“Oh! oh! Fanning, please let go!” Hester was crying.
“I will if you’ll promise not to tell.”
“There’s no need for her to promise that, Fanning,” said Peggy, “for I have already heard enough for me to know that she has some connection with the disappearance of the Bancroft diamonds.”
“Oh, Peggy!” cried Hester, running to her side.
“See here,” began Fanning, swaggering forward threateningly toward the two girls.
“My brother is just ’round that corner,” said Peggy, boldly; “he’ll be here in a minute. If you don’t wish to be arrested for what you did the other night you had better get away from here, Fanning Harding.”
A scared look crossed Fanning’s face and he turned and fairly took to his heels.
“Now, Hester,” said Peggy, kindly, “come with me to my car. It’s just ’round the corner.”
“Oh, Peggy, I’ve been a bad, wicked girl, but I’m not a thief. Truly I’m not.”
“I believe that,” said Peggy, “but what do you know about the disappearance of the diamonds?”