The stranger standing at John’s side laughed.
“I beg your pardon!” said John, suddenly remembering his presence. “Marjorie, I have the honor of presenting Mr. Emerson, who lives next door, and whose telephone I used. Mr. Emerson was good enough to insist on coming back with me. And it’s a good thing he did. He happened to be awake and heard Jack whistle three times; so he guessed that something was going to happen. When he looked out the window while I was telephoning he saw that fellow Tim Kelley skulking across the fields towards the tea-house, and became suspicious. So instead of coming back by the road, as I would naturally have come if I had been alone, we cut across the field together and followed the fellow. We found him hiding behind the stable, spying on you; so we thought that was enough evidence to take him prisoner on. And you know the rest. That’s how it was, wasn’t it, Mr. Emerson?”
“Exactly.”
“Oh, how can we ever thank you for helping us?” exclaimed Marjorie.
“Don’t try! It was nothing. This young man did it all!” he said, placing his hand upon John’s arm. “But let me congratulate you, Miss Wilkinson. You have done a fine thing; and I know it took courage to stay in this house all night!”
John introduced the other boys to Mr. Emerson, calling Jack “Ethel” when his turn came.
“By the way, Jack,” he suddenly asked. “Do you know who my prisoner was?”
“Sure!” replied Jack. “Anna’s brother!”
“Anna’s brother!” exclaimed John. “I didn’t know that!”
“Who did you think he was?”