Read Online Chance of a Lifetime by Grace Livingston Hill - Free Book Online

Mr. Washburn call out, ‘Get him, Bob.’ “ And you answered, and then I knew there was no need. But I saw the man run down in those bushes, and then it was dark beyond; I couldn’t see him any longer. I knew you all were onto him so I needn’t do anything more, and I wasn’t sure but the police had got him, for they were all in a bunch when they came back. But after they had all gone, I sat there awhile, just watching that group of elderberry bushes till it seemed to move and walk up across the grass. And pretty soon I saw it really was a man moving in the darkest places across the end of our back fence. He had come right out of the bushes, or behind the bushes. He must have hid until you all went away. And he kept so close to the fence, I could only see the top of his head sometimes. He would move a few steps and then stop a long time.”
    Bob was listening in fascination, watching the girl’s sweet face, thinking with his subconscious mind how strange it was he had never noticed what pretty, delicate features she had, and that lovely oval of her pale cheeks that just now was tinged the least bit with the pink of excitement.
    “When I saw he was turning in between our store and the bakery,” went on Lancey, “I slipped out of my room and went down in the store to watch and see if he came out into the street, and just as I got in the store he went by the window. I saw he was limping, and he had no hat on. He went very slowly, watching the street each way, and finally crossed the street and went into Mrs. Brower’s boardinghouse. He had a latchkey, and he seemed a long time getting the door open, and very nervous looking each way, and once he dropped the key. I heard it ring on the door stone.”
    “Was there any light at Mrs. Brower’s?” asked Bob quickly.
    “No, not for a long time,” answered Lancey. “I watched. But just when I thought there was no use watching anymore, there came a light in the third-story back room. It has a side window that looks down on the road to their garage, and a hand pulled down the shade, quick. I could only see a hand and an arm. And then I wondered what I ought to do. I felt somebody ought to know but wasn’t sure who. So I’ve slipped out here every time I could get away to see if some of them would come back, so I could tell them without being noticed. I knew my aunt would be furious if her name got tangled up in it. And I wasn’t at all sure I ought to let it get known anyway, only to the people to whom it mattered. After the light went out, I was so cold that I went back to my room, but I couldn’t sleep all night. Do you think it is important? Do you think I should tell the police?”
    “You poor kid!” said Bob, his voice full of tenderness. “Don’t worry anymore about it. Sure I think it’s important, but you needn’t do anything about it. I’ll tell MacFarland, and then if he wants to know more he can ask you. I’ll tell him to keep your name out of it, see? He’ll understand. He’s a prince.”
    “Oh, thank you!” said Lancey with a sigh of relief. “I was afraid my aunt would have to know about it, and she isn’t—well—it’s not easy to make her understand. She would have thought I ought not to have been watching. She would have thought I was to blame somehow.”
    “You poor kid!” said Bob again, his voice bringing the rosy color into her cheeks. “Leave it to me. I’ll try to get another chance to speak to you about it without calling the attention of the town. Could I call you up?”
    “Oh no,” said Lancey, shrinking. “My aunt would be sure to answer, or question, and be most unpleasant.”
    “All right. You just trust me. I’ll get word to you somehow. Write you a note or something. Don’t you worry. If anybody questions you, I’ll see they do it most discreetly. Thanks for giving me the dope. You sure are some detective, kid. There comes Mac’s car. See you later, if I can. So long!”
    He was going up the alley and appeared