“Aunt Mattie, we don’t consider you one bit silly to be nervous about it,” Judy said quickly. “You didn’t telephone the state highway patrol?”
“No, I thought of it, but after all, I didn’t know but what the trucks had a right to be on that road. It could have been loggers?”
“How long did the truck remain on the private road?” Judy asked.
“So far as I know, it’s still there. I set up and watched until dawn. Since then, I’ve been rather busy.”
“If the truck is still on that road, we should check--” Kathleen suggested quickly.
“I think we should,” Miss Meadows agreed. “I’d have done it myself, only to tell you the truth, I was afraid to go alone.”
“Who wouldn’t be?” Judy backed her up. “When do we start? Right now?”
“No, finish your breakfast first,” Miss Meadows urged. “Such nice muffins shouldn’t be wasted.”
Their thoughts on the investigation before them, Judy and Kathleen ate quickly. Miss Meadows apologized for not having any milk to offer.
“I ran out yesterday,” she remarked, “and the new milkman always comes very late.”
“The new milkman?” Judy repeated, nearly dropping her knife. “What became of Bart?”
“I understand he’s given up his job. The new man told me that Bart quit because of something special he wanted to do before the start of college.”
“Something special,” mused Judy. “You know what I think! Bart quit so he could thoroughly explore Calico Cave!”
“Oh, dear, I hope not,” Miss Meadows murmured. “That sounds frightfully dangerous. You don’t think he’d explore very far alone?”
“I certainly do,” replied Judy. “From the little Bart said to me, I’m sure he hopes to solve the mystery of what became of his father. To do that, he’d have to brave the siphon.”
“Gracious! I never heard of anything so reckless!” Miss Meadows gasped. “Why, the authorities shouldn’t allow it!”
“I don’t imagine Bart told anyone of his plan,” Judy answered. “He’s thoroughly familiar with the cave, and it would be safe enough for him to explore, providing he didn’t try to go through the siphon.”
“Just what is a siphon?” Kathleen inquired.
“As I understand it, a siphon is a tunnel through the cave, with a submerged ceiling. If one were a good swimmer, as Bart apparently is, one might dive and swim through it to open air on the other side.”