“Trust me,” Cara promised. “But if you’re planning any midnight visits to the mansion or anything of the kind, count me out.”
Madge laughed and turned away. Already she was planning another trip to the old mansion, but she thought it wise not to mention it just yet.
“It behooves me to learn a few facts about the Swensters before I jump to hasty conclusions,” she told herself, as she continued home. “Between now and my next visit, I must unearth the family history.”
CHAPTER IV
The Swenster Pearls
School did not keep the following day, and early afternoon found Madge and Cara camped on the Brady front porch, comparing notes.
“I couldn’t learn a thing about the Swenster mansion except that it’s owned by an old lady who hasn’t been near the place in years,” the latter confessed regretfully.
“My luck wasn’t a great deal better,” Madge admitted. “However, I did find out the name of a woman who may be able to tell us what we want to know. Her name is Hilda Grandale.”
“Haven’t I heard of her before?”
“Probably. She’s a real old lady—eighty or ninety. She is reputed to know all the old residents of the town and their histories. In her day she was considered quite a belle.”
“Where does she live?”