A note to Marta and a shorter one to Jo occupied but a few moments time, but she wrote swiftly and steadily for an hour on a longer one. When she had a bulky package she sealed it and addressed it to Kurt. An explanatory letter to Mrs. Kingdon then followed.

"I'll have to travel light--a beach comber's outfit," she thought as she prepared for departure.

She gave the notes for Jo and Marta to Agatha to be delivered on their return. She had a few moments confidential conversation with Francis, bade the others good-bye and then sped down the road to Westcott's.

CHAPTER XIII

Agatha came out to the driveway to stop the buckboard and deliver the notes.

Marta read the one handed to her as they drove on to the stables.

"What 'tis, honey," Jo asked in alarm, as he reined up and turned to her.

There was a wild, distraught look in Marta's eyes, and her face had suddenly turned very pale.

"Oh, Jo! Pen--"

"Wait!" he cautioned, as Gene came out of the stable.

"Unhook for me, will you, Gene?" he asked.

"Now, Marta, what is it?" he again asked anxiously as they were walking back to the house.

"Read your letter, Jo, and see what it says."

He read aloud:

"DEAR JO: Leaving Top Hill forever by the Excelsior Route. Had to.

Never go back on Little Marta. Will see you somewhere, sometime. At four this afternoon, come to Westcott's red-roofed barn and get Francis' wheel.

"Yours, "PENNY ANTE."

"What has happened to send her off in such skyrocket fashion?" he asked.

"What did she say to you?"

"Jo, we must find her at once. Let's go to Westcott's the quickest way we can."

"What is it, Marta?"

"That Mr. Hebler who is visiting here, you know," said Marta breathlessly.

"Well, he missed a diamond ring. He left it on a table near his door--I saw it. When we came back from our walk last night, I went to Miss Lamont's room. His door was open. A great whopping diamond ring was on the table--and--"

"Yes, Marta," he said encouragingly, as she paused.

"When she found it was gone, she told Mr. Walters and Mr. Hebler that _she_ took it, so as to protect me. That's why she has gone."

"She's a trump! Read me her note, Marta."

"DEAR LITTLE MARTA:

"You must do just as I say. I told Mr. Walters and Mr. Hebler I took the ring. Give it to Mr. Hebler and tell him I left it with you to hand to him. Never do it again, Marta. Jo is worth a whole mine of diamonds. When I am safely and far away, will let you hear from me.

"With Love, "PEN."

"Some girl!" exclaimed Jo. "But she isn't as keen as I thought, or she'd have known you didn't take the ring."

"Jo, do you believe--"

"Shucks, honey! I know you didn't. I wouldn't believe you did if I saw you take it. Here, little girl--"

He stopped, put his arm around her, lifted the little face and kissed the tears from it.

"What's matter with you?"

"Jo, I didn't take it!"

"Don't I know you didn't, honey!"

"It's nice in you to know it, Jo. But--suppose, I had taken it--"

"I'd have given it back and rustled around till I could have bought you the biggest diamond in Chicago."

"Who do you suppose did take it, Jo?"

"I don't know. Maybe he never lost it."

"Wasn't it grand in her to take the blame?"

"Yes," he admitted grudgingly, "but I don't like her thinking you took it."

"But, Jo. Of course she would think it was I, and--I remember now--when I saw that diamond I thought how easy it would be for anyone to lift it, and then when I was in her room, I hardly heard a word she said because I was thinking, 'It's Jo! It's Jo's love that's made me different,' and then I got scared thinking that I might want to take it, and how awful it would have been if I had never met you and loved you. I got up and walked right out of the room so I could be alone and think about you. It must have looked queer to her the way I acted--till she found the ring had been taken."

"I'll see Kurt," said Jo, "and tell him about it, and he will find her."

"What's that sound?" interrupted Marta, looking about her in a puzzled way. "I've heard it before somewhere. Oh, I know! It's an airship."

They looked up and, for the moment, lost all interest in things below.

"Holy Smoke!" exclaimed Jo. "First one I ever saw! Gene said there was one in town a few days ago. Look! It's coming down corkscrew style! It's going to land there by Westcott's!"

CHAPTER XIV