“You tell it, John,” suggested Jack, modestly.
“There’s not much to tell,” replied John; “only that we recognized the girls’ car, and gave it a chase.”
“And caught it!” added Marjorie, triumphantly.
To everyone the story seemed almost incredible in its exposure of the Crowells’ villainy; but to Miss Vaughn each word was like a blow. Her face grew ashen, and her expression distorted. For some moments she was so angry that she could not speak.
Finally Jack broke the silence.
“That isn’t half of it,” he said. “We succeeded in learning all you wanted explained about your trip out, Marj,” he added, turning to his sister.
Marjorie’s eyes flashed expectantly; she glanced across the room at McDaniel and Cryton, but found them looking fixedly at the floor.
“Proceed!” commanded Jack again, to the culprit.
“The whole thing started, as near as I can remember, about two months ago,” said Vaughn, doggedly, “at a frat smoker. The fellows were all talking about a new frat house, and nobody could see any way of getting the money together. Then Milt and I hit on the plan of approaching Auntie on the subject. And do you remember, Aunt Emeline, that you turned us down on the grounds that this scout trip would eat too heavily into your income?”
“Yes, I recall the circumstance,” nodded Miss Vaughn, with an effort.