ALMOST--BUT NOT QUITE
"Certainly take it," said Cora, "if it is of any use to you. I found
it--out near the strawberry patch."
She was speaking to the surprised detective. He was examining the
empty jewel case, and she had no idea of denying how she had come by
it. From the description furnished to them the men were, of course,
easily able to identify the tell-tale box.
But in spite of their consideration, and good manners, the detectives
felt that they had stumbled on a very important piece of evidence.
Certainly, this was the box that Miss Schenk had described as that in
which her earrings usually were placed. True, she could not specify
just when she had last put them in this box, but that this was _the_
box was an important discovery.
"I cannot believe that the girls took the gems," said Cora, as the men
at last turned to go, "for they seemed really such innocent young
girls. The only thing unusual about them, that I noticed, was that
they had been overworked, and were consequently rather----"
"Revengeful," finished one of the men. "That is the suspicious
point--even good young girls may be driven to desperation. However,
Miss Kimball, with your permission, we will call to-morrow at four,"
and they raised their hats, and went down the walk.
Cora was stunned--that she should have placed into the very hands of
the detectives so important a clue!
"And I meant to hide that box safely in my room," she reflected. "That
was why I kept it in my blouse,--so as not to forget it."
The long window opened and Belle almost fell into Cora's arms.
"Oh, have they gone at last?" she gasped. "What dreadful thing
happened?"
"Why, nothing happened," replied Cora, making up her mind instantly
that the fewer persons who knew about the jewel box the better. "I
thought them very polite officers."
"But when I saw you step to turn on the light I thought something
happened--I saw you start."
"Belle, my dear, you are too romantic," said Cora, evasively. "I am
afraid I shall have to disappoint you this time, however, for my
callers scarcely said a single word that was new. They are just
looking for our runaways. And I do wonder where the poor, dear, lost,
little things may be to-night!"
"Isn't it dreadful to think about it! I have read of such things, but
to think that we really--know the girls."
There was a catch in Belle's voice when she said "know the girls."
Plainly she had her doubts about the desirability of their
acquaintance.
A whistle on the path told of Jack's return.
"Dear me," exclaimed Cora, "whoever would think it is almost ten
o'clock!"
"And what can have become of papa and the others!" pondered Belle.
"They were to call for me----"
The familiar toot of the _Flyaway's_ horn interrupted her.
"There they are now," declared Cora. "My! what a full evening we have
had. I feel almost too flustrated to meet your Western friends," and
she smoothed out various discrepancies in her toilette.
"Come on, Belle," called Bess from the machine. "We can't come up.
It's too late, Cora!" she continued to call, "come here a moment. I
want to tell you something."
At this Cora and Belle went down to the roadway. Bess was in the
_Flyaway_ with her mother and a strange lady, while down near the
turn, at the corner, the lights of Mr. Robinson's carriage could be
seen flickering in the summer night's shadows. He had not gone on the
long road taken by the auto and in consequence, the two vehicles had
arrived at the same time.
"Cora," began Bess, without introducing the stranger, "we have had the
strangest experience! Away out on the river road we thought we heard
the cry of a young girl! Yes, and we saw something white run across
the road, in such a lonely place!"
"Mercy!" interrupted Belle. "I am glad I was not along."
"Well, papa happened to meet us there and stopped, and the coachman
got out, and we looked all over the place with our lamps in hand, and
see what we found!"
In the uncertain light Cora could not at once make out just what was
the object Bess held up for her inspection.
"Don't you recognize it?" asked Bess. "Why, it's Nellie's gingham
dress; the very one she wore the other day."
"Oh," gasped Belle, "do you suppose they have drowned themselves!"
"Come, daughter," interrupted Mrs. Robinson, "we have already heard
too much of these two very--indiscreet young persons. Come, Belle, my
dear, we must get home. Cora, I would not advise you to waste too much
sympathy on the girls from that farm. Evidently they are quite capable
of looking after themselves."
This was said with that authoritative manner used by older, and more
prudent persons, when trying to curb the enthusiasm of the
inexperienced. Mrs. Robinson was not unkind, but she did not think it
wise to let the girls' sympathy "run away with them," as her husband
put it.
"All right, mamma dear," replied Belle meekly, really glad to climb
into the small seat at the back of the _Flyaway_ and start for home.
The detectives had furnished enough excitement, but now came this
strange news----
"Oh, I just want to tell Cora one thing more," said good-natured Bess.
"Cora, when we finally did give up the search, and had gone along a
little way, a trolley car passed, and it stopped just at that turn in
the road where there was an electric light."
"And couldn't you see who boarded it?" asked Cora.
"No, it was a park resort car, and just packed full of people, so we
didn't even have a chance to get a glimpse of those who either got on
or got off. Well, good night, dear," and Bess switched on the spark
and started the engine without cranking. "I will see you to-morrow. We
have got to finish up our plans--for--you know."
It was the approach of Jack that stopped Bess in her remark. The young
man joked about it, and declared that he would soon discover the
secret, warning the girls that Cora could never keep good news away
from him, and that he felt it in his bones she would tell him about it
that very night.
The girls retaliated with the assurance that this time, at least, Jack
was not to know their secret, then, when the _Flyaway_ had whirred
itself off, Cora and Jack, arm in arm, started back to the porch.
Cora hardly knew how to tell her brother about the jewel box, but she
finally managed to explain the peculiar happening.
"Well," said Jack, when she paused for his opinion, "there's no use
crying over spilled milk. The thing to do, I suppose, is to keep one's
hands off milk. Now, I reckon you will be subjected to a lot of
questions, when those fellows come to-morrow."
"They were really very polite," Cora assured him, "and I haven't the
slightest dread about their questions. It seems to me, now, that we
all ought to do what we can to trace the girls. From what Bess just
told me I am afraid they are running about at night in lonely and
dangerous places. And bad as their lot might have been, with their
aunt, that was safer than these night escapades."
"True--very true, little sister," said Jack with his usual good
spirits, "at the same time if they have committed--we will call it an
indiscretion, in trying earrings in their ears, it might be just as
well to give them a chance. No use running them into the very teeth of
the law."
That was exactly how Cora felt about it. "Well," she said, as she
picked up her fan and other little belongings, preparatory to going
indoors, "we will see what comes of my official investigation.
Perhaps, when the detectives have finished questioning me, they will
be able to go to a telephone and call the girls home. I have always
heard that detectives do such wonderful things."
"Well, this time, sis, I will be at home when they call, unless
something very unforeseen happens."
Jack pushed the bolt on the heavy door, and Cora went over the first
floor of the house, attending to the duties, with which her mother,
upon her departure for the city, had entrusted her.
Then, handing the silver to Jack, she put out the lights, and bade him
an affectionate good-night.