The Second Confesion

Madeline was manipulating a blade of grass with her teeth, which were even and white but not ostentatious. “I'm tired and hungry,” she stated. “You'll have to carry me home.” “Okay.” I got to my feet. “If it starts me breathing fast and deep don't misunderstand.” “I will.” She tilted her head back to look up at me. “But first why don't you tell me what you've been looking for? Do you think for one minute I'd have kept panting around with you all morning if I had thought it was only a card case?” “You haven't panted once. What's wrong with a card case?” “Nothing.” She spat out the blade of grass. There's nothing wrong with my eyes, either. Haven't I seen you? Half the time you've been darting into places where you couldn't possibly have lost a card or anything else. When we came down the bank to the brook I expected you to start looking under stones.” She waved a hand. “There's thousands of 'em. Go to it' She sprang to her feet and shook out her skirt. “But carry me home first And on the way you'll tell me what you've been looking for or I'll tear your picture out of my scrapbook.” “Maybe we can make a deal,” I offered. “I'll tell you what I've been looking for if you'll tell me what your idea was on Tuesday afternoon. You may remember that you might have seen or heard something on Monday evening that could have given you a notion about someone using my car, but you wouldn't tell me because you wanted to save your father some dough. That reason no longer holds, so why not tell me now?” She smiled down at me. “You never let go, do you? Certainly I'll tell you. I saw Webster Kane on the terrace about that time, and if he hadn't used the car himself I thought he might have seen someone going to it or coming back.” “No sale. Try again.” “But that was it!” “Oh, sure it was.” I got to my feet. “It's lucky it happened to be Kane who signed that statement. You're a very lucky girl. I think I'll have to choke you.