“What can we do?”
“We’ll keep close watch on them. There’s one thing certain. They won’t attempt to harm Etta until they get that paper they spoke of.”
“What do you think it can be?”
“Some kind of stock or deed, I imagine. We’ll speak to the Misses Gates about it at the first opportunity. And in the meantime, we mustn’t let on that we suspect anything!”
CHAPTER XX
A PICNIC
Doris did not have an opportunity that day to speak to the Misses Gates concerning the mysterious paper which Cora and Henry Sully had mentioned, for an old friend of the ladies called at the mansion and the subject could not be brought up in her presence. The next day she fully intended to speak of the matter, but it seemed that she was never alone with the twins for ten minutes at a time. Either Cora or Henry remained within listening distance and the girls wondered if they could be suspicious.
The afternoon mail brought a note from Dave Chamberlin, and for the time being Doris and Kitty forgot the problems which troubled them.
“Dear Doris,” the note read, “Marshmallow and I think tomorrow would be a great day for that picnic we planned. How about it? If we don’t hear from you to the contrary, we’ll be at your doorstep tomorrow morning. Don’t worry about grub. We’ll bring enough for an army. Dave.”
“What a relief it will be to get away for a day,” Kitty declared. “There’s nothing to prevent our going, is there?”
“No, I heard Azalea say that Ronald was coming tomorrow but that’s all the more reason for me to be away. He’ll plague me about that loan and I’m not ready to give him the money yet.”