“But where are Tess and Dot?” she demanded.
“How do I know?” he returned. “I want to find out if there is something else missing.”
“What do you mean?”
“That bracelet.”
“Goodness, Neale! Is it that bracelet that has brought us trouble again?”
“It looks like a plot all right to me. A plot to get you and Mrs. McCall out of the house so that somebody could slip in and steal the bracelet. Didn’t that ever occur to you?”
“Goodness me, Neale!” cried Agnes again, but with sudden relief in her voice. “If that is all it is I’ll be glad if the old bracelet is stolen. Then it cannot make us any more trouble, that is one sure thing!”
CHAPTER XXIII—A SURPRISING MEETING
Tess and Dot Kenway, with no suspicion that anything was awaiting them save the possible loss of the silver bracelet, but otherwise quite enjoying the adventure, walked hurriedly along Willow Street as far as the brick-yard. That they were disobeying a strict injunction in taking the bracelet out of the house was a matter quite overlooked at the time.
They came to the corner and there, sure enough, was a big, dusty automobile, with a big, dark man in the driver’s seat. He smiled at the two little girls and Tess remembered him instantly.