She told the story of her brother, of his sickness when a child, of
the resultant distortion of his character into that of a man of
strange and incongruous genius and weakness, and of the embarrassment
he had caused her and her mother. He, it was, she said, who had
written the skull-and-cross-bones letter.
"Who wrote the other anonymous letter that you received at the
Institute?" Hazel Edwards inquired.
"I don't know," Helen replied with a faint smile. "Perhaps these boys
can answer that question."
"I must plead guilty to that," announced Clifford, advancing with a
bow.
"But what's the surprise you were going to spring?" inquired Ruth
Hazelton, mischievously. "Is this it?"
"Now, never you mind," said Clifford. "Things didn't go just right.
This kidnapping affair interfered with our plans, and they are hereby
called off. We didn't want you to know we were here."
Two of the boys had been dispatched as messengers to Hollyhill for
vehicles to take the girls back to Marion's home. About 2 o'clock in
the morning Mr. Stanlock, several of his neighbors, and three
policemen, led by the two Scout messengers, burst into the room and
announced that they had brought three bob-sleds to give them all a
sleighride.
Pages:
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168