"Yes, sir," they replied, moving over and stationing themselves one at each angle of the narrow paths that ran before the old house.
Del Mar turned and plunged deliberately into the bushes, as if for a cross country walk, unobserved.
Meanwhile, by another path up the bluff, the tramp had made his way parallel to the line taken by the men. He paused at the top of the bluff where some bushes overhung and parted them.
"Their headquarters," he remarked to himself, under his breath.
Elaine, Aunt Josephine and I were on the lawn that forenoon when a groom in resplendent livery came up to us.
"Miss Elaine Dodge?" he bowed.
Elaine took the note he offered and he departed with another bow.
"Oh, isn't that delightful," she cried with pleasure, handing the note to me.
I read it: "The Wilkeshire Country Club will be honored if Miss Dodge and her friends will join the paper chase this afternoon. L.H. Brown, Secretary."
"I suppose a preparation for the fox or drag hunting season?" I queried.