"She's second fiddle," announced the little woman. "There's another craft cut acrost her bows. If you ask me who 'tis I can tell you, too, Cap'n Sears."
And Sears made it a point not to ask. Once it was Elvira herself who more than hinted, and in the presence of Elizabeth and the captain. The latter pair were at the desk together when Miss Snowden passed through the room.
"Where is mother?" asked Elizabeth. "Have you seen her, Elvira?"
Elvira's thin lips were shut tight.
"Don't ask me," she snapped, viciously. "She's out trapping, I suppose."
"Trapping!" Elizabeth stared at her. "What are you talking about? Trapping what?"
"I don't know. I'm not layin' traps to catch anything—or anybody either."
She sailed out of the room. Miss Berry turned to Sears.
"Do you know what she means, Cap'n Kendrick?" she asked.
Sears did know, or would have bet heavily on his guess. But he shook his head. Elizabeth was not satisfied.