“That’s where they must have taken you all right,” he agreed, “but what of it? Why should something that happened five or six years ago worry you now?”
“It doesn’t—not any more. It’s something that happened today.”
Horace grinned expectantly.
“Let’s have it then. It’s time for all honest people to stop working, but newspapermen never stop. Things have a way of happening at night. Is what you have to tell me news, by any chance?”
“Not yet,” she replied, “but I think I’m on the trail of something that will be. I only hope it doesn’t happen at night, because I want to go there with you tomorrow morning.”
“Where?” he asked. “Not to that enchanted fountain you were telling me about? That’s for kids. It has to be some place important if I go on the newspaper’s time. Not only that, I have to give a reason for going.”
Judy told him several good reasons, adding that she had been warned to stay away by a mysterious character who seemed to frighten Lorraine.
“He knows Roger Banning and a heavy-set friend of his called Cubby,” she continued. “They apparently live there. They say the Brandts leased the estate to them, but I don’t believe it. They said there wasn’t any fountain, but we found not only a fountain but a diamond in the water. As Lorraine says, it’s no frozen tear. Take a look at it, Horace!” Judy untied her handkerchief and exhibited the gem. “There!” she finished. “Now is it important? Do you think we should advertise?”
“Not yet. Jeepers, what a piece of ice! Think we can find any more of them scattered around that fountain?”
“We can try. Please go with me,” begged Judy. “You’ll have to think of some excuse—”