THE AFTERMATH
Ed Foster and Jack Kimball sat in the library of the latter's home
until quite late that night--long after the merrymakers had
departed.
"If you suspect who put the bonds into your pocket," Jack was
saying, "don't you think the easiest way to clear it up would be
directly to accuse the suspect?"
"No," answered Ed, "for I feel that it will all come out shortly,
without any unnecessary publicity. You see, the money and bonds may
only have been--er--well, let's say borrowed. Just as many banks are
robbed. Or the person who took it may have thought there was only a
small sum in the wallet, and finding such a large one, probably
became terribly frightened, and did not know what to do."
"Well, of course it's your affair," returned Jack and looked
thoughtful, "but, in a measure, it affects my sister."
"It never did affect your sister, Jack, and never can. I am sorry
about the wallet being found in her car, but there never was the
most remote--"
"Oh, I know, of course not, on your part. But others--"
"No one ever really suspected her. And, what is more, I have it
from her own lips that she would rather not have the guilty ones
punished, for she thinks, as I do, that the money and bonds were not
taken as a deliberate robbery."
"Well, what are you going to do--wait?"
"Yes. I shall invest these bonds so they will be safe, and then let
time do the rest. I do not think we shall have long to wait. They
have been holding the bank stock for me, so I have not really
suffered--thus far."
"Well, you certainly are a cool one!" complimented Jack. "If I
thought some one had my money--some coward, as this person must be,
to keep silent all this while--I would never sleep until I had it
back."
Ed smiled rather indulgently and indifferently.
"Well, you see," he went on, "I have gotten along so many years
without the use of that twenty thousand dollars that I did not miss
it when it was taken. Of course, I am losing interest on it, but I
can easily make that up."
"Then suppose we retire?" suggested Jack, for Ed was to be his guest
for the remainder of the night. "I am actually sweltering in these
togs. Aren't you in a hurry to get back into yourself and be just Ed
Foster?"
"No; I rather like being Adonis. I fancy I like him infinitely more
than I cotton to that Foster chap," and he laughed.
"Well, you made a hit," complimented Jack.
"Thanks."
Ed stood up and surveyed himself in a pier glass. He laughed at the
figure he presented, but there was a serious look upon his handsome
face. Fancy Adonis being serious!
"You also made good, Jack," he said after a pause. "I don't know
when I've seen a braver brave. Do you ever expect to get that stuff
off your face in time to go back to college?"
"I guess it will wear off. If it doesn't I'll use gasolene from the
auto tank, or take a steam bath at some lady beauty doctress's
establishment." He rubbed his countenance vigorously with his
handkerchief. "If it doesn't remove," he added, "I'll tell 'em I've
got the jaundice."
"Did you see Sid this evening?" asked Ed.
"I thought I saw him, and then I wasn't sure. He wasn't invited.
Whom do you think he was?"
"I--well, I wouldn't be sure, either," answered Ed evasively. "I saw
so many chaps about his size and build that it was hard to
distinguish. Hastings was splendid, wasn't he? I like that fellow."
"So do I. He's perfectly square, and measures up all right. I
managed to get the order for the Robinson twins' auto for him."
"You did?"
"Yes. You know, he is going to represent the Whitehall automobile
concern from the first of the month, over in New City. Going to take
one of their cars across country, you know. He was mighty pleased to
get the order. It was Cora's idea, of course. She is just full of
such ideas--always thinking of other people."
"That's right. She never does lose a chance to do a fellow a good
turn. I suppose she told you about the ride when she and Paul outdid
Sidney Wilcox?"
"No; but Paul did. Wasn't that plucky of her?" and Jack beamed with
admiration. "Cora has a lot more courage than have some fellows I
know."
"Indeed she has," and Ed's voice was earnest.
The tall clock was chiming two when the young men left the library.
They had so many things in common that they talked like two girls.
Just as they passed the hall door they were startled by a quick step
on the veranda.
"Hello! Who's that?" asked Jack, hurrying to the portal.
"It's me--Paul Hastings," answered a voice outside, and as Jack
swung open the door the young chauffeur, who was still in his
costume, entered. He seemed greatly excited.
"I was afraid you'd be in bed," he panted, "and I ran until I'm all
out of breath."
"But what's the matter?" asked Ed.
"Come on in and sit down," invited Jack. "We're not particular
whether we go to bed or sit up the rest of the night. Come and join
us. But has anything happened?"
"No; I--I can't stay," and Paul leaned against the doorway. "But I
found this in my coat pocket--it's a diamond ring. I was nearly home
when I discovered it. I thought some of the girls or ladies might be
frantic over the loss, so I hurried back with it."
He handed over the sparkling object.
