Not the slightest change came over the expressionless faces of the man and boy.
In despair Jo Ann turned again to Peggy. “They’re hopeless,” she declared. “I give up. Let’s just leave them standing here.”
As soon as she had stopped talking, the boy took the old man by the hand and led him down the stairs and into the street.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t hold them,” sighed Jo Ann, dropping down on the steps to rest after her strenuous efforts.
“Come on,” urged Peggy. “Let’s finish the dishes before Florence gets back.”
“All right. We’ll have to hurry.”
Returning to the kitchen, they attacked the dishes energetically, though talking over the discovery of the hidden room all the time.
“While you put things away,” offered Jo Ann, “I’ll sweep, and everything’ll be straight in a jiffy.”
When they had almost finished, Florence appeared in the doorway.
“How smart you’ve been!” she praised, glancing around the kitchen approvingly. “You didn’t have time to get into mischief, did you?”