“Then you may leave me here,” said Teresa eagerly.
At the first opportunity, young Merriwell called Brad into one of the other rooms.
“Brad, I want you to remain here and keep watch over Teresa,” he said. “She is not herself, and may do something rash. Professor Gunn and I are going to see the authorities. Then we’re going to see that a search is made for the body of Reggio. I don’t believe it will be found, for I have an idea that the assassins cast it into the water, and the tide has carried it far out to sea before this. Still it is our duty to have a search made for it.”
“Sure as shooting.”
“You’ll watch her closely, Brad?”
“She may object some, but I’ll do my prettiest, Dick.”
“Good! Now, I have to explain to her and urge her to remain here until we bring back some sort of a report.”
Teresa frowned and shook her head when he told her of the plan.
“I want no one to stay,” she said. “You shall all go.”
“Oh, no, no!” put in Professor Gunn. “We couldn’t think of that, my dear—couldn’t think of it. It wouldn’t be proper. Bradley will remain here to protect you from peril of any sort, and I assure you that he is a brave and noble lad. I do not think I quite understand him at school, but since seeing that he is brave as a lion and generous to a fault, I appreciate him fully.”