Diane of the Green Van - Page 188/210

"You're right," said Carl with decision. "It upset him a lot. But that night by the old chief's camp fire, Philip discovered--"

"Yes?"

"That some imperfection in the stilted wording of the hidden paper had led us all astray. Philip said he could not be sure--there was so much fuss and trouble and misunderstanding--but the old chief had nursed Theodomir through some dreadful illness and knew it all. They were staunch friends. Norman Westfall came into the Glades hunting with a friend. He persuaded your mother to go away with him, but they went--alone!"

"You mean--"

"That they did not take a child away from the Indian village as the paper in the candlestick declares--"

"And the daughter of Theodomir?"

"Is Keela. They left her by the old chief's wigwam."

Diane stared.