But at last they said good-bye and went. “Come again, do,” said Mr Curton, beaming at the three of them. “And tell the other boy — what’s his name, George — that I hope his dog is quite all right again now. Such a nice, well-behaved dog! Well good-bye! See you again soon, I hope!”

Chapter Ten

A surprising signal

“What’s up with George?” demanded Julian, as soon as they were safely out of earshot. “I know you kicked her at tea-time, for talking too much about the island — that was idiotic of her — but why has she gone home in a huff?”

Dick told them how he had trodden on poor Timmy’s tail to make him whine, so that George would turn her attention to him and stop talking. Julian laughed, but Anne was indignant.

“That was horrid of you, Dick.”

“Yes, it was,” said Dick. “But I couldn’t think of any other way to head George off the island. I really honestly thought she was giving away to that fellow all the things he badly wanted to know. But now I think he wanted to know them for quite another reason.”

“What do you mean?” said Julian puzzled.

“Well, I thought at first he must be after Uncle Quentin’s secret, whatever it is,” said Dick, “and that was why he wanted to know all the ins and outs of everything. But now that he’s told me he’s a journalist — that’s a man who writes for the newspapers, Anne — I think after all he only wants the information so that he can use it for his paper, and make a splash when Uncle has finished his work.”

“Yes, I think that too,” said Julian thoughtfully; “in fact, I’m pretty sure of it. Well, there’s no harm in that but I don’t see why we should sit there and be pumped all the time. He could easily say, “Look here, I’d be obliged if you’d spill the beans about Kirrin Island — I want to use it in a newspaper story.” But he didn’t say that.”

“No. So I was suspicious,” said Dick. “But I see now he’d want all sorts of tit-bits about Kirrin Island to put in his newspaper, whatever it is. Blow! Now I shall have to explain to George I was wrong — and she really is in a temper!”

“Let’s take the road to Kirrin Village and go to get some bones for Timmy at the butcher’s,” said Julian. “A sort of apology to Tim!”

This seemed a good idea. They bought two large meaty bones at the butcher’s, and then went to Kirrin Cottage. George was up in her bedroom with Timmy. The three went up to find her.

She was sitting on the floor with a book. She looked up sulkily as they came in.

“George, sorry I was such a beast,” said Dick. “I did it in a good cause, if you only knew it. But I’ve discovered that Mr Curton isn’t a spy, seeking out your father’s secret — he’s only a journalist, smelling out a story for his paper! Look — I’ve brought these for Timmy — I apologize to him too.”