Mrs. Carter could not tell by their manner whether they suspected anything, but she had her story ready. It was an invention, but life with Jack Carter had left her few compunctions about such a simple matter as telling a lie.
"I missed something myself," she said. "We don't lock our door of nights, and I reckon some tramp got in last night, when we were asleep, and robbed us all. Have you lost much, you two?"
"Not much, ma'am. There wasn't much to take."
"It's a pity. I am sorry it happened under my roof. But we slept very sound last night, Jack and me, and that's the way it must have come."
She looked at them critically, to detect, if she could, whether they suspected her husband or herself, but both the travelers were on their guard.
"Did you have much taken, ma'am?" asked Bradley.
"No," she answered hurriedly, rather ashamed of the imposture. "We ain't rich, Jack nor I."
"What I am most sorry for," said Ben, "is that we have nothing to pay for our accommodations."
"You're welcome to your lodging and what you've ate," said the woman sincerely. "And, if you like, I'll put up some luncheon for you to eat by and by."
"Thank you, ma'am, it will be very acceptable," answered Bradley.