“Oh, I expect it is. Sherm, do you mind if I take these things over and show them to Captain Clarke? He said he would like to see them when they came.”
“No, take them along. If you’ll wait till I get the feeding done, I’ll go with you.”
“All right, let’s take Calico and Caliph.”
Sherm lingered out on the veranda while Chicken Little displayed the contents of the package to the Captain. He examined each little article of clothing for some identifying mark.
“There doesn’t seem to be anything to help on those,” he said, disappointed. “Let’s have a look at the jewelry.”
Chicken Little unwrapped the ring from its layers 382of tissue paper, and handed it to him. Captain Clarke took it, regarded the flat golden circle intently for an instant, then turned it to read the inscription.
A pained cry broke from his lips. Chicken Little glanced hastily up to find him holding the ring in shaking fingers, staring off into vacancy. “Juanita!” he whispered, “Juanita!”
Chicken Little touched his hands in distress.
“Captain–Captain Clarke, what is it?”
He looked down at her with a start. “I–it is—Excuse me a moment, Chicken Little.”