Part 29 (1/2)
”Ha!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the man. ”You have not give it to Beeg Jeem?”
”We have given it to n.o.body. And we will not let you or anybody have it until Mr. Howbridge tells us what to do. Go away!” begged Agnes.
”I go to that man. He no have the Queen Alma bracelet. _You_ have it--”
”Just as sure as I get home,” cried the frightened Agnes, ”I will send that bracelet down to the lawyer's office and they must keep it. It shall be in the house no longer! Don't you dare come there for it!”
She got past him then and ran as hard as she could along Willow Street. When she finally looked back she discovered that the man had not followed her, but had disappeared.
”Oh, dear me! I don't care what the children say. That bracelet goes into Mr. Howbridge's safe this very afternoon. Neale must take it there for me,” Agnes Kenway decided.
She reached the side door of the Corner House just as Mrs. McCall entered the front door, having got off the car at the corner. The housekeeper came through the hall and into the rear premises a good deal like a whirlwind. She was so excited that Agnes forgot her own fright and stared at the housekeeper breathlessly.
”Is it you home again, Agnes Kenway?” cried Mrs. McCall. ”Well, thanks be for _that_. Then you are all right.”
”Why, of course! Though he did scare me. But what is the matter with you, Mrs. McCall?”
”What is the matter wi' me? A plenty. A plenty, I tellit ye. If I had that jackanapes of a boy I'd shake him well, so I would!”
”What has Neale been doing now?” cried the girl.
”Not Neale.”
”Then is it Sammy?”
”Nor Sammy Pinkney. 'Tis that other lad that came here wi' a lying note tae get me clear across town for naething!”
”Why, Mrs. McCall! what can you mean? Did a boy fool you, too?”
”Hech!” The woman started and stared at the girl. ”Who brought you news of that little girl being sick?”
”But she wasn't sick!” cried Agnes. ”That boy was an awful little story-teller.”
”Ye was fooled then? That Maria Maroni--”
”Was not ill at all.”
”And,” cried Mrs. McCall, ”that boy who brought a note to me from Hedden never came from Mr. Howbridge's house at all. It nearly scar't me tae death! It said Mr. Howbridge was ill. He isn't even at home yet, and when Mr. Hedden heard from his master this morning he was all right--the gude mon!”
”Oh, Mrs. McCall!” gasped Agnes, gazing at the housekeeper with terrified visage. ”What can it mean?”
”Somebody has foolit us weel,” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the enraged housekeeper.
”But why?”
The woman turned swiftly. She had grown suddenly pale. She called up the back stairs for Linda. A sleepy voice replied:
”Here I be, mum!”
”Where are the children? Where are Tess and Dot?” demanded Mrs.
McCall, her voice husky.