"What's he want o' ye, Jase?" asked Aunt 'Mira curiously, as her husband left the table. "Don't he clerk down to Tom Hotchkiss' store?"
Uncle Jase muttered something unintelligible and went out on the porch, closing the door carefully behind him. The air of expectancy over the three left at the supper table in the Day kitchen increased as the minutes passed.
"More secrets," said Mrs. Day lachrymosely. "I might's well be merried to the Shah of Pershy. I'd know jest as much about his business as I do about Jase Day's."
Marty only chuckled at his mother's complaint. Janice felt some little perturbation. It increased as Uncle Jason's absence continued. When finally he opened the door suddenly and almost staggered into the kitchen, his face blanched and his eyes expressing an emotion that she could not fathom, the girl leaped simultaneously to her feet and to a conclusion.
"It's daddy!" she gasped. "Something has happened again in Mexico! Oh, Uncle Jason! what is it?"
CHAPTER II
SOMETHING TROUBLES EVERYBODY
Uncle Jason stood suddenly straighter and looked at his niece with clearing visage. His wife shrilled:
"Ye wanter scare ev'rybody out o' their seven senses, Jase Day? What's the matter of you?"
"Nothin'," stammered Mr. Day with dry lips.