“And to see that the buggy is there too,” laughed Louise.
They went past the dripping water trough to the barn and opened the doors. White Foot nickered. Bones kicked at the stall boards. Penny tossed both horses a few ears of corn and then walked on to Trinidad’s stall. It was empty. Nor was there any evidence of a buggy.
“Well, what do you think of that!” Penny commented. “Mrs. Lear’s not been home!”
“Then maybe Mr. Burmaster’s theory is right!” Louise exclaimed, staring at the empty stall. “Mrs. Lear could have been the one!”
“Listen!” commanded Penny.
Plainly the girls could hear a horse and vehicle coming down the road. It was Mrs. Lear, and a moment later she turned into the yard. Penny swung open the barn doors. Trinidad rattled in and pulled up short. His sleek body was covered with sweat as if he had been driven hard.
Mrs. Lear leaped lightly to the barn floor and began to unhitch the horse.
“Well, I’m mighty glad to find you here,” she chirped. “Joe brought you home, didn’t he?”
Penny replied that she and Louise had walked.
“You don’t say!” the old woman exclaimed. “I went down the road a piece to see a friend o’ mine. By the time I got back the frolic was over. I calculated Joe must have brought you home.”