“Were you watching them then?” inquired the Judge.
“No, sir, but I was requested to go to the station. I was to have the proud honor of rescuing Bethany. Look here,” and she unbuttoned her jacket and showed a little white apron rolled up round her waist. “I was in the kitchen making cakes. When the chief of police telephoned I had just twenty minutes to get to the station. I caught my hat and jacket and ran. See, I have no gloves,” and she spread out her bare hands.
Her expression was so good, so genuine, so lovely, that the Judge seized one of her hands and pressed it warmly. “Go on, my dear girl,” he said, affectionately.
“I just rushed to the station,” she said. “The chief of police was there, the chief detective was there. One was standing by the ticket office, the other was loitering about the platform at which the train for Boston and New York was to arrive in three minutes. I passed by the ticket office. The chief gave a nod in the direction of the platform. I hurried on, and my eyes went roving to and fro. I saw the two women and the little boy. I saw a great many other people, men, women, and children. All had the air of going on a journey, and, just to show how one’s eye needs to be trained for such work, I did not recognize Bethany, the two women stood so adroitly talking to each, and rather hiding her face by their bags and cloaks.”
“Not purposely hiding?” commented the Judge.
“O, no, that would have aroused my suspicion at once. They stood so naturally that actually the detective had to come over and stand beside them, almost to point to them, before I took in the situation. Then I boldly walked up to them. ‘Bethany,’ I said in a low voice.
“You should have seen the sharp look these women gave me. For just one instant they were off their guard. Up to that minute I don’t think they had an idea that they were being followed. Then they recovered themselves and looked down quite composedly at Bethany.”
“And what did she do?” burst excitedly from Titus.
They all turned to him, and Mrs. Everest went on with a smile: “The little creature said, ‘O, Mrs. Everest!’ as if she were glad to see some one she knew. However, she has not met me so very many times, so she was just a little shy. But she put out a hand to me, and looked queerly at the women, as if she didn’t just like going with them.”
“Why are you dressed like a little boy?” I asked, “and what are you doing here?”