“Oh, no, not at all, Miss Davis,” Babs assured her. “I can easily understand how you feel. And I feel dreadfully about it too. Somehow I couldn’t sleep last night and I didn’t know why. Come along, I’m ready,” and they went off, Babs dropping a note on her father’s desk as she went.
Cara met them before they reached the corner. The original plan was to have Cara call at the house, but because of Miss Davis’ excited state of mind, and the constant danger of Dora overhearing her, Babs had hurried out before the appointed time. She knew she would meet Cara before she turned into Landing.
“Hop right in,” was Cara’s cheerful greeting. Then she paused to give Babs a chance to introduce the stranger.
“And if you don’t mind, Cara,” Babs continued after the brief introduction, “we’ll drive out to the Italian settlement. We want to see Nicky.”
“Nicky!” Cara’s tone was in dispute. She meant to convey again to Babs her opposition to her constant interest in the Italians.
“Yes, and it’s very important,” put in Miss Davis before Babs could answer. “In fact we’ve got to find him.”
“Oh,” said Cara in bewilderment. This was something new, she understood now; something new, but what?
Babs took her place in the front seat of the auto beside Cara, and while Miss Davis was settling herself in the back seat, managed to whisper enough to Cara to give the very least inkling of the matter.
“Something we lost,” she said, “and maybe Nicky has seen it. He was there yesterday when we were closing up.”
“Oh,” said Cara again, and then she drove on.