They lost no time in securing the desired information and hurried off in John’s car to the girl’s home. If only they might find her there—and thus end all their fears!
But Mrs. Brazier’s reply immediately dashed all their hopes to the ground.
“Why no—she ain’t here. She left about half-past seven for the basket-ball game,” the woman told them cheerfully. She identified Mr. Richards by his uniform, for she had often heard her daughter speak of him. “Did you look in on the game?”
“Perhaps she is there by now,” answered the scout-master, unwilling to arouse the mother’s suspicions. “Did she carry a suit-case?”
“Yes, she always does—a bag for her shoes and bloomers. She must ’ave went there, because I noticed the bag. I picks it up, and I says to her, ‘It’s heavier than usual,’ and she says it had oranges in it—they was goin’ to have eats after the game.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” said John, drawing his own conclusions. “Well, I guess she’s there by now. We’ll go back. Thank you, Mrs. Brazier.”
No sooner were they in the car than they both blurted out the same solution.
“She’s going off to elope with Hinds!”
“Which station shall we go to first?” demanded Richards.
“The Pennsylvania—I think it’s most likely he’d strike out for the west. Probably a Pittsburg train.”