Part 32 (1/2)
The news so suddenly divulged by Andy confused Cora.
What did he mean by getting the reward? Of course the diamond earrings must have been found--he said that distinctly enough, but had they been hidden by the orphan girls, as was the case which contained the gems?
”Cora,” called Belle, ”Nannette is hungry. Come up to the candy kitchen, and we will show her how they make salt water taffy.”
”All right,” replied Cora. ”Of course you must be hungry, Nannette, you had to leave home so early.”
It was difficult to make their way through the steady stream of people that poured up the long pier. Cora walked ahead, while Bell and Bess, on either side, protected the deformed child.
”Oh, I can smell the taffy!” exclaimed the girl, as they neared the candy kitchen.
”Yes, so can I,” agreed Cora. ”It would almost make one hungry.”
They were now in front of the store with the big gla.s.s windows.
Through this gla.s.s could be seen the workers in the exhibition kitchen. There were a few girls in white ap.r.o.ns, and high white caps, doing up pieces of ”taffy” in papers, and working beside them were two men, also clad in white linen. The men were popping corn over a gas stove.
”Look,” said Belle. ”That is how they make it. Stand here a moment and watch.”
The girls drew up in front of the window. As they stopped two men from the excursion boat also paused to observe the candy makers.
Cora turned and looked at the men. A remark one made about ”runaways”
had attracted her attention.
”Oh!” she suddenly gasped. Then she clutched Belle's arm.
”Come on,” she whispered. ”I don't care to stand here.”
”What's the matter?” asked Bess, noting the change in Cora's face.
”Those are--the detectives,” she whispered. ”I don't want to get in conversation with them. Come on.”
But both men were looking directly at Cora. She felt it was too late for her to try to escape their scrutiny.
”Look! Look!” exclaimed Bess. ”There are----”
But at that instant two girls behind the gla.s.s window in the candy kitchen came forward with their trays of freshly-made candy. Both girls looked through the window--directly at Cora and at the others with her.
”Nellie and Rose!” exclaimed Belle.
”Oh!” gasped Cora, ”if I only could tell them the diamonds are found!”
For a single instant the two girls in the caps and ap.r.o.ns stood like statues. Then they evidently saw the two men who stood directly back of Cora.
With a scream that penetrated the distance and the gla.s.s windows, the two unfortunate girls dropped their trays on the counter, and dashed out of the store into the kitchen, showing fright and terror as they ran.
”They saw the detectives,” declared Cora. ”Oh, I must reach them! But in this crowd!”
Some one tapped Cora on the shoulder.