“I left it behind on purpose, Dolly,” she explained, when she came down. “I wanted them to go ahead. Ah, look!”
As they went along, with most of the girls fully a hundred yards ahead of them, a lurking figure was plainly to be seen following the girls.
“It’s Jake Hoover!” said Dolly excitedly.
“I thought I saw him last night. That was why you thought something was wrong, Dolly,” said Bessie. “But I wanted to make sure before I said anything.”
“That means trouble,” said Dolly.
CHAPTER X
A MEETING—AND A CONVERSION
“Trouble—he’s always meant that every time we’ve seen him!” said Bessie bitterly.
“How do you suppose he has managed to be away from home so much, Bessie?”
“I don’t know, Dolly, but I’m afraid he’s got into some sort of trouble. I’m quite sure that Mr. Holmes and that lawyer, Mr. Brack, have got something against him—that they know something he’s afraid they will tell.”