The Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard Page A

asleep under the seat.
    “Ben, let’s get on our way home now,” Mrs. Taft told her driver.
    “Yessum, Miz Taft, be dere in a minute,” Ben replied, shaking the reins, and the horse moved the rig out onto the road.
    Turning to Uncle Ned, Mrs. Taft said, “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone so—so—” She was at a loss for the right word.
    “So nosy,” Mandie supplied with a little laugh.
    “Yes, so nosy,” Mrs. Taft agreed. “I don’t think I had ever met her before. She doesn’t go to Preacher Tallant’s church but to some small place down in the valley, I’ve heard. There’s no telling what she will tell the preacher when he comes home, so I must catch him tomorrow and explain.”
    “Yes, tomorrow,” Uncle Ned agreed.
    “If you would like to return with us to talk to the preacher, you are welcome to come along,” Mrs. Taft told Uncle Ned.
    “Yes, I will go with you, and then I will go to stores and ask about Miss Hope,” Uncle Ned replied.
    Mandie moved closer to her friends and whispered, “I hope Grandmother allows us to go with her tomorrow.”
    “She probably will,” Jonathan said.
    “If she doesn’t, we can all go out on a search of our own,” Mandie told Jonathan, Joe, and Celia.
    “Yes,” they all agreed.
    When they got back to Mrs. Taft’s house, they found Senator Morton sitting in the parlor. He stood up when they came into the room.
    “I’m so glad to see you must be feeling better,” Mrs. Taft greeted him. She went to sit nearby.
    “I’m glad to say I feel much better,” Senator Morton replied, standing up until Mrs. Taft was seated.
    “I’ll just rest a few minutes and then go upstairs and freshen up for supper,” Mrs. Taft said.
    Mandie put Snowball down, and the four young people sat in chairs close enough to hear what the adults were going to talk about.
    “I go out for air, come back in for supper,” Uncle Ned said as he turned to leave the room.
    Mandie was undecided as to whether they should follow him or stay and see what Mrs. Taft was going to say about their search. She glanced at her friends. All three motioned to their seats. They wanted to stay in the parlor. Mandie watched as Uncle Ned left the room.
    “We have not had a fruitful day,” Mrs. Taft told the senator. “I believe the people out at the school farm know something about Miss Hope’s disappearance, and they are not telling me. And that woman who is housekeeper for Preacher Tallant said he was out making calls, and she was very rude to us.”
    “I’m sorry you’ve had such a bad day,” Senator Morton replied. “Do you plan on returning to see the preacher?”
    “Yes, and Uncle Ned is going to inquire at some of the stores tomorrow,” Mrs. Taft replied. “I thought I’d see if I can catch the preacher early tomorrow morning, and then I’d like to check with Miss Prudence just in case she has heard something. And if she hasn’t, then I will go directly to see the sheriff, without Miss Prudence’s knowledge of course.”
    “I would like to accompany you,” Senator Morton said.
    “And I would be grateful if you would,” Mrs. Taft replied.
    Mandie stood up and said, “Let’s go get freshened up for supper.” She looked at her friends and then at Mrs. Taft.
    “Be sure you are all back down here ready for supper at six o’clock sharp,” Mrs. Taft said.
    “Yes, ma’am,” the four replied as they went out into the hallway.
    Mandie told her friends, “Let’s meet back at the top of the stairs in thirty minutes.”
    The boys looked at each other and grinned.
    “It won’t take me thirty minutes to wash my face and hands,” Jonathan said, grinning at Mandie.
    “Or me, either, but we’ll wait for you girls,” Joe added. Mandie and Celia hurried ahead.
    Once inside their room, the girls sat down to talk.
    “I hope Grandmother allows us to go with her to visit the sheriff,” Mandie said.
    “I’m glad she is going to law enforcement people. I’m really worried about