“Did you see Milly take the money?” I insisted. “Was that what wakened you? And is that the reason why you wish it to appear that the safe was intact at the time you examined it?”
Winnie covered her face with her hands and did not reply. I felt that I had divined the truth. A solemn silence fell upon us both for a few minutes, then Winnie straightened herself with the old resolute look in her face.
“Tib,” she said, “I have told you nothing. You know nothing from your own personal observation. Whatever you may think is purely guess-work, and you have no right to imagine evil against Milly. She is the sweetest and dearest girl in our set. She is innocent and unsuspicious, and so kind-hearted that she is easily led. She has gone wrong in some things, terribly wrong; but she is the youngest of us all and it is Cynthia’s fault, and I believe she is trying desperately to get straight again. As for this terrible thing, you must not suspect her of it. It is your duty, on the contrary, to try to turn the attention of Mr. Mudge in some other direction.”
As she spoke, Cynthia opened the door and Winnie relapsed into silence. I felt a strange, dizzy sensation, as if the foundations were being removed. The more I tried to puzzle out the affair the more bewildered I became. There was Cynthia, who believed that Winnie was the culprit, or at all events was striving to make Mr. Mudge believe so; and when I weighed the evidence the case was strongly against her. Here again was Winnie, who seemed to believe that it was Milly, and I knew that the evidence which could shake her faith in Milly must be overwhelming. I had made it seem entirely clear to myself that Cynthia had done it, and in a blind, unreasoning way, although Winnie’s testimony had showed that this could not possibly be, the suspicion, once started, grew and strengthened. I watched her as she sat working out algebra problems with a disagreeable smile on her face—and I said to myself over and over again, “You did it, and the truth will come out at last.”
CHAPTER VI.
HALLOWEEN TRICKS AND WHAT CAME OF THEM.
Evening was falling when Adelaide returned from her interview with Mr. Mudge.
“Has not Milly returned yet?” she asked, as she entered the door.
“No,” replied Winnie. “Has Mr. Mudge gone to interview Celeste?”