Part 23 (2/2)

”And get into trouble saying it, Wally,” remarked Jack. ”No, the best thing to do in this case is to keep quiet about it.”

”But my papairs!” cried Inez. ”My father--in prison. I must get him out.”

”Yes, and I think you can best do it by not letting it be known that you have discovered the theft,” Jack said.

”I think that's silly,” declared Cora. ”Whoever took those papers can't help but know, that their loss would be discovered at once.

The condition the room was left in would make that certain. I can't see what good it is to keep quiet about it.”

”I'll explain,” Jack went on. ”The person who did the robbery of course knows he, or she, did it, and knows that we won't be long in finding it out. But the hotel people don't know it yet, nor the guests, and it's possible to keep it from them. They're the ones who will do the talking. Fortunately, the newspapers here aren't like those up home. There won't be any reporters after us, if we keep still.”

”But what's the advantage of it?” asked Cora.

”To puzzle and alarm the thief,” was Jack's answer. ”No doubt he--for I'll a.s.sume for the sake of argument that it was a man--will be looking for a hue and cry. He'll expect it, and when it doesn't come, he'll begin to imagine all sort of things.”

”I see!” cried Walter. ”He'll believe we are on his trail, have a clue and--”

”Exactly!” interrupted Jack. ”You're a regular 'deteckertiff,'

Wally. That's my game, to puzzle the thief, make him think all sort of things, and so worry him by our very quietness, that he may betray himself.”

”Well, maybe that's the best plan,” agreed Cora, rather doubtfully.

”But how shall I get my papairs back?” asked Inez, falteringly. ”Ze papairs are needed to get my poor father from prison.”

”Maybe not,” said Jack, hopefully. ”Anyhow, there are copies to be had, aren't there?”

”Yes, but zese were ze originals. I need zem!”

”And we'll get them back for you, if we can,” broke in Jack. ”We may be able to work without them, if we have a chance to get to Sea Horse Island on our cruise. I think our first duty is to try to find the missing ones.”

”Oh, of course, yes, Senor!” cried Inez, quickly. ”I should not intrude my poor troubles on you.”

”Oh, that's all right,” said Jack, good-naturedly. ”We have a pretty big contract on our hands, and one trouble more or less isn't going to make much difference. Now don't forget--every body mum on this robbery. We'll puzzle the thief!”

”Do you think it, was Ramo?” asked Cora.

”I don't know. If he had any object in getting those papers we gave him the very chance he needed by all being away from the hotel,”

answered Jack. ”And, if it wasn't he, it was some one else who has an object in keeping Mr. Ralcanto in jail. He'd have the same chance as Ramo had to get the doc.u.ments. So the person we must look for is some one who really needed the papers. But, above all, we'll have to be cautious in making inquiries.”

”Yes,” agreed Cora. ”Could you find out when Ramo left, and if he was near this section of the hotel?”

”I'll try,” agreed Jack. ”Now you girls begin to sort out the things you want to take along on the cruise. Cora, speak to Bess and Belle about it.”

”Why, aren't we going to take all our baggage?”

”What! Fill the Tartar up with trunks full of fancy dresses, when we'll need every inch of room? I guess not! We'll all get down to light marching equipment. Just take what you can put in a suit-case.

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