“What on earth are you two up to?” she demanded suspiciously. “Have you gone in for gardening?”
“Oh, in a way,” Madge evaded.
Until they had a real story to relate, she and Cara preferred to keep the other members of Skull and Crossbones in the dark concerning their activities. To tell their friends immediately might subject them to an unmerciful teasing. Nevertheless, Enid and Jane were not to be hoodwinked so easily. They guessed that they were being excluded from some secret, and as school was dismissed, stationed themselves at the front door ready to waylay their friends.
Madge and Cara had been anticipating such a move, and quietly slipped out the back way.
“A secret isn’t a secret if too many are in on it,” Madge defended their action. “We can tell them later on, but for a few days let’s keep it to ourselves.”
Cara had hidden the spade in the high weeds of a vacant lot not far from the Swenster mansion. They rescued it and proceeded to their destination, not at all disturbed by the curious stares focused upon them by persons they met on the street.
After securing permission from Miss Swenster, they went immediately to the garden. They took turns digging, investigating all the filled holes near the fountain and sundial. Finding nothing, they carefully replaced all soil turned up.
“Well, you can’t make me think that man was digging just for the exercise,” Madge fretted.
“Perhaps he found what he was after,” Cara suggested pessimistically. “In that case we’re only wasting our time.”
Miss Swenster presently came out to watch the girls.