But the few sentences were legible!
She read.
“Everything’s gone, but we’ll have Dale——” Then there was a break, and another bit could be read.
“In court within a few days!”
“In court! Major Dale!” gasped Tavia. “It’s an outrage!” and she breathed hard, as if to control the emotion she felt.
“I won’t tell Dorothy,” she concluded. “Talk about school rivals! Ugh! That Jean!”
Dorothy had helped Tavia through many a hard problem in her life. In fact whatever was reasonable in the girl had been developed through Dorothy’s efforts, or Tavia’s love for Dorothy, since it is said nothing new can be put into a character, but the good or bad there simply developed. Now it was Tavia’s turn. She knew exactly what Dorothy would do had she been in the other’s place.
“I’ll look this up,” decided Tavia, in true detective fashion. “That Jean might be writing letters to herself.”
Then it occurred to her that Dorothy’s mail might bring the same news. Could she intercept that?
Quick as a flash she thought of the evening post. She could get Ned to go with her, and reach the office before the carrier started out. Ned would have to go, or Tavia would tell all about the dog. Tavia didn’t care, but Ned did.