She got only a curt grunt in reply, but Kit didn't mind. She went on: "That's awfully kind of you! I'm going to come often."
Kit always returned from her visits with new suspicions. Although she had found no clue, she insisted that the old man was guilty.
"Kit, I'm surprised at you!" declared the gentle Shirley. "He's a harmless old man, and I don't believe he would steal from Colonel Baxter."
"Maybe he wouldn't," Kit returned with a frown, "but I still have my doubts. I wish I had his shop to myself for half a day, then I'd make sure the fan was not hidden there.—Or I'd find it."
"Why couldn't you send him up to the Manor to fix a chair or something?" exclaimed Joy.
"He'd probably see through it. Peter Gruff is foxy," replied Bet. "Anyway I had orders long ago never to let the old man in the house when Dad was away."
"So your father didn't trust him?" cried Kit exultantly.
"Well Dad just thought it would be better not to put temptation in his way. He's crazy about old bric-a-brac, you know. And Dad didn't know what he might be up to."
Kit got her chance to have the shop to herself the next day. Old Peter Gruff left early in the morning, and Jacques was alone.
"It's luck, Kit," shouted Bet. "Come right away!"