A faint light at the rear of Tillie’s house was reassuring. Someone was there.
She knocked loudly at the door. A boy appeared with a lamp held high over his head.
The lamp descended with a crash. Fortunately it went out. The boy, who was Turkey Trot, had seen the bear, and had not seen Jeanne standing in the shadows. He vanished.
Driven to desperation, Jeanne sprang after him, seized him by the collar, and flashed her light in his eyes.
“Why do you run?” she demanded fiercely. “Where is my friend? Where is Florence?”
“It was the bear!” Turkey Trot still trembled. “Where is Tillie?”
“You do not know?”
“Not me.”
“And you are alone?”
“Folks went to the Soo this morning. Be back to-morrow.