“I wish I could get into his house. I am sure I could find incriminating evidence of some kind.”
“That’s easy. You just leave it to me and also follow me.” Teddy sauntered up to where Mr. Cheatham was standing talking to Mrs. Trask. He was evidently bent on disabusing his hostess’ mind of any belief in the report of Ben Benson’s death.
“Just idle rumor,” he asserted.
“I am sure it was,” broke in Teddy amiably. “Of course, if you know nothing of it it could not be true. By the way, Mr. Cheatham, how is your radio machine coming on? Is it satisfactory?”
“Very! I am quite a fan.”
“So I understand. Do you know here is a young lady who has never heard a concert or lecture by wireless?” said Teddy, drawing Josie into the circle. “She is curious to hear one, too. She just told me it was the height of her ambition. Anita is a novice at radio also. As for me, I get quite fed up on wireless at the club.”
“And you, Mrs. Trask, are you interested?” asked Mr. Cheatham.
“Yes, indeed!”
“Well, suppose we make up a little party—say for to-morrow. All of you, your guest of course,” turning with stiff courtesy to Josie, whom he had taken for granted was a house guest of his hostess. “We will have dinner at seven and then we can listen in on the radio all evening. Will Colonel Trask do me the honor to be one of the party?”
Colonel Trask pleaded other engagements. Teddy whispered to his mother not to disabuse Cheatham’s mind concerning Josie’s being for the time a member of their household. Mrs. Trask had taken a liking to Josie from the first and in spite of being somewhat mystified at her sudden appearance at the Christmas party was ready to accept her as Teddy’s friend and willing to defer all questionings as to who she was or how she happened to be in Peewee Valley.