The tears stood in Mary-Clare’s wide eyes, her lips trembled.
“I conscript you!” Mrs. Dana leaned a little further toward Mary-Clare and took her hands. “I was directed to you, Mrs. Rivers. You must help me do away with a wrong impression of the Forest. Together we will tell a story to the outside world that will change a great many things. We will tell the truth and set the Forest free from suspicion.”
“Oh! can we? Why, that would be the most splendid thing. We’re all so––so frightened.”
“Yes. I know. See, I have my credentials”––Mrs. Dana took a notebook from her bag. “The mines––well, all the danger there is destroyed. The mines are cleaned out.” She was reading from her notes.
“Yes.” Mary-Clare was impressed.
“And there’s iron on the Point––we must get at that––you own the Point?”
“No; I gave it to my husband.” The words were whispered. “And he sold it to a Mr. Northrup.” There was no holding back in King’s Forest these days.
“I see. Well, we must get this Mr. Northrup busy, then. Where is he?”
Mrs. Dana tucked the book away and her eyes looked kindly into Mary-Clare’s.
“I do not know. He went to his––to the city––New York.”