“Link Mullen’s sister,” agreed Darry.
“But how did she come to be in New Melford and, later, in Gibbonsville?” cried Amy, and Darry gestured impatiently.
“Give me time. I was coming to that,” he protested. “Link and his sister—their parents are dead, and they live with their guardian, who is in South America at present—had a quarrel, and the girl ran away from home, declaring that if Link intended to ruin himself she did not intend to stay around and watch him do it.”
“Must have been a bird of a quarrel,” murmured Burd, appreciatively. “Go ahead, old man, what happened next?”
“The girl kept her word and slipped away the next day, taking only a grip with her and leaving no word as to her destination.”
“But where do you come in, Darry?” asked Jessie, softly.
“Right about here,” returned the boy, smiling at her. “Link was pretty much cut up, and he came to me and asked me to help him find his sister. Of course I said I would, but I hadn’t the least idea in the world how I was going to do it.”
“You knew her by sight, then, did you?” asked Amy.
“Link had brought her up to one or two of the college affairs,” replied Darry. “He was mighty proud and fond of her.”
“But not proud or fond enough to reform for her sweet sake,” remarked Amy dryly.