“Thanks to me?” repeated Dorothy, wondering. “Garry, why?”
“I never would have discovered that cave if I hadn’t heard you call out,” Garry explained. “That hole in the mountainside was the coziest little retreat I ever saw.”
“Well, I’m glad if I helped a little,” sighed Dorothy. “I was afraid you might be going to scold me.”
“Scold you?” repeated Garry tenderly. “You foolish, little brick!”
It was a long time before Garry remembered something that had once seemed important to him. With an exclamation of dismay he stuck his hand in his pocket and drew forth a yellow envelope.
“Here’s a telegram from The Cedars, and I clean forgot all about it,” he said penitently. “One of the boys brought it from Dugonne where he went to send the telegram to Major Dale. I didn’t mean to keep it, honest I didn’t!”
“Under the circumstances, I don’t blame you in the least,” said Dorothy demurely, as she hastily tore open the telegram.
She read it through, then turned to Garry with shining eyes.
“This is the one thing I needed to make me perfectly happy, Garry,” she said. “Nat says that Jack Popella has been arrested for setting Haskell’s store on fire. That automatically clears Joe of suspicion!”
“That’s great. The poor kid has had more than his share of worry lately. Just wait till he reads that telegram.” And to Tavia, passing the door at that moment, he gave the yellow sheet with the request that she convey it to Joe with all possible speed.