Part 23 (1/2)

”Our thanks to Senor Ramo will have to wait,” said Jack, as he turned away from the hotel desk to rejoin his party. ”And now let's get together, see what we have to take with us, and plan our cruise.

I'll look up this man Hendos, who owns the Tartar, and see what arrangements I can make with him. Where's Inez?”

”Gone to her room,” answered Cora. ”I fancy we'd all better get ready for dinner. It's getting late.”

They went up stairs, leaving the buzz of much talk behind them, for many of the hotel guests were speaking of the news concerning our friends.

As Cora was entering her apartment, Inez came out into the corridor in front of her room.

”Zey are gone, Senorita!” she gasped.

”Gone!”

”What?” asked Cora, half forgetting, in her own grief and anxiety, what the Spanish girl had gone to ascertain.

”My papairs--for my father! Oh, Senorita, what shall I do?”

”Gone?” echoed Cora. ”Do you mean taken--stolen?”

”I fear so--yes. See, my room has been entered.”

There was no doubt of it. A hasty glance showed Cora that, in the absence of Inez, her hotel room had been gone over quickly, but thoroughly. A small, empty valise, which Inez had trustingly hidden under the mattress of the bed lay on the floor, open. It had contained the papers which were so precious to her. Now they were gone--that was evident.

”Oh, Inez!” cried Cora, and in such a voice that Jack, who was just coming along with Walter, hurried up, inquiring:

”What is it? What's the matter?”

”Those papers Inez had, have been stolen!” cried Cora. ”And Senor Ramo is missing--has fled--”

”Hold on!” exclaimed Jack, laying a cautioning finger on his sister's lips. ”It won't do to make such rash statements, and draw such damaging conclusions--in such a loud voice, Sis,” and he whispered the last words. ”These walls are very thin, you know, and these Spanish gentlemen are very punctilious on points of honor. I don't want to be called on to fight a duel on your behalf.”

”Oh, Jack, how can you! Such a poor joke!”

”Not a joke at all, I a.s.sure you. Now let's have the whole story--but in here,” and Jack drew his sister and Inez into the room of the Spanish girl, Walter following. Bess and Belle had gone into their own apartments a little before, and had not heard, the talk.

”Just in time,” murmured Jack, as he closed the door, having a glimpse of a servant coming along the corridor. ”Now, what is it, Inez?” and, after a quick glance about the ransacked apartment, he gazed at the girl.

”My papairs--for my father--zey are gone!” With a tragic gesture she pointed to the opened valise.

”Was your room this way when you came in?” asked Walter, who rather imagined he was gifted with amateur detective abilities.

”Just like this--yes, Senor Jack.”

”Never mind the senor. Just plain Jack will do. And where were the papers?”

”In the valise--in my bed. But they are gone.”

There was no doubt of that--also no doubt of the fact that Senor Ramo--the man who was suspected by Inez of being in the plot to keep her father in the political prison--was likewise missing.

”Hum,” mused Jack. ”It may be merely a coincidence--or it may not.”

”I should say it was not!” declared Walter, positively.