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While the eldest Corner House girl was absent Tess and Dot had been very busy in their small way. Life was so full of a number of things for the two smallest Corner House girls that they were seldom at a loss for something to do.
First of all that morning Tess insisted upon calling at the Pinkneys side door to ask after Sammy. She felt it her duty, she said.
When they approached the porch Dots quick eyes caught sight of a brilliantly red card, about four inches square, tacked to the post.
What do you suppose that is, Tess Kenway? she demanded, stopping short.
Goodness! what does it say? responded Tess, puzzled for the moment.
Why! it looks just like what was tacked on the front door of the Creamers house when Mabels sisters had quarantine. Dont you member? demanded Dot.
Oh, dear me! cried Tess. Its scarlet fever. Then Sammys really got it!
Is is it catching? asked Dot, backing away and hugging tighter her Alice-doll, which she had snatched out of the carriage.
I guess so, said Tess. Oh, poor Sammy!
Do you spect hell die ? asked Dot, in awed tone.
Oh, goodness me! I dont know! exclaimed Tess.
And wont he ever grow up to be a pirate? queried Dot, for to the mind of the smallest Corner House girl romance gilded Sammy Pinkneys proposed career.
Scarlet fevers dreadful bad. And we mustnt go in, Tess said.
Im sorry for Sammy, observed Dot. I think hes a terrible intresting boy.
You shouldnt be interested in the boys, declared prudish Tess.
Huh! you wanted to come here to see how he was, responded the smallest Corner House girl, shrewdly.
But I dont think of him as a boy . Im just sorry for him cause hes a human being, declared Tess, loftily.
Oh!
Id be sorry for anybody who had scarlet fever.
Well, Dot said, rather weary of the subject, lets go over to see Mabel Creamer. Now were out with our doll carriages, we ought to call somewhere.
Tess agreed to this and the little girls wheeled their baby carriages
by turns.
Never mind about Neale ONeil, the older sister said, rather impatiently for her.
Well, I just do mind! Agnes declared. He has no business to have secrets from us. Arent we his best friends?
Perhaps he doesnt consider us such, said Ruth, who would have been amused by her sisters seriousness at another time. Theres Joe Eldred. Perhaps he knows where Neale has gone.
Joe Eldred! cried Agnes. If I thought Neale had taken a mere boy into his confidence and hadnt told me, Id never speak to him again! At least, she temporized, knowing her own failing, I never would forgive him!
Never mind worrying about Neale, Ruth said again. Come into the sitting room. I want to show you something.
Agnes followed her rather grumpily. To her mind there was nothing just then so important as Neale ONeils absence and the mystery thereof.
Ruth turned to her when the door was closed and started to open her purse and her lips at the same time. Her eyes sparkled; her cheeks were deeply flushed. She looked just as eager and excited as ever quiet, composed Ruth Kenway could look.
Oh, Aggie! she quavered.
Well! said Agnes, querulously. I dont care. He
Never mind Neale ONeil! cried Ruth, for a third time, and quite exasperated with her sister.
She closed her purse again and ran across the room. She looked behind the machine. Then she pulled the machine away from the wall so that she could get down on her knees and creep behind it.
Whats the matter with you, Ruthie? asked Agnes, finally awakening to her sisters strange behavior. What are you looking for?
Where where is it? Where has it gone? gasped Ruth, still on hands and knees.
What are you after, Ruth Kenway? cried Agnes again. Oh! are you looking for that old scrap-book I found upstairs in the garret?
Yes, answered Ruth, quaveringly.
Why? Did you see what was in it? demanded her sister.
Yes, Ruth said again.
Wasnt it funny? All that counterfeit money and those old bonds. Neale and I looked at it Christmas Eve.
Neale? gasped Ruth, getting upon her feet, but sitting down in a chair quickly as though her knees were too weak to bear her up.
Oh, dear me! rattled on Agnes. Wouldnt it have been great if the money and bonds were good? Why! it would have been a fortune. Neale added it all up.
But what became of the book? Ruth finally got a chance to ask again.
Oh! Neale took it.
Neale took it?
Yes.
What for?
Why, I dont know. He was curious. He said maybe the bonds were worth something and hed find out. Of course, that is silly, said Agnes, lightly, and I told him so.
And didnt he bring all that money back? gasped Ruth.
All that money, repeated Agnes, with laughter. How tragic you sound just as though it were not stage money. And I wish it were not!
He he didnt return the book? asked Ruth, controlling herself with difficulty.
Not yet. He went away so suddenly. Mean thing! Id just like to know where hes gone.
Agnes was quite unaware of her sisters trouble. Her own mind reverted to Neales strange absence as of more importance. Ruth began to be troubled by that same query, too. Where was Neale ONeil? And what had he done with the old album found in the Corner House garret?