Part 26 (2/2)
”But we are in a quandary.”
”A quandary, Miss Belding?”
”Yes, sir. Our dog has been following a man who came to our camp last night and frightened us. The dog led us right here to this spot. Have you seen him?”
”Seen the dog?” demanded the old professor. ”Do you think I am blind?”
”I mean the man,” said Laura, humbly.
”What does he look like? Describe him,” commanded the professor, without a change of expression.
Laura was balked right at the start. She had no idea what the young man looked like, whom she believed Liz Bean knew, and whom she believed had come to the camp at the other end of Acorn Island twice.
”I only know what his boots are like,” she said, finally, and looking straight into the old professor's face.
”Well, Miss?”
”I think _you_ can supply the rest of his description,” said Mother Wit, firmly.
”What do you mean, Miss?” snapped the old professor.
”He wore narrow boots, and his footprints lead directly to this place,” said Laura. ”Surely you must have seen him.”
”Why should I?” demanded the professor.
”Because you have had a companion here. Two men made this camp--have eaten more than one meal here. Where is your companion, sir?”
”Miss--Miss Belding!” exclaimed the professor in a tone of anger. ”How dare you? What do you mean?”
”I don't mean to offend you, sir,” said Mother Wit, while Jess tugged at her sleeve and even Bobby stepped back toward the fringe of brush.
The old gentleman looked very terrible indeed.
”I don't mean to offend you, sir,” repeated Laura. ”But that man has been twice to our camp. He has disturbed us. He was there again last night and frightened our little maid-of-all-work almost out of her wits. We have got to know what it means.”
”You are beside yourself, girl!” gasped the old gentleman, and instantly turned his head aside so that they could not see his face.
”Liz calls him 'Mr. Norman,'” Laura pursued. ”If you do not tell me who he is, and what his visits to our camp mean, I shall find out more about him--_in Albany_!”
Professor Dimp did not favor them with another word. He walked away and left the trio of girls standing, amazed, in the empty camping place.
CHAPTER XVIII
AN EVENTFUL FIs.h.i.+NG TRIP
Jess and Bobby were both disappointed and disturbed over the interview with Professor Dimp. Laura said so little about it that Jess was really suspicious.
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