Part 24 (2/2)
He fairly shot the question at Cora
”Miss Downs?” she said falteringly
”Yes”
”I don't know that I ever hear from Mary Downs,” was Cora's sharp reply
”No?” His voice was queerly questioning ”Well, I want to say I think Mary a very slick little girl”
Cora could not mistake his intention He wanted her to think that he believed Mary was not one of her set By ”slick” he probably meant to convey the idea that he considered the forht be tricky
”I am sorry Miss Downs is away,” said Cora simply ”I intended to take her on a little run with o out in a car”
”No, I guess, not But don't you think it--er--rather risky to take up with--shop girls?”
”Shop girls? Why, any girl is a lady, noas she conducts herself like one What do you mean by your insinuations?”
She al hihed
”What have you to say against her character?” deain
Sid seemed a bit uneasy He had hardly expected to be pinned down so directly
”Oh, of course,” he finally answered, ”if you feel that way about it, I--er--I suppose--nothing I only wished to caution you That money matter is still in--er--well, let us say, in an aard shape”
”Does Mary Downs know anything about it?” asked Cora directly, determined to face Sid down
”I'm sure I don't know,” he drawled ”But you know she was--er--there with the--rest of us”
CHAPTER XIV
JUST CORA AND PAUL
As if this had been the entire object of his peculiar actions, Sid suddenly stopped the car
”This is as far as I care to go,” he said ”I think I'll leave you now I can't thank you enough for the ride,” he added ly, and, with a bow that had much of irony in it, he walked down a side path of the park, into which he had directed the machine
Cora did not answer hiht And in spite of her conte desire to question him about what he had said of Mary Downs