“You let that rider get away, Jennings!” he cried accusingly to the workman. “Did you see him ride across the bridge and then take a trail along the creek bed?”
“No, I didn’t, Mr. Burmaster,” the workman mumbled. “I heard hoof beats and came as fast as I could from the grist mill. The only rider I saw was this girl. There’s two of ’em.”
“We have a perfect right to be here,” Penny declared. “We were riding along the pike when we heard hoofbeats, then a scream. My horse became frightened and plunged down this way toward the bridge.”
“I’m sorry I grabbed the bridle, Miss,” the workman apologized. “You see, I thought—”
“Your trouble, Jennings, is that you never think!” cut in the owner of Sleepy Hollow curtly. “You never even saw the rider who got away?”
“No, sir. But I’ll get the other workmen and go after him.”
“Don’t waste your efforts. He was only a boy—not the man we’re after.”
“Only a boy, sir?”
“The scamp clattered a stick against the railing of the bridge just to frighten my wife. Mrs. Burmaster is a very nervous woman.”
“Yes, sir,” replied the workman rather emphatically. “I know, sir.”