It was two o'clock when they arrived at the Brubaker farm. The front door opened, and Mrs. Brubaker appeared.
"Well, of all things!" she exclaimed, recognizing Miss Phillips and Marjorie in the car. "This surely is a surprise!"
When they were all comfortably seated before the open fire, Mr. Wilkinson explained their mission, and the good woman seemed amazed at their news.
"We had no idea Frieda wasn't still at school. Her mother never said a word. Oh, I'm so sorry!"
They talked a little while, and then leaving her father with Mr. Brubaker, Marjorie and her Captain proceeded toward the tenant house where the Hammers lived.
Mrs. Hammer did not recognize them at first. Then Miss Phillips explained.
"We want to know if you have any news of Frieda, Mrs. Hammer," she said, very politely.
"Come in," invited the older woman, holding open the door a little wider.
"We haven't heard a word since she ran away," continued Miss Phillips, as soon as they were inside, "except that a friend of mine saw a girl answering her description in New York."
"That's where she is, I reckon," assented Mrs. Hammer, "but that's all I know. From her onct in a while I get a letter, and can write to her care of—what d'ye call it?—general delivery. But I can't write very good."