Part 8 (2/2)
Nettie discovered this very early the next , for the truth was, the lar froe
The fact that she had been intrusted with the care of the table silver, during the absence of Mrs Robinson, gave the girl grave anxiety, and, although Bess illing to say it was partly her fault that the silver had not been brought upstairs that night, Nettie felt none the less guilty
The boys, Ed and Jack, were around at the cottage before the tired girls had a chance to collect theot tothe story ”No use putting the officers on until we get a look over the neighborhood Froone very far”
This was considered good advice, and accordingly Jack went back to the bungalow for Walter, so that all three chuet a look at him?” Ed asked Cora
”Not exactly a look,” replied Cora, ”but I noticed when he jumped up into thethat he wore a beard--he looked almost like a wild man”
”Naturally he would look to you that way, under the circumstances,”
said Ed, ”but what stuun loaded and all that”
”Well, didn't he prowl around the very first day we ca mother at the train? He seemed to knoould be alone,”
declared Belle ”I hope he is so badly hurt that he had to----”
”Give up prowling,” finished Cora ”Well, I hope he is not badly hurt
It is not pleasant to feel that one has really injured another, even if he be a bold, bad burglar”
”Don't let that worry you,” encouraged Ed ”I rather guess his legs are used to balls and bullets But here coirls,” as he started off to et so?” asked Bess
”Oh, I a!” and Belle's white face corroborated that stateo back to bed”
”It's the best thing you can do,” advised Cora, for, indeed, the dainty, nervous Belle was easily overcoo out on the porch and rest in the ha and beating the ground from under the hallout into the field, and then into the street She had found one spoon, and she had also found a spot that shohere sorass
Cora joined her now, and the two came to the conclusion that thefor the injured foot or leg
”It is well you found even one spoon,” said Cora, bending low in the bushes to make sure there were nothe others”
”But I do feel dreadfully,” sighed Nettie ”I have been with Mrs
Robinson so long, and nothing of the kind has ever before happened”
”There has to be a first time,” said Cora, ”and I am sure Mrs Robinson will not blaht have happened,” exclai into Cora's flushed face ”I cannot see how you ever had the courage to fire!”
”I had to! Think of three helpless girls--and a desperate ht have all been chlorofor Why, what's this? I declare! a chlorofor store! Well, noasn't it lucky I had the revolver?” She picked up a small phial
”Don't tell Miss Bess or Miss Belle,” cautioned Nettie ”They are so nervous now, I think they would not stay in the house another night if they knew about the bottle”