ed to explain the adventure which included the automobile
trip to Harrimay and the Gandy farm. Momsy became excited. It did not
really seem to her to be so; but she agreed that Daddy Norwood ought
to hear about it.

When they tried to get him on the long distance telephone, however,
the Court had closed for the day and so had the Norwood law office. He
was not at his club, and Momsy did not know at which hotel he was to
spend the night. There really seemed to be nothing more Jessie could
do about the lost witness. And yet she feared that this delay in
getting her father's attention would be irreparable.

CHAPTER XXII

SILK!

Belle Ringold and Sally Moon came up to the Norwood place the next
forenoon and found Jessie and Amy in a porch hammock, their heads
together, writing a letter to Jessie's father. Jessie had tried to get
Robert Norwood at his office right after breakfast, but a clerk had
informed her that Mr. Norwood was not expected there until later. He
would go direct to court from his hotel.

"And they have no more idea where he went to sleep than Momsy had,"
Jessie had explained to her chum when Amy appeared, eager and curious.
"He is so busy with his court work that he does not want to be
disturbed, I know. But it seems to me that what we heard over the
radio ought to be told to him."

It was Amy who had suggested the writing of the letter and having it
taken into town by Chapman, the chauffeur. The coming of Belle and
Sally disturbed the chums in the middle of the letter.

"Glad we found you here, Amy," said Belle. "You never are at home, are
you?"

"Only to sleep," confessed Amy Drew. "What seems to be the trouble,
ladies? Am I not to be allowed to go calling?"

"Oh, we know you are always gadding over here," said Sally, laughing.
"You are Jessie's shadow."

"Ha, ha! and likewise ho, ho!" rejoined Amy. "In this case then, the
shadow is greater than the substance. I weigh fifteen pounds more than
Jess. We'll have to see about that."

"And I suppose your brother, Darrington, is over here, too?" asked
Belle, her sharp eyes glancing all about the big veranda.

"Wrong again," rejoined Amy, cheerfully. "But if you have any message
for Darry you can trust me to deliver it to him."

"Where is he?"

"Just about off Barnegat, if his plans matured," said Amy composedly.

"Oh!" cried Belle. "Did he go out on that yacht? And without taking
any of us girls?" and she began to pout.

"No mixed