“It’s packed, too. That means they intend to leave soon. Kitty, we’ll have to keep our wits about us now. And the first thing to do is to get away from this room, before we’re caught.”
The girls had talked so rapidly and in such a low tone that Etta had not heard them, but now as she sensed that they were about to leave, she began to sob again. Doris dropped down on the bed and took her hand.
“You mustn’t cry,” she declared. “We’re only going away for a little while.”
“You’ll come back tomorrow?”
“Yes, and you must be careful not to say anything about having seen us. If you do, we may not be able to come.”
“I won’t tell,” Etta promised solemnly.
Hastily saying goodbye, the girls slipped out of the bedroom and down the stairs to the second floor. As they entered their own room they could hear Cora and Henry Sully moving about on the floor below.
“They certainly finished their housecleaning quickly enough,” Kitty observed.
Doris took care to close the door and then, dropping down on the bed beside her chum, regarded her soberly.
“It’s my candid opinion that was only an excuse, Kit. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were hunting for something in the Misses Gates’s rooms.”