“She never did find out who did it.”
“Betsy, surely you can hatch up something as good as that. Think hard.”
“I have thought of something better, only I can’t think of anyone with nerve enough to do it.”
Magdalene’s eyes gleamed. She was a nervous, high-strung girl. She adored Betsy and would run any risk to win favor in Betsy’s eyes. Betsy knew this.
“Dare me, why don’t you?”
“Why Magdalene—you’d be afraid!” Betsy certainly knows how to work her schemes, Mimi thought.
“I would not! Name it and see!”
Betsy lowered her voice until Mimi had to strain her ears to catch what she was saying. She did not get it all but she did hear “alarm bell,” “basement,” and “midnight.”
Because Mimi liked to play pranks herself, her first thought was, Will that be a riot? It won’t scare me. I’ll be listening. I’ll tell Sue and Chloe and we’ll stay up for the fun.
Then she saw more clearly what the plot was and what its consequences might be.