“I tell you I have not seen them at all to-day. I have been busy right here for Con.”
“Then they are gone! The Gypsies have got them!”
For Agnes, without much logic of thought, had immediately jumped to this conclusion. Neale stared.
“What sort of talk is that, Agnes?” he demanded. “You know that can’t be so.”
“I tell you it is so! It must be so! They got Mrs. McCall and me out of the house—”
“Who did?” interrupted Neale, getting hastily over the fence and taking the girl’s hand. “Now, tell me all about it—everything!”
As well as she could for her excitement and fear, the girl told the story of the boy who had brought her the false message about Maria Maroni, and then about the message Mrs. McCall had received calling her across town.
“It must be that they have kidnapped the children!” moaned Agnes.
“Not likely,” declared the boy. “The kids have just gone visiting without asking leave. In fact, there was nobody to ask. But I see that there is a game on just the same.”
He started hastily for the Corner House and Agnes trotted beside him.