“Lots of things,” Doris told her impressively.
“I was scared to death here by myself.”
“It was sort of scarey down where I was too, Kit. Listen! I have the most astonishing news!”
In a few terse sentences she then told her chum all she had overheard.
“Why, the mean old scamp!” Kitty exclaimed. “So you think he is after their money?”
“I’m sure of it.”
“Do you suppose they have a lot?”
“I don’t know, but I should think so. This house must be worth plenty.”
Kitty and Doris were both ignorant of real estate values and did not know that if Locked Gates were placed upon the auction block, it would bring only a comparatively small sum. The house was not modern and had fallen into a general state of dilapidation.
“At least, I’m pretty sure that man isn’t my cousin,” Doris declared, “although Henry Sully did call him Trent.”
“I knew there was something wrong with that man the minute I saw him,” Kitty insisted.
Doris had finished undressing and slipped into bed. Wags snuggled down between the girls and they permitted him to remain, for his presence made them less afraid of the unseen dangers of the old mansion.
“What do you mean to do now that you’ve discovered that those men are plotting against Azalea and Iris?” Kitty asked.
“I don’t know,” Doris admitted doubtfully. “If they learn what we’ve discovered, there is no telling what they might do to us. They already suspect that I may try to make trouble. They called me a red-head! I’ll show ’em a thing or two before I get through!”
“Will you tell the twins what you have learned?”
“Not right away. I want to get all the proof I can before I say anything to them. If I should make a mistake, they never would forgive me. You know, Kitty, I even hate to hear that man Trent laugh.”
“To be honest with you, Dory, I do too.”
“It seems so insincere.”
“Yes,” agreed Kitty. “Whenever he bursts out into one of those loud guffaws of his one just can’t help but feel that he is doing something for effect—that there is not real honest effort back of anything he is planning or doing.”
At this moment Wags, as if to comfort the two girls and to protect them from sinister wiles of those around them, stretched forth his little red tongue and tried to bestow a wet kiss on an ear of each of the girls.
“Dear little Waggsie, you are our friend, aren’t you, even though we are not sure of the rest of them in this house?”
Wags gave a yawn of contentment, and snuggled closer between the girls.
“What do you suppose this Trent does to earn a living?” ventured Kitty.
“I can’t imagine what he does, but he surely is well dressed, and has a snappy car.”
“Dave said that car was a special imported model from France. They are very expensive—cost plenty, besides the transportation charges from the other side,” replied Kitty.
“I wonder if Uncle John Trent was anything like this Ronald. Perhaps Uncle Ward never mentioned Ronald to me, because he was so loud and coarse. However, if Uncle really never knew he existed, he won’t approve of him in our family circle now. This is really a dreadful thing to discover,” and Doris sighed disconsolately, as she pushed back her soft hair that was massed over the pillow.
“Well, Doris, I think we’re in for an adventure.”
“It certainly looks like trouble after that conversation I just overheard between Trent and Henry,” replied Doris.
“It was surely lucky they didn’t see you in the dark hallway—that would have been unfortunate,” and Kitty drew the coverlet over her bare, white arm, and shook her pillow into a more comfortable position.
Wags snored contentedly as if bored with hearing his bed-fellows chattering so late into the night.
“I’m not a bit sleepy, Kitty.”
“Neither am I,” responded her chum; “this has been such an exciting and thrillingly adventurous day, with your playing detective and getting information, that I can’t go to sleep. I’m thinking about it too much.”
“When do you suppose we’ll hear why we are here to visit?” inquired Doris of Kitty.
“Well, maybe the Misses Gates will tell us soon, and that will be helpful to place the motive.”
Far into the night the girls continued to talk, but at length, from sheer weariness, they turned over on their sides and tried to sleep.
“Hope no one finds Wags here,” Doris murmured drowsily as she closed her eyes. “We must wake up early in the morning and get him out of the house before any one is up.”
CHAPTER XI
A Sorrowful Romance
Doris and Kitty fully intended to awaken early, but when they did open their eyes the sun was streaming brightly in at the windows and some one was pounding on their door.
“Come in,” Doris murmured sleepily.
Cora Sully thrust her head in at the door and glared at the girls.
“Do you think you can get your breakfast in bed?” she demanded harshly.
“What time is it?” Doris asked, sitting up and nudging Kitty, as a signal for her to keep Wags hidden under the covers.
Wags, however, had ideas of his own and at this unfortunate moment he gave a smothered yelp and pawed his way out from under the bed clothes. He leaped to the floor and darted playfully toward the housekeeper.
“How did that dog get in here?” Cora asked sharply. “You brought him up here last night,” she accused Doris. “You little sneak!”
“I am not a sneak,” Doris retorted. She had been confused and ashamed at the untimely discovery of her pet, but now that the housekeeper had made such an uncalled for remark, she was inclined to defend herself. “We heard him barking and were afraid he would awaken every one in the house.”
The explanation did not mollify the woman but rather seemed to fan the flame of her wrath.
“Yes, you are!” she snapped. “You just wanted an excuse to prowl about the house!”
“I did not!” Doris refuted. “It didn’t seem right to leave Wags out there all by himself.”
“You had no right to bring him into the house! I’ll get him out of here!”
Vengefully, Cora bore down upon the dog.
Wags, sensing that she was an enemy to be avoided, whisked past her and leaped upon the bed. Cora began to tear viciously at the blankets in an effort to capture him.
By this time Kitty’s arms had closed protectingly upon the little dog, and Doris had jumped out of bed.
“We’ll take him downstairs just as soon as we get dressed,” she declared. “Wags hasn’t done any harm. Please don’t get so excited about it!”
“I’ll show you who’s excited!” Cora muttered.
She had completely lost control of her temper and as Kitty rolled out on the opposite side of the bed, she made another dive for Wags. By this time Doris had lost all patience.
“Don’t you dare touch my dog!” she said quietly. “If you do, I’ll call the Misses Gates!”
The mention of the old ladies produced a surprising effect upon Cora. For