“Well, I never!” gasped Dolly. She stared at Jake’s retreating form, and then back to Bessie, as if she were paralyzed with astonishment. “Whatever does this mean, Bessie? I should think you would be pretty hard up for friends before you’d make one of Jake Hoover!”
“Jake’s been more stupid than mean, Dolly. And he’s found out that he’s been wrong, I’m sure. From this time he’s going to do a whole lot for us, unless I’m badly mistaken. I’m sure it’s better to have him on our side than against us.”
“I’m not sure of anything of the sort, Bessie. But do tell me what happened. Why did you send that telegram to Miss Eleanor? And what was in it?”
“I sent it because if I hadn’t she would have walked right into a trap—she and Zara. Maybe it was too late, but I hope not. And our staying behind here was a mighty lucky thing. If we hadn’t had some warning of what Mr. Holmes and the others were planning, I don’t know what would have happened! Zara and I would have been caught, I’m quite sure.”
“Don’t be so mysterious, Bessie,” begged Dolly. “Tell me what you found out, can’t you? I’m just as excited and interested as you are, and I should think you would know it, too.”
“You’ll see it all soon enough, Dolly. Let’s find out how soon the next train comes.”
“In twenty minutes,” said the ticket agent, in answer to the question.
“And is it a through train—an express?” asked Bessie. “Have you a time-table? I’d like to see just where it stops.”
She got the time-table, and, after she had examined it carefully, heaved a sigh of relief.
“The train doesn’t stop at any place that isn’t marked down for it on the time-table, does it?” she said, as she bought the tickets.