“But for these two, I could lead a peaceful life,” Leila complained resignedly.
“The three of you had better come over to the Arms on Saturday for the week-end. I’ll set you to hunting the secret drawer in separate rooms. Then you won’t be disturbed, Leila.” Miss Susanna surveyed the trio with twinkling eyes. “I daresay, however, that I’ll find the three of you all hob-nobbing cheerfully together in one room before the day is over,” she mischievously predicted.
“Something like that might happen,” Leila conceded with her widest smile, “I am so kind-hearted.”
Peter Cairns and Miss Susanna exchanged sympathetically droll glances as they listened to the lively repartee that went on for a little among the three chums.
“The best is ours, Peter,” the old lady said softly to him with a quick sidelong nod toward Leslie.
“I know it,” was his fervent response as he looked with fond pride at his daughter’s laughter-bright face. Again his eyes strayed to Leila who was indulging in what she characterized as “a fit of Irish glee.” She and Leslie were evidently the best of friends. He wondered, if, in the dim future, there might come a time when he—. He had been interested in Leila almost since first meeting. He had sternly dismissed the sentimental thought that invariably sprang into his brain each time he saw the clever Irish girl.
“Peter,” Miss Susanna’s voice broke in upon his nearly sentimental meditation, “I wish you’d come and take a look about the Chinese room. You’ve traveled in the Orient and know a good deal about the secret ways of the Orientals. Your knowledge of Chinese things may steer you straight to the secret drawer.”
“Are we invited to go along?” Marjorie inquired plaintively.
“Of course, goose, we’ll all go, and do a little hunting. I believe in making my guests useful,” laughed the old lady.
The searchers trooped merrily into the Chinese room, volubly voicing their hope that the financier might hit upon the hiding-place of the secret drawer. For an hour they busied themselves diligently, running their hands over the various pieces of teakwood furniture, and pressing upon spots of it that suggested even remotely the presence of a secret mechanism.