That question was a puzzling one for the deficient intellect of Sissy. She shook her head. “’Twas afore I rubbed Miz’ Moore’s feet the last time,” she ventured.
Haley, exasperated, but troubled still, pursued his questioning: “Did that take long?”
“Nop. Not long.”
“Have you done anything else since?”
“Yep. I’m allus doin’ things. I washed her tea set. That was after I made her tea and a slice of toast, and she’d eat it.”
“Goodness!” ejaculated Haley, figuring rapidly the possible time which had elapsed since little Lottie had been seen going down to the lake. “What else have you done since then?”
“Shook down the sittin’ room stove an’ put coal on. Miz’ Moore is bound ter have a coal fire, so’s it kin be kep’ all night. And then you come.”
“Maybe Lottie went along an hour ago, then?” queried Haley.
“Wal, if yeou know, Mister,” drawled the girl.
He thought he had some sort of an idea as to Lottie’s whereabouts. If she had gone down to the cove an hour before she might be in the shelter of the old dock, for the snow had come on swiftly. When he reached the shore, however, no Lottie was there.