Their visitor turned to Miss Miller and continued, "If I had a girl to take care of I'm mighty sure I wouldn't let her go gallivantin' 'round the country with that young sport! But I s'pose you know best. Did her mother say anything in her letter about her?"
"Whose mother?" asked Miss Miller, amazed.
"Isn't that girl's name Brampton?" asked Mrs. Sherwood.
"Yes,—Anita Brampton. Why?"
"Then that letter yesterday mornin' what had Mrs. Brampton's name and address up in the left corner was her mother!" returned the visitor, with a look that said, "You can't fool me!"
"Oh, that letter Nita received was from her mother, Zan, not as you thought, from a post-office nearby!" exclaimed Miss Miller with relief.
"No, it wasn't! I read the post-mark as plain as day! And I know Mrs. Brampton's hand-writing well enough to recognise it! That writing was a school-boy's hand—most likely from this Jack!" retorted Zan.
"An' that letter was addressed to you, Miss Miller—not for the girl!" added Mrs. Sherwood.
"Why, I never got any letter, except from the doctor!"
"And I don't remember bringing one up, either, Mrs. Sherwood. Maybe you left it down in your house," added Zan.