scare you. I heard her tell Mrs. Ramsy so.”

”And you hurried in to warn me!” cried Cora, much amused at the lad's simplicity. ”I am sure I am very, very much obliged. But tell me, what did she say?”

Andy s.h.i.+fted about uneasily. Evidently the information he had was not of the nature pleasant to impart.

”It was awful late last night when I heard it,” began the boy. ”Mrs.

Ramsy owed mother for some was.h.i.+ng, and she said if I went after the money late, when she had time to--bother with me, she would give it to me. Well, I waited until I saw she had slicked up the work the girls used to do, and I was going to knock at the side door, when I saw two strange men get out of an automobile, and make for Ramsy's front door.”

Andy paused, evidently expecting some show of surprise at this information.

”Well, go on, Andy,” urged Cora. ”What did the strange men have to do with it all?”

”They asked for Miss Schenk, and I just guessed right. They were detectives!”

Andy's eyes opened and closed in nervous excitement. To talk of detectives! To have seen them and to have heard _them_ talk!

”Well,” spoke Cora, almost smiling, ”it was certainly right for Miss Schenk to have detectives look for her valuables.”