“As for giving you boys any help, you can count on me every minute. I know what you chaps have done, and I kinder like you, and I don’t like that man Simmons at all. In fact if he don’t show some signs of life and do something after he’s been here for a reasonable time, I am going to write the department and ask that another inspector be sent that won’t bother about the stamps, which have a regular inspection every so often, and will put his time in on the right matter.”
There was nothing further that the boys could ask then, so they went out into the store.
“Better buy something so that we will seem to have a purpose in coming to the store other than our real one,” whispered Phil to Garry.
Garry nodded his head, and for the benefit of those who were sitting out on the porch and who he knew were probably inveterate gossipers, they made a few minor purchases, leaving them to be called for on their way back to the lean-to.
Then they went to Aunt Abbie’s to see their friends, and found that Mr. Everett was out but that Ruth was at home. She greeted them with sparkling eyes, and her whole manner indicated the she had some very important secret or idea in her keeping. The boys could not help but notice this, and pressed her to tell them what she was so excited about.
The girl, however, steadfastly refused to divulge her thoughts, and seeing that she had made them curious to a great degree, teased them considerably about what she called “womanish curiosity.”
It was well along in the afternoon by now, and the boys, refusing Aunt Abbie’s pressing invitation to stay for supper, withdrew to make their way back to their camp. They wanted to talk over the new angle in the case, which might mean a trip to Coldenham first, rather than a search of Lafe Green’s house. That could probably come later.
They arrived at camp just before dusk and set about the routine of preparing the evening meal. As the boys worked, Dick remarked that he did not think he had enough boughs for a bed, as he was heavier than the others and would sink in them much more easily.
The chums laughed at this, and Dick retorted:
“Go on, just because you skinny fellows can sleep on two branches and a stone is no reason I should be uncomfortable. Go on, start the supper while I get some more boughs.”