...
"How can I know you're really--cured, if I don't know what cured you?"
"I suppose you're right," the boy admitted miserably. "There's no need
to ask you not to tell anyone else. Although I don't want to see her
again ever--. Why, Penny, I wouldn't even tell Polly and Clive
yesterday, after it happened, though Polly guessed and went upstairs--.
I tried to keep her back--."
"I don't--quite understand, Ralph," Penny interrupted. "You mean
something happened when you were at Nita's house yesterday morning?"
"Yes. Judge Marshall had promised Nita to have the unfinished half of
the top story turned into a maid's bedroom and bath and a guest bedroom
and bath. Clive let me go to make the estimates. Of course I was glad of
the chance to see Nita again--I hadn't been with her since Thursday
night. But she had to take Lydia in for a dentist's appointment, and
they left me alone in the house. I had to go into the finished half to
make some measurements, and in the bedroom I found--oh, God!" he
groaned, and pressed a fist against his trembling mouth.
"You found that Dexter Sprague was staying there, was using the bedroom
that used to be mine--didn't you?" Penny helped him at last, in
desperation.
"How did you know?" The boy stared at the girl blankly for a moment,
then seemed to crumple as if from a new blow.
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