The Orchard Secret Read online

  CHAPTER XX A Dire Threat

  "If Jessica Darglan tells where she saw us," said Terry, next morning,"we're sunk!"

  "She won't. Nobody could be so mean," remarked Arden as she combed herhair in front of the bureau.

  "You never can tell, Arden," supplemented Sim. "Some people take apositive delight in doing things like that."

  "There's nothing we can do about it, even if she does. So we won't worryuntil we get a notice to go see Tiddy," decided Terry.

  "I meant to ask you after supper last night," began Arden, "did you twothink any more about what Henny was saying to Tom Scott as we camealong?"

  "I didn't pay much attention," confessed Sim. "I was too busy beingdemure."

  "Well," went on Arden, "he said something about it being dangerous andasked Tom Scott how long he was going to keep it up."

  "Sort of funny," admitted Terry. "That's the second time we have heardthose two talking together. I wonder what it all means?"

  "It doesn't worry me much," declared Sim as she pulled on her stockings."Because I think I'll go home the way I planned in a few days. I'll leavebefore I'm expelled for going out while campused."

  "Oh, Sim! Do we have to go over all that again?" pleaded Arden. "Can'tyou stick it out? If we have to be expelled, let's all go home together."

  "Don't go, Sim," begged Terry. "We're just beginning to enjoy it here.You know, deep down in your heart, that last night in the station wasfun, even if it was uncomfortable."

  "I'll talk about it later," answered Sim. "I have an early class thismorning. See you when I get back." She gathered up her books, gave a lastlook in the glass, and hurried down to breakfast without waiting for herfriends.

  Back in 513, Arden and Terry went on with their dressing. If Sim feltlike being alone, it was wise to let her go. They would see her atbreakfast, anyhow.

  But at the table Sim devoted herself to Jane Randall and seemeddeliberately to be avoiding her roommates. For, as she finished her meal,Sim linked arms with Jane and started for Bordmust Hall, leaving Terryand Arden by themselves.

  "Sim is in one of her moods," remarked Arden as she swung along besideTerry. "But she'll forget all about it by lunch time."

  "I think she's awfully disappointed about the pool. And being campused,while it doesn't make a great deal of difference, just rubs Sim the wrongway. She hates to feel that she is being persecuted," observed Terry.

  "It doesn't bother me a bit," declared Arden. "I'm keeping occupied bytrying to straighten out this mystery and get the reward money."

  "You have an even disposition," suggested Terry. "We are not all as luckyas you."

  Terry sighed deeply and shifted her books from her right arm to her left.Arden and she trudged silently along up the hill to Bordmust Hall.

  The fog of the night before had blown away, and the distant hillsshimmered in a soft blue light. The leaves were beginning to fall, and atthe steps of Bordmust the head gardener, Anson Yaeger, was raking thelawn with sullen viciousness.

  As the girls reached him he stopped moving the rake and looked at thempenetratingly. His little beady eyes narrowed into bright slits. Restingpart of his weight on the rake he shook a grimy finger at the freshmen.

  "You're two of them girls I seen down in my orchard!" he snarled. "You'veno right there! Mark my words, no good will come of it! And don't concernyourselves with what's none of your business. There's things going onaround here that nobody knows about but me. I wouldn't like to see youhurt, foolish as you are!"

  Terry and Arden stood dumbfounded. Completely taken by surprise, theymoved on past the surly gardener and involuntarily looked back at himwithout attempting to answer him.

  The heavy, thickset man in tattered overalls and an old-fashioned, graycoat-sweater looked over his shoulder with wild eyes, as though expectingsomeone to come along and stop his tirade.

  "If I was to tell you all I know," he went on, "what with alarm bellsringing and all, you'd pack up and take the next train home. Why, lastnight----"

  Terry nudged Arden, murmuring:

  "Don't let's stand here like a couple of ninnies and let him talk to usthis way. Come on! I think he's a little crazy!"

  Arden pulled away from Terry. "But I want to hear what he's saying."

  Anson heard them whispering.

  "Heedless young things!" he scolded. "You'll be sorry if you don't do asI say." Turning abruptly, he picked up the rake that had slipped to theground and shuffled off through the rustling leaves in the direction ofthe orchard.

  "There, you see!" exclaimed Arden. "I told you there was something weirddown in that old orchard!"

  "I've a good mind to follow him and see where he's going," said Terry."What do you say, Arden, to a little more sleuthing?"

  "I'm game," Arden answered. But even as she spoke the electric bell inBordmust Hall announced the beginning of the first classes.

  "We can't go now," said Terry. "We'll have to let it wait."

  "Yes," agreed Arden reluctantly.

  The two girls entered the building, having a last glimpse of themysterious gardener still shuffling his way through the rustling leavestoward the orchard where so many strange things had happened.