COMPLICATIONS
"Isn't it strange, Jack," almost whispered Cora to her brother, as,
later that evening, the two sat on the veranda of their home, and
talked over the day's proceedings, "I cannot believe--they--took them.
But it does look very----"
"Well, sis," began the young man, "we have had other experiences with
things that _looked_ strange, and you will remember that strange looks
are not to be depended upon for absolute facts."
"Oh, I don't mean to say that those two poor, strange girls could be
so dishonest," she hurried to say, "but the trouble is, that Mrs.
Ramsy is angry with them for leaving her, and of course she will do
all she can to make trouble for them. Then she even threatened me."
"She did, eh?" exclaimed Jack. "Well, she had better go slow. I don't
call a person ignorant just because they happen to be illiterate, for
I always find they know more than I do on some subject, but this
woman--she is the--limit."
"You see," faltered Cora, hardly knowing just how to tell her brother,
"the girls, it seems, had their mother's wedding ring, and she took it
from them. To make up for that they took the crate of berries, then
finding the earring-box in it----"
"I know exactly what you are afraid to surmise, sis," said Jack, "but,
as I said before, it may all be wrong. I, of course, have never seen
the girls, and cannot confess to so lively an interest in them as you
have worked up, but I must say, I would like to see the old lady get
what's coming to her."
The brother and sister sat in silence for a few moments, then a step
on the path attracted their attention.
"Here comes Belle," exclaimed Cora. "Whatever brought her out alone,
so near to nightfall? She is usually so timid."
Belle was actually trembling, as she took a chair on the porch. "Oh
dear!" she began, "I am all out of breath. I was just scared to death
coming over."
"Why didn't you 'phone?" asked Jack, "and I would have gone over after
you."
"Cora," went on Belle, ignoring Jack's remark, "I am afraid--there is a
strange detective in--Chelton!"
"Well, what of that?" asked Cora, with a laugh. "Detectives are not
really dangerous; are they?"
"Now don't joke," begged the girl. "I came over to warn you!"
"To warn me!"
"Yes, I heard that they are looking for----"
"Detectives looking for Cora!" almost yelled Jack, leaping up from his
chair, as if some hidden spring had thrown him to his feet. "This is
some of that woman's work! Tell me quickly, Belle, all you have
heard--all you know."
"Bess and I were at the post-office when two strange men alighted from
a runabout," went on Belle. "They came inside--and at the stamp window
asked where Cora Kimball lived. Then Bess became alarmed, declared
that they were detectives, and she wanted to come straight over and
tell you, but father drove up at that very moment, and Bess had to go
in town with him. Then I was on my way over when Tillie, our maid, met
me and told me that mother had company from the West, and I was to
hurry back home. Oh dear me, I did think I would never get here! Such
complications!"
"Now, dear," said Cora soothingly, "don't you be the least bit
alarmed. Of course, it is quite natural that Mrs. Ramsy should try to
find her nieces, and quite right, too, so there is no harm whatever in
her directing any one to me, to make inquiries. She evidently thinks I
know more about the girls than I do."
"But there is a note in the evening paper telling all about the whole
thing," declared Belle, "and it mentions that one hundred dollars
reward will be paid for the return of the diamond earrings."
"Which looks," said Jack, "as if they are more anxious about the
stones than they are about the girls. Well, we will have to await
developments. I was going down to bowl to-night, but I guess I had
better hang around now."
"Why, don't be foolish, Jack. You may just as well go out as not. Even
if a strange man does come up, I am sure I will be able to talk to
him. I have--ahem!--met strange men before," declared Cora.
"All the same, I guess I'll stay. I want to take Belle home, at any
rate, and I am not particularly interested in the bowling game
to-night, though Ed wanted me to be on hand."
A shout from the road, however, reminded Jack that it was time to
start. The voice was at once recognized as that of Ed Foster, and Cora
begged her brother to run along, and have no fears on her account.
"And father and Bess will stop for me later," declared Belle. "They
have been taking the Western folks out for a run. Bess has the car and
papa the carriage, so there is no danger but that I shall fit in
somewhere."
It was, nevertheless, much against the better judgment of Jack Kimball
that he left his sister and Belle, and joined his companions bound for
the bowling alleys. He did not mention to either Ed or Walter his
fears for the comfort of Cora, should she be visited by the detective,
but they both noticed that he was not quite his jolly self, and that
he seemed to take little interest in their conversation or the sport
at the alleys.
It was now almost nine o'clock, and, as Belle and Cora sat on the
porch, enjoying the moonlight, in spite of their disturbed state of
mind, they began to feel that the detective scare had been unfounded.
"I can't see why they would ask where you lived," said Belle, "if they
did not intend to call on you."
At that moment a runabout turned into the driveway. Startled, the
girls sprang from their seats and hurried forward to see who might be
coming. Belle clutched Cora's arm.
"Oh, it is the detectives," she gasped. "I know their machine! Oh, why
did we let Jack go away?"
"Don't be nervous," commanded Cora. "If they really are detectives
they will have reason to suspect us, if they find us frightened."
Then, at a sudden thought, she added: "Belle, I believe you had better
run indoors. You are nervous, and you might say something that would
be better unsaid. I am sorry that the maids are both out, and that
mother is not at home--it does seem as if we should have kept Jack."
There was no time for further comment, for as Cora opened the French
window to allow Belle to enter the house without being noticed, the
two men were seen coming up the path.
Cora had been in unpleasant predicaments before, each time the
circumstance being a matter of protecting some friend, and this time
she felt "keyed up" to almost any emergency. Also her past experience
had taught her valuable lessons, so that she had no idea now of saying
one word that might in any way compromise the two helpless Catron
girls.
But even so wise a girl as Cora Kimball may be careless in some
matter, that, in itself, may seem unimportant, but upon which may hang
the very thread of fate.
"Is this Miss Kimball?" asked the shorter of the two gentlemen who
approached her.
"Yes," she replied with unconcern. She stepped directly under the
electric light that illumined the porch.
"We are sorry to disturb you, especially as it is rather late," said
the other man with unmistakable politeness, "but being in town we
thought to cover this end of our business without making a second trip
to Chelton. Is your brother, or mother at home?"
"No," replied Cora, "but, if it is necessary, I can call for my
brother, over the telephone."
"Well, our business is a little unpleasant," went on the man, "and we
would prefer to speak with you--before your brother. Yet, as he is not
at home, I believe we had best call again. We really only need to make
sure that you are not going out of town at once. We have heard that
you intend going to the seashore, and as we are detectives, looking
for the two Catron girls, we felt you might be able to give us some
clue as to their whereabouts. However," and he turned to go down the
steps, "we will come again to-morrow--if we may now make an appointment
for an interview with you."
Cora was much impressed with the man's manners. She moved to the edge
of the steps.
"Certainly, I shall be at home to-morrow," she said, "and I will have
my brother here with me. I will answer any questions, but really I
know absolutely nothing of the whereabouts of the girls."
The men were on the steps. The light from the porch lamp cast a
shadow, and Cora raised her hand to turn the switch that would light
the lower steps. As she did so, something dropped from her blouse.
The detective stooped to hand it to her.
It was the empty jewel case!