Instead, she only succeeded in starting his thoughts on another tack. Had Carrie Pepper found anything in the snow the night before? Or was she merely feeling around for a letter or parcel she might have dropped?
“I hate these ugly old mittens,” Jess was complaining to Margy. “They’re not a bit pretty, and they’re not nearly as warm as my lovely gloves. Mother says maybe she’ll get me a new pair for my birthday in February, but I’ll have to wear these horrid old things till then, because I’m so careless.”
Margy, not having lost any treasure, felt free to keep an eye on Carrie and observe the effect of Polly’s pin on her. Polly had the pin in its usual place—above the pocket of her middy blouse, and Carrie apparently did not notice it until Polly went to the board during the arithmetic lesson.
“There—she’s seen it,” said Margy to herself, as Carrie stared.
Then, heedless of the lesson, Carrie began to rummage through her desk. She pulled out the box of cough drops, the pencils, the handkerchief, and an apple she had brought for recess. Then, keeping her eye on the board as though she were following the example, her hands began to explore the desk. She was feeling for the pin.
Perhaps the intensity of Margy’s gaze made her glance over her shoulder. Margy’s eyes were dancing. A sudden, deep flush spread over Carrie’s face.
“Now she knows,” said Margy to herself. “And the next time she finds anything that doesn’t belong to her, I hope she’ll give it up.”
Harry Worden came that afternoon and took a picture of “Riddle Chap,” but Fred could think only of his bank and Jess was looking for her glove all the time the snapshots were being taken. It was lucky that something happened to distract their attention and, in the case of Fred, it was doubly welcome. He felt so bad to think he had lost the money belonging to the club that his mother was afraid he would worry himself sick.
“You try to get the prize riddle, Fred,” Mrs. Williamson told him. “That will give the treasury a good start again.”
Fred said he would try, but that noon he came home from school, excited and eager.