"Sure--until we get the clue to it. Foolish to us, but mighty important to Professor Spink. Therefore we ought to look into it. Father doesn't know anything about this bottle business."
"Well, it's Sunday," sighed 'Phemie. "We can't do anything about the mystery to-day."
But her sister was fully roused, and when Lyddy determined on a thing, something usually came of it.
After breakfast, and after she had seen Lucas and his mother and Sairy drive past on their way to chapel, she put on her sunbonnet and started boldly for the neighboring farm, determined to have an interview with Cyrus Pritchett.
Lyddy did not have to go all the way to the Pritchett farm to speak with its proprietor. The farmer was wandering up Hillcrest way, looking at the growing corn, and she met him at the corner where the two farms came together.
"Mr. Pritchett," she said, abruptly, "I want to ask you a serious question."
He looked at her in his surly way--from under his heavy brows--and said nothing.
"You knew Mr. Spink when you were both boys; didn't you?"
The old man's look sharpened, but he only nodded. Cyrus was very chary of words.
"Mr. Spink left Hillcrest this morning. Last night my sister caught him in the east wing, trying to break open grandfather's desk with a burglar's jimmy. I am not at all sure that I shan't have him arrested, anyway," said Lyddy, with rising wrath, as she thought of the false professor's actions.
"Now, sir, you know _why_ Spink came to Hillcrest, _why_ he has been searching up there among the rocks, and _why_ he wanted to get at grandfather's papers."
"No, I don't," returned the farmer, flatly.
"You and Spink were up at Hillcrest the first night we girls slept there. And you frightened my sister half to death."
The old man blinked at her, but never said a word.
"And you were there with Spink the evening Lucas took 'Phemie and me down to the Temperance Club--the first time," said Lyddy, with surety. "You slipped out of sight when we drove into the yard. But it was you."
"Yes, sir. And I want to know what it means. What is Spink's intention? What does he want up here?"
"I couldn't tell ye," responded Pritchett.
"No. I say what I mean," growled Pritchett. "Jud Spink never told me what he wanted. I was up to the house with him--yep. I let him go into the cellar that night you say your sister was scart. But I didn't leave him alone there."