“Meddler!” she cried, under her breath.
Nancy Cutter read slowly and distinctly from the letter.
“‘I was surprised by your inquiries in regard to Peter Tooker, my dear Nancy. Tooker is quite a character in these parts, a visionary, a dreamer, a seeker after the impossible. I was still more surprised to hear that he had a daughter at Three Towers Hall. It was the first mention I have ever heard of a daughter.’
“Now listen to this!” Nancy adjusted her attentive audience. “The best is still to come!
“‘I believe there was some excitement for a while about a report of the discovery of oil on the old fellow’s property. There was immense activity there for a time. But it is over now. Just yesterday I met a man who said Tooker’s wells had gone dry.’
“There!” cried Nancy triumphantly. “I told you all that talk about Edina being rich was a fake.”
Billie was on her feet, fighting desperately for her friend.
“I don’t believe it. That letter is all a mis——”
She stopped suddenly, her eyes on someone who had just entered the gymnasium.
“No,” a voice said, clearly and distinctly. “Everything that Nancy Cutter read is true!”