I saw Tom stareing at him banefully, but
I took no notice, merely getting out and kicking the tires to see if air
enough in them. I then got in and drove away.
The Stranger looked excited, and did not mention the weather as
customery. But at last he said:
"Somehow I gather, Little Sister, that you know a lot of things you do
not talk about."
"I do not care to be adressed as `Little Sister,'" I said in an icy
tone. "As for talking, I do not interfere with what is not my concern."
"Good," he observed. "And I take it that, when you find an overcoat or
any such garment, you do not exhibit it to the Familey, but put it away
in some secluded nook. Eh, what?"
"No one has seen it. It is in the Car now, under that rug."
He turned and looked at me intently.
"Do you know," he observed, "my admiration for you is posatively beyond
words!"
"Then don't talk," I said, feeling still anguished by Tom's conduct and
not caring much just then about the reward or any such mundane matters.
"But I MUST talk," he replied. "I have a little plan, which I darsay you
have guest. As a matter of fact, I have reasons to think it will fall in
with--er--plans of your own."
Ye gods! Was I thus being asked to compound a felony? Or did he not
think I belonged to my own Familey, but to some other of the same name,
and was therfore not suspicous.
"Here's what I want," he went on in a smooth manner. "And there's
Twenty-five dollars in it for you. I want this little car of yours
tonight.
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