“What would Jack want with a black silk dress?” Mr. Hatfield questioned dubiously.
“You tell!” Mrs. Jones made a despairing gesture. “He chops wood and then half of it disappears before I can pop it into the stove. I think he carries it off to build fires in the woods and marsh.”
“It’s curious that he would take a dress,” said the Cub leader with a puzzled shake of his head. “The other things more or less fit in with his overpowering desire to lead an outdoor life. But a woman’s dress!”
“It was an old one without much value,” Mrs. Jones admitted. “I liked it though, on account of the pretty jet buttons.”
At mention of jet buttons, Dan shot Mr. Hatfield a quick glance. He saw that the Cub leader likewise was startled by the possibility which presented itself.
“What kind of buttons, were they?” the boy asked.
“Just tiny jet buttons, diamond in shape.”
“If we find the boy, we’ll send him home,” Mr. Hatfield said hastily.
He was afraid that Dan or one of the other Cubs might say something which would further disturb the widow.
Herding the boys together, he led them away from the house. Once beyond hearing of the widow, they all had plenty to say.