At breakfast the next morning the entire family fell upon Ernest and Sherm and demanded news of the bread. Annie had returned and assured Mrs. Morton that it had been safely stored in the bread box before she left the house the evening before.
“Bread? What bread?” asked Ernest, rather too innocently.
“Ernest Morton, you did something with that bread I was going to send the Captain. You have got to tell me where you hid it.”
“Chicken Little Jane Morton, I give you my word of honor I didn’t touch your old bread and I don’t know where it is.”
Ernest assumed a highly injured air. Sherm took a hasty swallow of water and nearly choked.
The family had come near believing Ernest, but Sherm’s convulsed face roused their suspicion afresh.
“If you didn’t, you got Sherm to,” said Katy shrewdly. “That’s what you were laughing about last night–I know it was.”
“That’s like a girl always suspecting a fellow of being up to some deviltry. Maybe you think we’ll keep on feeding your old pigs if you treat us this way.”
169Dr. Morton scanned the boys closely, but did not say anything.
Jane and Katy turned on Sherm.