Mrs. Dent, who kept no
servants, was busily preparing breakfast.
"Don't Agnes help you about breakfast?" asked Rebecca.
"No, I let her lay," replied Mrs. Dent shortly.
"What time did she get home last night?"
"She didn't get home."
"What?"
"She didn't get home. She stayed with Addie. She often does."
"Without sending you word?"
"Oh, she knew I wouldn't worry."
"When will she be home?"
"Oh, I guess she'll be along pretty soon."
Rebecca was uneasy, but she tried to conceal it, for she knew of no
good reason for uneasiness. What was there to occasion alarm in
the fact of one young girl staying overnight with another? She
could not eat much breakfast. Afterward she went out on the little
piazza, although her hostess strove furtively to stop her.
"Why don't you go out back of the house? It's real pretty--a view
over the river," she said.
"I guess I'll go out here," replied Rebecca. She had a purpose: to
watch for the absent girl.
Presently Rebecca came hustling into the house through the sitting-
room, into the kitchen where Mrs. Dent was cooking.
"That rose-bush!" she gasped.
Mrs.
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