CHAPTER III
Suspects
“Let’s sit down again while you tell me every single thing that happened here yesterday,” suggested Mary Louise.
Elsie took off the white coat and folded it carefully. Then she removed her hat.
“But I can’t sit down in this silk dress,” she objected. “I might get it dirty, and I don’t want to take it off till I see myself in a mirror. I might not have another chance to put it on all day long!”
“You can sit on the paper,” advised Jane. “That will protect it. Besides, the ground is dry, and these needles are a covering.”
Very cautiously Elsie seated herself, and turned to Mary Louise, who had dropped down beside her on the ground.
“Begin when you got up in the morning,” she said.
“That was about seven o’clock,” replied Elsie. “But really, that doesn’t matter, because I’m sure Aunt Mattie counted her money after you girls brought the kitten back. I heard her. And she stayed in her room until after lunch.”
“Does this safe have a combination lock?” inquired Mary Louise.
“No, it doesn’t. Just a key. John Grant suggested to Aunt Mattie that she have one put on, and she refused. She said people can guess at combinations of figures by twisting the handle around, but if she kept the key with her day and night, nobody could open the safe.... But she got fooled!”