With a muttered expression of great surprise, the agent picked up the same scale weight he had used to drive the nails partly in, and by pounding on the lower edge of the cover he forced it up, flung it back, and let the rays of the overhead light, which he had switched on, flood upon the three disheveled girls in the big box.
“My sakes!” cried the man. “What are you girls doin’ in there?”
“You shut us in,” Sim answered, standing up and stretching, as did her chums. “We didn’t want Dr. Bordmust to see us, so we hid in this box.”
“Then,” continued Terry, “you nailed it shut.”
“How was I t’ know you was in there?” demanded the agent, with much justification. “It’s a lucky thing, after Dr. Bordmust left, not finding what he was after, that I come back here t’ make sure I’d switched off the light for th’ night.”
“Very lucky,” agreed Sim.
“I never could of heard you yellin’ once I got back t’ my office,” went on the man.
“We’re awfully glad you came here. Thanks, so much!” murmured Terry, with much relief.
“Where you from—Cedar Ridge?” asked the agent.
“Yes,” Arden answered, “and we’re in an awful hurry to get back. Supper must have started,” she told her chums.