Sign your own initials.

Now give us a break, and don’t tell the rest till you have to. And don’t let them hunt for us if you can help it.

I’ve asked the police to keep an eye on the house and report to you if anything happens. And the gardener will look after the place. I’ve dismissed the servants for the present.

We’re going to a safe, quiet place. Don’t worry! Three months isn’t long.

Lovingly,

Jen

The other notes were to Emil the gardener and to the police.

She read her letters over carefully, satisfied that she had done her best. Was there anything else about the house that ought to be attended to?

Then she heard a car coming into the drive. Was that Jerry? She hurried down to the side door and met him as he came from the garage.

They spoke guardedly as they stood at the side entrance.

“Jerry! Your pony! Had you thought about that?”

“Sure! I told the stable boy to take him up to the farm, and I just phoned the farmer. He said it was okay, they’d look after him till we were ready for him again. And the boy can stay up there and work. He’s pleased all right.”

“Fine. Now what else is there to do? How about the car?”

“It’s all ready. Had if filled down at Piper’s filling station. Nobody would ever recognize it there. The chauffeur always took it to the stations up this way. Now, what do you want of me? Where can I help best? What’s become of the kids?”

“They’re all sound asleep,” said Jennifer. “They were just worn out.”

“Good work, Jen; we can get more done with them parked for a while. What about the servants now? What’s the next act?”

“Maggie and Letty are going on a vacation. We’re having dinner at five thirty. They’ll wash the dishes and be ready to leave. I told Maggie you would take her to the seven o’clock train. Take her in your little car, so the other won’t be seen going out again until after dark.”

“Okay, Miss Graeme. You’ve got quite a head on you for a girl, if you are my sister. How about Letty?”

“She’s taking the bus to the city. I told her you would help her on with her bags. Her young man meets her in town. So she’s all right. She’ll leave a little before Maggie. They think we are being invited out somewhere among the relatives. I promised to send them word when we wanted them back.”

“Well, things seem to be working our way, don’t they? But how about the relatives? Haven’t any of the aunts turned up yet? You know any one of them could wreck our plans in less than a minute.”

“Yes, I know. There! Wasn’t that the phone? Oh dear!”

Jennifer flew into the house and went to the telephone.

Chapter 5

“Hello!” she said in an excited young voice.