“You better pay your debts first, Harry,” cautioned his mother.
“I hope to make enough money to do both,” he returned confidently. “And if you see Aunt Mattie, you can tell her I don’t need her help!”
Mary Louise nudged Jane’s arm at this proud boast and repressed a giggle.
“Maybe he can fool his mother,” she whispered. “But he can’t fool us! Come on, get in, Jane.”
Holding open the lid of the car’s compartment she lifted Silky in and gave her hand to her chum.
“Suppose he puts his satchel in here,” said Jane, when they were all huddled down in the extremely small space and Mary Louise had cautiously let down the lid, shutting them in absolute darkness.
“He won’t—not if it has money in it. He’ll keep it right on the seat beside him.... He will anyway, because it doesn’t take up much room.”
The car rocked to one side, indicating that Harry Grant had stepped in and was seating himself at the wheel. Jane’s lip trembled.
“It’s so dark in here! So terribly dark! Where’s your hand, Mary Lou?”
“Here—and here’s Silky. Oh, Jane, this is going to be good!”