“Oh, yes!” vowed both girls.
“Did I do wrong, dear?” asked Patty, anxiously.
“Not knowingly, sweetheart; but you must be very careful. I use you as my little helper, but if it is known, I must not do it. Now, Patty, here is another paper, that I want to leave in your care for a couple of days. Hide it as carefully as you can, and when I tell you to, then, mail it.”
“I will,” and Patty took the letter. “I’ll put it in this desk, now,—see, it has a secret compartment.”
Patty went to an antique mahogany desk, and in sight of them all, she secreted the important document.
“That’s probably all right,” and Farnsworth sighed with relief. “I was a bit fidgetty about having it in my pockets any longer. Now, don’t touch that desk, or open the secret drawer until I tell you to post the packet. Somebody might see you poking about.”
“But there are no spies here, Billee.”
“They are everywhere. No place is surely safe from them. Don’t worry, or even think about them. But just obey orders, unquestioningly, like the loyal little patriot you are!”
“All right; just as you say,” and Patty smiled at her commander.
“Why, look who’s here!” Bumble cried, and Fred Fairfield came in.