“Now, now, Sera, just take things easy,” Mr. Ball soothed. He looked quickly at Roy and Teddy, a frantic question in his eyes.
“You see, Mr. Ball,” Teddy stammered, “we thought Belle and the other girls were still here, and we came over to get them and Mrs. Ball told us that they had left for our place on Saturday with a man who had a note—”
“Do you mean to say he wasn’t one of your father’s men?” Mr. Ball demanded, holding his wife close and staring incredulously at the boys. “Why, he had a note from your mother! Sera—Sera—” He looked down at his wife. “Where is that note? Have you got it?”
“It’s—it’s upstairs,” Mrs. Ball murmured, her voice choked with tears. Suddenly she straightened, and, with a determined motion, drew her hands over her eyes. “Wait here—I’ll get it,” and she hurried toward the stairs.
Roy fingered his hat uncertainly.
“I don’t know what to say, Mr. Ball,” he muttered. “We haven’t heard from the girls and we thought they were still here. I can’t imagine—”
Teddy gave a short laugh, and his brother and Mr. Ball turned to him in surprise. Then they saw that he was staring fixedly at the wall, a strained look on his face. The laugh had come from between clenched teeth.
“I’ve got an idea,” Teddy said slowly. “I’ve got a hunch—and—and if it’s true, I’ll—” Suddenly he raised both hands and shouted:
“Pull a rotten trick like that, will you? The dirty thieves! Kidnappers! Girl stealers! We’ll get ours, will we? Not this time! Reltsur! I know—I know—”
“Teddy!”