“You won’t put me in jail?” jabbered the simpleton. “You won’t let the policemen get me?”
Billie shook her head, adding quickly: “But you must take us to the cave right away and help us bring back the things you have stolen. Otherwise we will have you arrested to-night.”
They were hardly prepared for his sudden acceptance of the ultimatum. He turned, with the swiftness that had surprised Billie and Teddy before, and strode off through the heavy snow, the girls, after a minute of indecision, following.
“What do you suppose Miss Walters will say?” Laura whispered in Billie’s ear. “Do you suppose she will mind our running away like this?”
“I don’t know,” answered Billie, adding with a hint of premature triumph in her voice: “I don’t imagine she will say anything though if we come home with the knitting machinery models, the blue prints, and an armful of stolen things besides.”
“Oh, if I can only get back my watch, I’ll be happy,” sighed Connie, as she plodded along beside Vi.
“‘If’ is right,” said Laura, ruefully. “We haven’t got anything yet, you know.”
“Now who’s the wet blanket?” cried Billie gayly. She was feeling amazingly happy and confident all of a sudden. For had not she just won the first prize for the best composition? After that she felt that she could accomplish anything.
It was no easy task to make their way through the woods. Nick Budd trudged along sturdily, hardly looking at the girls.
“He may be simple-minded, but he is as strong as a horse—at least, when it comes to walking,” remarked Laura in a whisper.