"Whew! That's a beauty!" exclaimed Jack. "A new one, too! Look,
Ed! If that isn't an engagement ring I'll eat my war club! Now, what
young lady, do you suppose, could have used our grounds, our
hospitality and eaten of our swell supper with the malicious
aforethought of becoming pledged to unite herself in the holy bonds
of matrimony? Who could have done it? And then to lose the guarantee
that goes with it! It's past belief!"
"It certainly is new," said Ed, critically examining the ring with
its sparkling stone. "About a carat and a half, I should say. Never
cost less than three hundred dollars. Whoever bought it must have
plenty of cash. But how on earth did it get into your pocket, Paul?"
Ed was rapidly thinking of something that had happened to him that
nigh.
"That's what gets me," replied Paul. "Of course, these costume rigs
are full of holes and corners. A girl might have been dancing with
me, and the ring may have slipped from her finger into my pocket.
Perhaps it was too large for her, being new. But I did not notice
that I danced with any one wearing it."
"Still, it might have happened that way," admitted Jack, "especially
if she kept the stone turned in so no one, would see it. That's a
trick they have."
"At any rate, she is sure to come back here for it," went on Paul,
"and I wanted to save her any possible anxiety. I hope it belongs to
some real nice girl, and if it does, don't forget to say that I
found it. And you might add that I would be glad to receive a small
reward in the shape of permission to show the aforesaid pretty girl
the sights around here in the auto I am soon to run."
"All right," laughed Jack. "That would be some sort of reward. But,
as for myself, I must confess I would prefer a smile of gratitude.
Just fancy the girl receiving back her ring! Won't she flop over in
a sheer state of collapse!"
"Have you looked inside the ring?" asked Ed. "There might be a name
or initials in it."
"Never thought of it," admitted Paul. "Hazel, who was with me when
I found it, made me hurry right back, and I didn't get a chance."
Jack lead the circlet, and holding it close to a drop-light, he
peered closely at it.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "There are initials!"
"Whose?" asked Ed.
"'I.G.' Whose are they? 'I.G.' Why, of course. `I.G.'--Ida
Giles! Whoever would have thought it? Ida Giles with an engagement
ring!"
"And why not?" queried Ed. "Isn't Ida the bright-red, dashing sort?
Lots of fellows would call her dashing, and, from what I have seen
of her to-night, she certainly is bright."
"Well, of all things!" exclaimed Jack, who seemed unable to get over
it. "And you're on her side, eh, Ed? Why, man, not a fellow in the
whole of Chelton ever got through more than one dance with
her--except Sid Wilcox, and I can't see why he sticks to her."
"Then the Chelton fellows are slow," commented Ed as he critically
examined the ring. "I think Ida is quite taking."
"Was she here to-night?" asked Paul.
"She was invited," replied Jack, "for I saw her name on one of the
bids Cora sent out. But I did not have the pleasure of a personal
interview with her this evening, and so I can't say whether she was
here or not."
"Well," remarked Paul, moving toward the door, "I guess I'll be
leaving again. Take care of the ring, Jack, and don't forget to give
the lady who calls for it my regards. And say, Jack, please thank
your sister for me for getting the order for that car for the
Robinsons. I'm going after it to-morrow morning--no, I mean this
morning. It's after three o'clock now."
"Oh, I'm sure Cora was only too glad to be able to get you the
chance."
"And thank you, also. I know the part you had in it."
"Oh, I didn't do anything. It was all Cora. Though of course Bess
Robinson would deny me nothing," added Jack and laughed. "She thinks
I'm simply perfect. I heard her tell Cora so," and Jack walked up
and down in pretended self-admiration, while the others threatened
to pick him up and toss him out into the cold moonlight, where they
said he belonged in that particular state of lunacy.
"Ida's ring," mused Jack, after he had calmed down. "Just plain
Ida. Now if it had only been Bess, Belle or--Hazel."
"No, no!" protested Paul.
"Well, all right," assented Jack. "Ida's it is." He wrapped the
ring carefully in paper and put it in his pocket. "I'll take the
best of care of it, Paul, of course, and I'll also collect the
reward for you, and hand it over personally. You can trust me for
that. But I wonder why we haven't had some inquiries from Ida before
this?"
"Maybe she is so unused to it that she hasn't missed it," suggested
Ed.
"No girl is ever unused to her first engagement ring," declared
Paul. "Well, I'm going. Goodnight."
"This finding of things in pockets is growing interesting," remarked
Ed when the door had closed on Paul. "I wonder if any of the girls
found valuables in their costumes?"
"Hardly," declared Jack. "No one could ever find their pockets to
drop anything in. But I'll put this in the safe and mark it `to be
kept until called for.' Won't Cora and the other girls be
surprised!" and he slammed the iron door shut, having, by an odd
chance, dropped the diamond circlet into the very compartment that
contained the bonds so strangely returned to Ed.