“Don’t be too sure child, because I am planning to clean beds to-day. The sun is shining and it is a good thing to be beforehand with beds. I can sun the things in the back yard—”
“The very thing!” cried Josie delightedly. “The more you are out in the back yard the better because I do so want you to keep an eye on those Kambourians from the rear. They will not be the least suspicious of a busy housewife engaged in the legitimate search connected with beds and early spring.”
Mrs. Leslie’s Monday gloom lifted a little. Being a private detective was rather more interesting than the usual humdrum of housekeeping. She promised Josie to keep a sharp lookout on the neighbors.
“You never can tell about foreigners. They are more than apt to be off color,” she declared. “If they do anything peculiar while you are away, how must I proceed, Josie?”
“Proceed to call up Burnett & Burnett, phone number, Preston 11, and ask for Mr. Theodore Burnett—take no substitute. Tell him who you are and what is happening. He will do the rest. The Kambourians may be absent all day but the chances are the woman will not leave the house. The place is even now being watched by detectives. But detectives do not always see everything and I am depending on you to see what they don’t see.”
“Detectives watching the house now!” cried Mrs. Leslie, “I should say this isn’t a blue Monday. I am thrilled indeed to be in the midst of a mystery. Hurry up and get off, girls, so I can get out in the back yard and see what I see.”
“Now, Mother, don’t overdo it,” cautioned Mary.
“Me overdo it!” said Mrs. Leslie, indignantly. “I know exactly how to behave under the circumstances. I am going to run in and out with pillows and blankets and carry out one slat at a time and put mattresses in the windows and let them fall in the yard. I just wish you and Josie could see me.”
“I wish we could,” laughed Josie. “I am sure you are going to do it splendidly and I am so glad you are interested in it. I just know you will beat all the police in Wakely in helping to bring these crooks to justice.”
The girls were hardly out of the house when Major Simpson was calling Mrs. Leslie on the telephone. The dear lady had not bargained for such a development and it was with difficulty that she commanded her voice to answer the smug old man as she knew he must be answered. She was sorry she had not asked instructions from Josie on how to meet such an emergency, but Major Simpson took matters in his own hands and there was little for her to say but yes and no.