“I wonder what we ought to do,” said Bess. “It’s too bad the boys are away to-day. I suppose the police ought to be told about it.”
“There’s nothing yet to tell,” said Cora. “He’d simply deny that he ever suggested anything of the kind to Nina. It would be only her word against his, and she has no witnesses. Besides, for revenge, he’d blurt out all about that Roxbury matter.”
At this moment the maid announced a visitor, and Nina vanished as Mr. Baxter entered the room and greeted the girls cordially.
“Sort of an Adamless Eden here, I see,” he laughed, as he noted the absence of the boys.
“Yes,” smiled Cora, “they’re out for a spin to-day by themselves. But I expect that they’ll be back before long.”
“I’m rather sorry they’re not here,” said Mr. Baxter, “as I wanted to talk over a matter in which you’re all interested. I refer to the young lady who has been staying with you for the last week or two.”
For a moment the sickening fear came to Cora that Mr. Baxter might be an emissary from the Roxbury authorities.
“Well, what about her?” she asked warily. “She’s a dear friend of mine who is paying me a little visit.”
“But not a very old friend,” said Mr. Baxter quietly, “since two weeks ago she was telling fortunes in a gypsy camp.”
A cry broke from the lips of the girls, and they looked at each other in great trepidation.