Mollie grasped the heirloom with a little cry of joy. Then she threw her arms about Betty's neck, and began to laugh hysterically.
"Don't mind me," she gasped, as the boys looked on mystified. "I—I can't help it! I'm just so—so happy!"
Betty patted her chum's shoulder, soothingly.
"Now, see what you've gone and done," she accused poor Will.
"I—I didn't know——" he was beginning, but he seemed destined not to finish his sentences that day.
Mollie, a creature of moods, withdrew herself from Betty's arms and favored the promising young detective with an ecstatic little hug that amazed and delighted that young gentleman immensely.
"I say, Mollie, do it again," he pleaded, while the other three boys hastened to demand their share of the reward.
But Mollie had caught Grace about the waist and they were engaged in what might be called a cross between a Virginia reel and an Indian war dance.
When they were forced to stop from sheer lack of breath, the volcanic Mollie flung herself upon the steps, and beamed upon them.
"And that's not all," Will said, and glanced instinctively toward his sister.