There goes Mrs. Tony now , all agog to spread such a delectable bit of gossip . '' Mrs. Tony had indeed gone , refusing Mrs. Theodora 's invitation to stay to tea , so eager was she to tell her story . And Mrs. Theodora , at that very minute , was out in her kitchen yard , giving her instructions to Potter Vane , the twelve year old urchin who cut her wood and did sundry other chores for her . `` Potter , '' she said , excitedly , `` run over to the Kings ' and tell Eben to come over here immediately -- no matter what he 's at . Tell him I want to see him about something of the greatest importance . '' Mrs. Theodora thought that this was a master stroke . `` That match is as good as made , '' she thought triumphantly as she picked up chips to start the tea fire . `` If Judith suspects that Eben is here she is quite likely to stay in her room and refuse to come down . But if she does I 'll march him upstairs to her door and make him ask her through the keyhole . You ca n't stump Theodora Whitney . '' Alas ! Ten minutes later Potter returned with the unwelcome news that Eben was away from home . `` He went to Wexbridge about half an hour ago , his ma said . She said she 'd tell him to come right over as soon as he kem home . '' Mrs. Theodora had to content herself with this , but she felt troubled . She knew Mrs. Tony Mack 's capabilities for spreading news . What if Bruce Marshall should hear it before Eben ? That evening Jacob Plowden 's store at Wexbridge was full of men , sitting about on kegs and counters or huddling around the stove , for the March air had grown sharp as the sun lowered in the creamy sky over the Ramble Valley hills . Eben King had a keg in the corner . He was in no hurry to go home for he loved gossip dearly and the Wexbridge stores abounded with it .
He had exhausted the news XXXXX Peter Stanley 's store across the bridge and now he meant to hear what was saying at Plowden 's .
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