The Mandie Collection Read Online Free

Prudence said. “She has never done such a thing before, and besides, as I said, we have some pupils here all summer and we have to keep things orderly and running even if school is out. Perhaps since you know most of the tradespeople in town, Mrs. Taft, you could ask in an offhand way if any of them have seen my sister recently.” She nervously dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief as she took a deep breath.
    “Yes, I’d be glad to,” Mrs. Taft replied.
    At that moment, Aunt Phoebe came in with the tea cart and began serving coffee. As she finished with the adults and came over to serve Mandie and her friends, she whispered to Mandie, “Sorry, no chocolate cake. Didn’t know y’all would be here tonight.”
    Mandie smiled back and said, “Next time.”
    Aunt Phoebe nodded and replied, “Next time.” She left the cart in the parlor as she went back into the hallway.
    “I appreciate your returning home in order to help me out on this,” Miss Prudence said to Mrs. Taft. “I had no one else I could trust.”
    “Thank you, Miss Prudence,” Mrs. Taft replied. “However, I don’t believe there is much I can do if you won’t agree to go to the law enforcement people. I will go shopping tomorrow and ask in the stores if anyone has seen Miss Hope lately. You do understand, though, that probably all of Asheville knows Miss Hope has disappeared and they will only give me their ideas of where she went and what happened. Unless I run across someone who has actually seen her, this won’t accomplish anything.”
    “You might happen across someone who really does know where my sister went, or has seen her, and they wouldn’t be likely to tell that information to the people who work here who have been asking around for her.”
    When the coffee was finished, Mrs. Taft and Senator Morton stood up. “I am tired from the long journey, Miss Prudence. I’ll go home, get some rest, and see what I can do tomorrow,” Mrs. Taft said.
    As everyone moved toward the door to the hallway, Mandie stepped over to Miss Prudence and asked, “Is there anything I can do to help find Miss Hope? My friends here will be visiting for a few days and they could help, also.” She indicated Celia, Jonathan, and Joe.
    “Thank you, Amanda, but I’ll leave it up to Mrs. Taft. If you all can assist her in any way, that would be fine,” Miss Prudence replied as she walked on with Mrs. Taft and Senator Morton to the front door.
    Mandie whispered to her friends as they followed, “At least she didn’t forbid it.”
    On the way back to Mrs. Taft’s house, Senator Morton said, “I don’t understand the lady’s resistance to having the law enforcement people come in.”
    “Neither do I,” Mrs. Taft replied. “I didn’t say this to Miss Prudence, but I plan to discuss the matter with Mayor Hodges. He might have some ideas as to how we can investigate this matter.”
    Mandie and her friends heard that remark and smiled at each other as Ben turned the rig into Mrs. Taft’s driveway.
    Ella, the maid, opened the front door, and once inside the hallway, Mrs. Taft turned to Senator Morton and said, “If you will forgive me, I need to retire now so I can be up early and prepared for the task of searching for Miss Hope.”
    “I was going to suggest the same thing, except that I would like to read a little in the parlor to relax before I retire. So have pleasant dreams, and I will see you in the morning,” the senator told her. He headed toward the parlor, and Mrs. Taft walked on toward the staircase.
    Mandie quickly whispered to her friends, “He is going to read in the parlor. Let’s go to the back parlor.” She called after the senator, “Good night, Senator Morton.”
    Her friends quickly added their good-nights.
    “Sleep well, all of you, see you in the morning,” Senator Morton replied as he went on into the parlor.
    Celia, Jonathan, and Joe followed Mandie to the back parlor. Snowball was there, curled up on a chair. He opened one