“The cruel thing!” exclaimed Helen, the waters of her sympathy rising for Bella Pike now.
“There’s the poor kid!” said Tom.
Bella appeared at an open door far up in the peak of the haymow. The hay was packed solidly under the roof; but there was an air space left at either end.
“She has put herself into the so-tight corner—no?” suggested the young Frenchman.
“You’ve said it!” agreed Tom. “Why! it’s regular movie stunts. She’s come up the ladders to the top of the mow. If auntie follows her, I don’t see that the kid can do anything but jump!”
“Tom! Never!” cried Ruth.
“He is fooling,” said Jennie.
“Tell me how she can dodge that woman, then,” demanded Tom.
“Ah!” murmured Henri Marchand. “She have arrive’.”
Miss Timmins appeared at the door behind Bella. The spectators heard the girl’s shriek. The housekeeper struck at her with the clothes stick. And then——