"If you do not—report—look for you around Hemlock Bend! Yes, we'll do that. Oh, Leland!"
She dropped the receiver and stood like one shocked physically as well as mentally. For a moment she remained there, then turned back to the room at the side of the girls' suite.
Mr. Rand was sitting there.
"What has happened?" he demanded. "You look as if there had been a ghost in that message."
"Oh, there was, Mr. Rand! What shall I do? That brother of mine is running off again!"
"Where?"
"He didn't even say. His words were like those of some madman. If we did not hear from him within three days, we are to look for him about Hemlock Bend."
"Where in the world is Hemlock Bend?"
"As if we knew! That is just like Leland. Poor, dear Leland! Never practical enough even to send a straight message. Oh, Mr. Rand, that boy will kill us yet!"
"Don't you fear, little girl," and there was an unmistakable note of tenderness in Mr. Rand's voice. "One who means well usually does well, however strange may be his methods. The first thing to do is to see if we can get him again at the Restover."