Part 31 (2/2)
said Cora, blus.h.i.+ng slightly.
”That's true enough,” Walter admitted with a smile. ”You are not on the witness stand, so you needn't mention face powder, nose rings--”
”Well, I like that!” cried Cora. ”As if we used face powder!”
”Just for that he will have to eat at the second table,” p.r.o.nounced Hazel.
”Come on!” challenged Jack, laughing. ”Get down to business. What sort of things are missing, Cora?”
”Girls' things, of course,” said his sister. ”We didn't have much else up here.”
And that, it developed, was what was missing. Trinkets, some toilet articles, including a silver-mounted set belonging to Cora which Jack had given her the previous Christmas, were gone. Hazel lost a silver-backed mirror and a box full of bright ribbons.
”Well, this beats me!” said Walter with a puzzled air, as he looked at the list he had made. ”They took some things they may possibly dispose of at a p.a.w.nshop, but why grown men burglars should want hair ribbons, or neck ribbons, or whatever ribbons they are, gets me.”
”What makes you think they were men?” asked Belle.
”Who else would it be?”
”Well, we first had a theory that the upsetting might have been done by boys,” said Cora.
”Yes, that theory would fit, under certain circ.u.mstances,” agreed Walter. ”So would the taking of the flashlight. Almost any boy would have been glad to get that. But what boy would take a lot of pretty ribbons, even though he were enough of a criminal to know that he might be able to dispose of the silver-mounted toilet articles? It doesn't jibe.”
In the main, they were forced to agree with Walter.
”Well, the fact remains that we have had another visit from the unknowns,” concluded Walter, ”and what are we going to do about it?”
For a moment no one knew what to say. And then, as brains were busy with the mystery, several schemes were offered.
”Put some animal traps about and catch the intruders,” said Jack.
”One of us stay and watch, while the others go away,” was Paul's contribution.
”Sprinkle talc.u.m powder on the floor, and then we can track them by the marks,” offered Hazel.
”Not such a bad idea,” declared Jack, as the others laughed. ”It has been known to work.”
”Call in the police,” came from Bess.
”Pooh!” scoffed Cora. ”If they couldn't get back my automobile they can't find mysterious thieves who enter through locked doors or windows, and vanish into thin air with their ill-gotten gains.”
”Let-let's go home!” faltered Belle.
”Nonsense!” cried Cora. ”We'll stick it out. It is just getting interesting.”
<script>