"There's something fishy about the whole thing!" she said. "Because if this man Hofstatter didn't buy from the Convent, who did? They had nothing left to sell to Daddy!"
"Maybe he lied to Carwein!" exclaimed Louise. "Anybody can see that my handkerchief is exactly like yours."
"Yes! I think this man Hofstatter has smuggled the stuff into the country, avoiding the tax. That's what I believe!"
Louise jumped up energetically. "Now our job is to trap Hofstatter!"
"You mean to try to find him in Plattsburg?"
"I don't believe he's there—Or any lace-makers, either. We might stop and find out—and then go on to Montreal—to the Convent—and try to catch him, or find out something about him there."
"He probably won't be back for a good while, if he has just bought out the supply," remarked Linda, gloomily.
"True," admitted Louise. "But let's fly to Plattsburg anyhow, and investigate. We've gotten along O.K. here in New York. If we can only do as well there!"
"Well, it's only December twenty-seventh. We have plenty of time before school starts again."
"Now to send Ted a night-letter!" Louise reminded her chum. "New York to Plattsburg—Plattsburg to Montreal—Montreal to the Convent, with the time figured as closely as possible, and a telegram to him each night if we are safe."