Part 28 (1/2)
Hebler's fork fell with a clatter.
”Bobbie Burr!” he exclaimed in amazement.
”Bobbie Burr!” echoed Kingdon.
”Where is she? Let me see her at once. She's the very person I am looking for!”
”I'll go and get her,” offered Billy, running from the room.
He returned in a few moments followed by Marta.
”Oh, you aren't Bobbie Burr!” said Hebler, visibly disappointed.
”No, sir,” said Marta. ”I just took the name because I liked it. My name is really Marta Sills.”
”But it won't be that long,” reminded Betty. ”You're going to have another name soon. Jo Gary told me so.”
”Oh, ho!” laughed Kingdon comprehendingly, while Marta fled in confusion.
”Jo's going to take her with him to Westcott's this morning,” said Francis. ”They're going to drive over in the buckboard. I think they are engaged.”
”He hasn't given her a diamond ring,” said Betty. ”Every girl who is engaged wears a diamond ring. Doris told me so.”
”Speaking of diamond rings,” said Hebler, as they all rose from the table, ”reminds me that I very carelessly left mine on a table yesterday and I forgot to put it away, or to even see if it were there this morning.”
”It will be all right,” a.s.sured Kingdon. ”Every one in the hill country is honest.”
”Still you'd better put it away,” cautioned Kurt anxiously.
”All right,” said Hebler, leaving the room.
”Don't forget we want an early start for town,” Kingdon called after him.
”I'll go out and look over my car.”
Kurt followed him, but lingered on the veranda to light his pipe. While he stood there, Jo and Marta drove past at a smart pace. A few moments later Hebler came to him in great consternation.
”Walters, that ring I was speaking of is gone! I've made a thorough search for it.”
When he had a.s.sured Kurt that there could be no mistake as to having left it on his table before he started for Westcott's, the foreman said earnestly:
”I am quite sure that I can secure your ring for you, Mr. Hebler. I should like to settle this matter quietly, though; so please say nothing about it to anyone until I have investigated.”
”Certainly,” agreed Hebler. ”I'll go on to town with Kingdon now, and you can be looking about for it.”
Kurt hastened upstairs and knocked at Pen's door.
”Hebler has missed his ring--a very valuable diamond, he tells me,” he said abruptly, as she came out.
”Oh!” she gasped, turning pale and trembling slightly.
”He left it on his table near the door and just thought of looking for it.