“All ready,” cried Frank, but Jack threw himself into a chair and took up a magazine, watching the face of the messenger over the pages as he did so.
“You are to give up the cottage,” the messenger said, with a frown of disapproval. “No one is to be left here.”
“It will be all right for me to remain here until the others come,” Jack said, with a smile. “I don’t feel like a walk this morning.”
“There is a motor car just over the hill.”
“No inducement,” laughed Jack. “I’m going to remain here.”
The messenger said no more, though it was plain that the arrangement did not please him. In a few moments the boys were off, the messenger leading the way and keeping up a running fire of conversation.
“What do you think of that?” asked Jack of the cook, as the party disappeared in the thicket.
“I don’t like it,” was the reply. “I overheard what Frank told you about the disappearance of Ned and Jimmie, and was anticipating something of the kind.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“It was not for me to interfere,” was the reply.