The Colesworths" door stood open. Out dashed Harris in his pajamas and a robe. He fell upon the big body of Spink as though he were making a "tackle" in a football game.
"Hold him! hold him!" gasped "Phemie.
"I"ve got him," declared Harris. "What"s the matter, Miss "Phemie?"
"He"s got the key," explained "Phemie. "Make him give it up."
"Sure!" said Harris, and dexterously twitched the entangled Spink over on his back.
"By jove!" gasped the young man, standing up. "It"s the professor!"
"But he"s got the key!" the girl reiterated.
"What key?"
"The one to the green door."
"The door of the east wing?" demanded Harris, turning to stare at the open door, on the threshold of which "Phemie stood.
"Yes. I lost it. He found it. He"s got it somewhere. I found him trying to break into grandfather"s desk."
"Bad, bad," muttered Harris, stepping back and allowing the professor room to sit up. "Your interest in old desks seems to be phenomenal, Professor.
Did you expect to find Confederate notes in _this_ one?"
"Confound you--both!" snarled Spink, slowly rising.
"I don"t mind it," said Harris, quietly. "But don"t include Miss Bray in your emphatic remarks. _Give me that key._"
CHAPTER XXVII
THEY LOSE A BOARDER
Harris had something beside a square and determined jaw. He had muscular arms and he looked just then as though he were ready to use them. Spink gave him no provocation.
He fumbled in his pocket and brought out a key.
"Is this the one, Miss "Phemie?" asked the young fellow.
The girl stepped forward, and in the lamplight from the bedroom doorway identified the key of the green door--with its tag attached.
"All right, then. Go to your room, Professor," said Harris. "Unless you want him for something further, Miss "Phemie?"
"My goodness me! No!" cried "Phemie. "I never want to see him again."
The professor was already aiming for the stairs, and he quickly disappeared. Harris turned to the still shaking girl.
"What"s it all about, Miss "Phemie?" he asked.
"That"s what I"d really like to know myself," she replied, eagerly. "He is after something----"
"So my father says," interposed Harris. "Father says Spink has something hidden--or has made some discovery--up there in the rocks."
"I don"t know whether he really has found what he has been looking for----"
"And that is?" suggested Harris.
"I wish we knew!" cried "Phemie. "But we don"t. At least, _I_ don"t--nor does Lyddy. But he tried to buy the farm of Aunt Jane once--only he offered a very small price.
"He has been hanging around here for months trying to find something. He got into the old offices to-night, and tried to break into grandfather"s desk----"
Harris nodded thoughtfully.
"We want to look into this," he said. "I hope you and your sister will not refuse my aid. This Spink may be more of a knave than a fool. Now, go back to bed and--and a.s.sure Miss Lyddy that I will be only too glad to help "thwart the villain"--if he really has some plan to better himself at your expense."
"Phemie picked up her quilt, locked the green door, and returned to her room. Throughout all the excitement Lyddy had slept; but "Phemie"s coming to bed aroused her.
The younger girl was too shaken by what had transpired to hide her excitement, and Lyddy quickly was broad awake listening to "Phemie"s story. The latter told all that had happened, including her experiences on the night they had come to Hillcrest. There was no sleep for the two girls just then--not, at least, until they had discussed Professor Spink and the secret of the rocks at the back of the farm, from every possible angle.
"I shall tell him that his absence will be better appreciated than his company--at once!" declared Lyddy, finally.
"But sending him away isn"t going to explain the mystery," wailed "Phemie.
In the morning, before many of the other boarders were astir, the two girls caught the oily professor just starting off with a handbag.
"You"d better get the remainder of your baggage ready to go too, sir,"
said Lyddy, sharply, "for we don"t want you here."
"It"s packed, young lady," returned Professor Spink, with a sneer. "I shall send a man for it from the hotel in town."
"Well, _that"s_ all right," quoth the girl, warmly. "You"ve paid your board in advance, and I cannot complain. But I would like to have you explain what your actions last night mean?"
"I don"t know what you are talking about. I heard people moving about the house and--naturally--I went to see----"
"Oh, you story-teller!" gasped "Phemie.
"Ha! I can see that you have both made up your minds not to believe me,"
said the odd boarder, haughtily. "Good-morning!"
"I honestly believe we ought to get a warrant out and have him arrested,"
observed the older girl, thoughtfully.
"What for? I don"t believe he took anything," said "Phemie.
"Well! he was trying to break into grandfather"s desk, just the same,"