"Why, miss," puffed Morgan, "Gid Gibbon's place isn't more than a few paces, as you might say, from 'ere. Why don't you take that rod there? Hi'll h'escort yer."
"Why, that's so," agreed Peggy, "how stupid of me not to have thought of it. Gid can fix it in a few minutes."
Selecting a small wrench from the tool box Peggy deftly unbolted the broken rod, and then, with Morgan and his companion as guides, she set off across the fields for Gid's shop, which she now recalled was a short distance up the road, but hidden from the spot where the Butterfly had dropped by a patch of woods.
"By the way, Morgan," the girl asked, suddenly, "has anything more been heard of the missing jewels?"
To Peggy's astonishment the man started and stammered.
"Yes, miss--that is--no, miss. I means, miss, that there ain't been no news, miss, hof hany kind, miss."
Peggy nodded without appearing to note the man's confusion.
"It's a queer affair, miss," put in Morgan's companion, whose name was Giles.
"It is, indeed," rejoined Peggy. "I do wish it could all be cleared up."
"Same 'ere, miss, hi'm sure," struck in Morgan, mopping his puffy face. He seemed to have, in great part, recovered his composure.
"Well, there is the blacksmith shop," said the other man presently, as they emerged from the fields upon the road through a sliding gate. He pointed to a long, low, ramshackle structure at the cross-roads. Beside it stood a fairly neat cottage and beyond this again a brand new shed, from which proceeded a great sound of hammering.
As Morgan and Giles left her, to make a shortcut home across lots, Peggy set off at a brisk pace, holding the broken rod in her hands. She almost dropped the bits of metal an instant later in a great surprise that she encountered.
The door of the brand new building opened and out stepped Fanning Harding, in overalls and jumper. Suddenly he became aware of Peggy's advancing figure and halted, staring at her.
The door of the shed had been opened wide, but Fanning closed it swiftly as if in great anxiety to conceal what was within. Then it was that Peggy first became aware of something she had not noticed before. Above the portal was a signboard upon which was painted in staring red letters: