The girls opened the drawers of the battered oak dresser. The top one was entirely empty. In the second they came upon a stack of old newspapers and magazines.
More old clothing had been folded into the lower drawer.
“It’s quite useless,” Mr. Hooper told the girls. “Ella had beautiful things, but they were all destroyed in the fire.”
“I suppose we may as well get back to our picking,” Connie said, closing the bureau drawers.
She picked up her pail, intending to leave the shed.
Before either she or Veve could do so, Eileen came rushing up. Only a moment before the little girl had arrived on a Wingate truck with Miss Gordon.
“Well, I see you’re back!” laughed Connie before Eileen could speak. “Your jeans don’t look so very bad now that they’re dry.”
Eileen was too excited to hear the remark.
“Listen!” she exclaimed. “I’ve got important news! What do you think I saw on the ride back from the canning factory?”