But running ahead of the others came a boy. He was waving his cap and shouting something!
“It’s Andy!” murmured Rose. “Oh, he got left!”
“And—look there!” cried Nellie. “Those are the detectives after us! We must run! Maybe they don’t know the diamonds are found and will arrest us. I should die of shame then. We must run!”
“We can’t,” replied Rose miserably. “Oh, yes, Nellie. They have us this time,” and sinking down in the sand she clasped her hands and looked up. “Let us ask—mother in heaven—to take care of us!” she said reverently. Then they waited until the detectives came along.
[CHAPTER XXV—THE TRUTH! THE WHOLE TRUTH!]
“Rose! Nellie!” shouted Andy. “Get up! What’s the matter?”
The girls raised their eyes and saw before them not only the detectives but Jack and Cora Kimball, also Ed Foster.
“Come, girls,” began the taller of the two officers from Squaton. “You seem to be having a pretty hard time of it. What are you crying for?”
“Oh, we didn’t take the earrings!” sobbed Nellie. “And we don’t want—to go—to the reform school!”
“Who said you did take them?” inquired the officer, as Cora put her arm about Nellie, and assisted her to rise. “And who said you were to go to the reform school?”