Part 10 (2/2)

”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 circ.u.mstance 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 seash.o.r.e, 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.

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