was going. The Blaines' caretaker must be a
relation of hers. I saw him at her house that day. She must be going
to stay with him. But why under the sun was she so mysterious about
it, I wonder? And why doesn't she stay in the basement instead of
occupying Miss Amy's dressing-room, and why the screen?"

Still very much puzzled, she walked home. The immediate preparations
for the tea party occupied her for the remainder of the afternoon.

CHAPTER XV

A WHITE MITTEN

Days passed, and still no news of little Don. Chuck now made it a
habit to wait for Phyllis and walk home with her and Janet.

Each day the greeting was the same.

"Any news?" and always Chuck shook his head and answered, "Not yet."

Friday morning Janet woke up with a sore throat and a headache, and
Miss Carter kept her home. Phyllis went to school as usual, and in the
afternoon Chuck met her.

"The week's almost up," he said after the usual question had been asked
and answered, "and Uncle Don is determined to go on Monday with the
money. He's had a letter since the first, you know, telling him to
double the sum."

"Will they have Don there at the house waiting for him?" Phyllis
inquired.

"No, indeed. There's not a word about that. The detectives say that
they will probably try to take the money by force; perhaps knock Uncle
Don senseless. They don't want him to go, but they have to admit that
they haven't a single clew."

"Oh, Chuck, isn't it hateful not to be able to do a single thing to
help?" Phyllis's voice rang with real emotion.

"You bet," Chuck agreed. "I lie awake at night thinking all kinds of
things and planning what I'd do if I ever caught those brutes, but that
doesn't do much good. I wish Uncle Don would let me go with him on
Monday. I'd take a gun along and do a little holding up on my own
hook."'

"But that would only make things worse; they'd be sure to do something
awful to Don then," Phyllis reasoned.

"Suppose so," Chuck was forced to admit. "I don't suppose I'll see you
to-morrow, will I?" he added.

"Why not?" Phyllis inquired. "Come over to the house in the afternoon
and we can go for a walk."

Chuck looked at her gratefully. "Thanks, guess I will; I'll be over
about two." He lifted his cap as they reached the steps of the house
and turned to go. "Tell Janet I'm sorry she is sick," he called back,
and Phyllis nodded as Annie opened the door.

She found Janet up and dressed, but playin