“We-ll,” Judy replied, startled by the odd question. “Aunt Mattie is inclined to be nervous. Is there any reason why she should worry about this place?”
“Oh, the cottage is okay so far as I know,” Bart answered evasively. “I’d be the last person to run it down, particularly when Old Krumm is so desperate for a renter.”
“Desperate? Oh, dear, we thought it was just the opposite!”
“That you were getting a bargain?”
Judy nodded miserably. “Now it proves to be a lemon!”
“I didn’t say that!” the milkman corrected her. “And the cottage is a bargain for anyone hardy enough to stay here.”
“But what’s wrong with the place?” Judy demanded.
“Maybe your aunt won’t find anything out of the way,” Bart said, edging off with his rack of bottles. “I shouldn’t have said a word. Old Krumm would have a fit if he knew I’d so much as opened my kisser.”
“Those noises—”
“Forget ’em. Forget I said a thing. You can take my word for it, there’s nothing really harmful or dangerous about Calico Cottage.”