“The door was locked when we got back,” replied Cora, as if that settled it.
“And the window fastenings are still on,” reported Jack, who made a quick inspection.
“Here’s a bit of mud near this one chair, as if it had dropped from some one’s shoe,” Walter said. “So the surprisers must have come in from outside.”
“Where else would they come from?” Jack demanded. “Did you think they were concealed in the bungalow?”
“I don’t know what to think,” Walter answered slowly. “It’s a queer mystery.”
“I hope it won’t cause you folks to leave,” said Mrs. Floyd a bit anxiously. “We’d like you to stay on.”
“And we will!” cried Cora. “We knew that a surprise awaited us when we came here, and we haven’t been disappointed. And, now that it has come, we’re not going to turn cowards and run away. We’ll get to the bottom of this mystery.”
“That’s right!” cried Jack. “Who’s afraid? You aren’t; are you, Hazel?”
“Not—not if——”
“Not if I stay! There, I knew it!” and Jack puffed out his chest. “See what it is to have confidence in a man. Now if the rest of you will act as I do, we’ll soon——”