t
their love and everybody was so, so sorry you were sick. I had to
answer questions all morning. Even old Ducky Lucky said she hoped
you'd be better, though I really think she has grave doubts as to
whether I was not masquerading as you."

Janet laughed.

"I never thought I could miss school so much," she said, "but it has
seemed ages since you left. Auntie Mogs has been an angel; she read to
me all morning and only went out because I simply made her."

The afternoon wore on slowly. Phyllis did not go out, but insisted on
reading aloud to Janet.

In the middle of the afternoon the room grew stuffy, and she went to
open the window. Of chance she looked down on the roof below her and
just across the yard. Something white caught her eye.

[Illustration: Something white caught her eye]

"Jan, come here a second," she said breathlessly, and Janet hurried to
her side.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Look down there," Phyllis pointed. "What do you see?"

Janet looked. "Why, it seems to be a white mitten," she said.

Phyllis faced her squarely, her breath was coming in short little
gasps. For a second Janet did not understand, then the bond of
understanding that so closely bound them, as twins, together made her
see what was going on in Phyllis's mind.

"Don?" she asked quietly.

Phyllis nodded and stared harder at the tiny mitten, and her thoughts
raced. For Janet's benefit she voiced them.

"The wire screen, first, then Don talking to the caretaker."

"When?" Janet interrupted.

"The day we went in Taffy's car up to Miss Pringle's. Then I saw him.
As we left he went in. Then last Monday, remember, I told you I saw
Miss Pringle go in that house?"

"Yes, you described her hat and the funny way she acted."

"And now there's a baby's mitten under the window. Of course it
doesn't prove anything but--" Phyllis broke off abruptly and went out
of the room. When she returned she had a pair of field glasses with
her and she looked at the roof through them.

"There's a blue band on the edge of it," she said, handing the glasses
to Janet. "Look, and don't leave the window until I get back," she
directed.

She hurried to the telephone and got the Vincents' house on the wire
and asked to speak to Chuck. His voice answered her after a little
wait.

"Chuck, this is Phyllis Page speaking," she said. "I don't want to
give you any false hopes, but something queer has happened. I've found
a little whit