Alton City envied her his devotion. But what was Hortie compared with Mr. Stanley Heath? Sylvia tilted her small up-tilted nose even higher. So occupied was she with these dramatic fancies she had not thought once of Prince Hal. In fact she had supposed that he had gone up the beach with Marcia. Now she suddenly became aware that he stood sniffing about the hearth, scratching at its surface as[82] if he scented something beneath. [82] He must not do that, and she told him so in no uncertain terms. Nevertheless, in spite of the rebuke, he continued to poke away at the spot, whining faintly, until his persistence aroused her curiosity and she went to see what disturbed him. One brick projected ever so slightly from the others, and it was at this the setter was clawing. "What is it, Prince? What's the matter?" whispered she. Delighted to have gained her attention, the dog barked. "Oh, you mustn't bark, darling," she cautioned, muzzling his nose with her hand. "You'll wake Mr. Heath. Tell Missy what the trouble is. Do you smell a mousie under there?" For answer the dog wagged his tail. "I don't believe it," Sylvia demurred. "You're only bluffing. Between you and Winkie-Wee there isn't a mouse about the place. Still, you seem terribly sure something is wrong. Well, to convince you, I'll take up the brick." Fetching from the pantry a steel fork, she inserted the prongs in the crack and pried the offending brick out of its hole. Instantly the dog snatched from the space beneath[83] a handkerchief containing a small, hard object. [83] Sylvia chased after him. "Bring it here, Hal! That's a good dog! Bring it to Missy."
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