Nancy looked at him with inquisitive interest.
“And did you come to Ely to find it?” she asked.
“Well—why, if you put it that way, I guess I did,” he answered, reddening a little, but seeming flattered, on the whole, by the bluntness of her question. “I told the editor of my paper that it would make a big story if any one could find out just who made way with that money. He didn’t think a cub reporter could do much, but I offered to come up here on my own responsibility and get to the bottom of the whole affair. It will be a smashing big hit for me if I make good.”
He opened his note-book and fluttered over the leaves.
“Of course the sheriff is working on the job, but these country officials are no sleuths. It will take a smarter man than he is to get anywhere. I’m on my way up to interview John Herrick; he’s the big man of the company and he ought to be able to give me something. But in case he won’t talk I thought I would stop and learn what I could from his neighbors, I understand you know Miss Herrick well. Now anything you can tell me will be useful. What do you know of John Herrick or his habits or his business?”
“We don’t know anything, and we wouldn’t tell you if we did,” cried Nancy indignantly.
“It isn’t hard usually to find out about people from their neighbors,” Dabney Mills declared, quite unabashed. “You are staying with your aunt, I understand. Perhaps if I went in and spoke to her——”
“You will do nothing of the sort.” Beatrice had found the voice of which astonishment and anger had robbed her. “My aunt is not to be disturbed, and there is not the least use in asking us any more questions.”
“Oh, well, of course, if you are going to take it like that——!” Dabney Mills rose and pocketed his note-book. He seemed quite unoffended and not convinced even yet that his quest was fruitless. “I’ll drop in again in a day or two.”
Beatrice walked with great dignity into the house, followed by Nancy, who could not help turning to look after the reporter as he trudged away through the pines, the cock of his hat and the swagger of his shoulders showing that he did not acknowledge defeat.
“I do hope Aunt Anna wasn’t disturbed,” said Beatrice as she tiptoed into the inner room to discover her aunt propped up in the invalid chair and rocked by a gale of laughter.