Almost before she could think, Judy was escorted to the realtor’s car which was parked at the curb. Miss Ward, Virginia and Ardeth also decided to accompany them, while the others elected to wait in the village.
During the swift ride up the mountain road, Mr. Krumm talked endlessly, extolling the virtues of the cottage he hoped to rent.
“It’s a classy little place,” he told the girls. “Brand spanking new! You’ll not find a snappier cottage anywhere in the area.”
“But the rental—” Judy began again.
“Now don’t try to get the cart before the horse,” Mr. Krumm interrupted once more. “Just hold your ponies until you see the cottage.”
Soon the car drew up amid the tall pines, in a lonely but lovely section of the forest. Mr. Krumm went ahead to remove the front door key from beneath an over-sized rubber “Welcome” mat on the porch. He unlocked the door.
“No neighbors hereabouts to bother one,” he asserted, stepping aside so that the girls might enter. “You’ll find everything in apple-pie order. Two airy bedrooms. Good mattresses. Nice draperies. Everything the very best—top hole!”
“It seems a bit musty,” Miss Ward commented.
“Oh, the place needs an airing,” Mr. Krumm replied, quickly raising the windows. “You know how it is after a cottage has been closed for a long while.”
“A long while?” the teacher repeated. “Then you’ve had no recent renters?”