"Why! what could he do?"
"I would have him follow Billings. Oh, I could cry! it is the one opportunity for solving this mystery that we have found, and now we are going to lose it!"
Louise was greatly distressed.
"Isn't there some way that you can detain Billings," she suggested, "until Litizki arrives?"
"No. He's been trying to get away for several minutes. It is just possible that Litizki may be near. I'll go out with Billings, as if to call at a neighbor's, and if I see Litizki will put him on the track at once."
She went upstairs for her hat, lingering over the preparation in order to give Litizki all possible opportunity to keep his appointment, and when she came down again Billings was in the hall.
"I can't wait no longer," he said gruffly.
"Very well," replied Clara; "I thank you again for calling. I am going as far as the next house, and you can escort me."
Billings scowled with disagreeable surprise. At the gate he waited to see which way she would turn.
"I'm not going that way, miss," he said, and started off at a rapid pace in the opposite direction.