“Why Linda! What’s happened?” demanded Dot, in surprise.
“Nothing, nothing,” she murmured, in confusion. “Nothing’s wrong. It’s—just a personal message.”
“Not about Amy?”
“No.”
There was an embarrassed silence, and Kitty came to the rescue by leading the conversation back to the subject of the treasure hunt.
“I’m allowed to tell you this much about it,” she added. “Everybody flies to Lake Winnebago after the hunt for a big celebration. Dad’s rented an entire Inn for the week-end, and all our parents are invited to be chaperons.”
“And will the prize be awarded then?” asked Dot, more to keep the conversation away from Linda than because she wanted to know.
“No. The lucky pilot finds the prize for himself—after following the directions he receives.”
“You better say ‘she,’” remarked Ralph, “for I think it’s a great deal more likely that Linda or Dot will get it, than any of us fellows.”
Linda forced a smile, but her mind was not on the conversation. Even the treasure hunt had lost its interest; she longed to get home, where she could be alone to think things out.