descent upon me;" and he forthwith detailed the events of that appalling afternoon.
Bert listened with interest. "H'm!" she said, "That's curious. I wonder what they are up to. Have you any idea?"
"I know a little," Dick hesitated; "but it is involved in the matter which cannot be told. You see, I had to let you in on this much, because they are not through yet, and I may need the help of your grey matter if it gets too much for me." And then he went on to retail the story of the trio's visit to the top of the ridge opposite.
Bert set down her teacup and folded her arms on the table and stared across at Dick. "It waxes interesting," she said. "We start in to do a little good turn, and we suddenly find ourselves in the middle of a mystery where somebody may need our help in good earnest. I'll tell you what, Dick Harris, I wouldn't trust that McKnight man for three minutes, if he had any interest at stake. I can't see what interest he can have, but that doesn't belie the fact that he has one. And as for the Kats, they have about as much soul as a jaguar, and would hesitate no longer to do an ill turn if they were sure they wouldn't be found out and they had the least thing to gain. Now listen, do you mind telling me whether what you have learned furnishes any motive for McKnight's interest?"
"Yes, and no," said Dick, guardedly. "It gives a
