CHAPTER X
ALMOST--BUT NOT QUITE
"Certainly take it," said Cora, "if it is of any use to you. I foundit--out near the strawberry patch."
She was speaking to the surprised detective. He was examining theempty jewel case, and she had no idea of denying how she had come byit. From the description furnished to them the men were, of course,easily able to identify the tell-tale box.
But in spite of their consideration, and good manners, the detectivesfelt that they had stumbled on a very important piece of evidence.Certainly, this was the box that Miss Schenk had described as that inwhich her earrings usually were placed. True, she could not specifyjust when she had last put them in this box, but that this was _the_box was an important discovery.
"I cannot believe that the girls took the gems," said Cora, as the menat last turned to go, "for they seemed really such innocent younggirls. The only thing unusual about them, that I noticed, was thatthey had been overworked, and were consequently rather----"
"Revengeful," finished one of the men. "That is the suspiciouspoint--even good young girls may be driven to desperation. However,Miss Kimball, with your permission, we will call to-morrow at four,"and they raised their hats, and went down the walk.
Cora was stunned--that she should have placed into the very hands ofthe detectives so important a clue!
"And I meant to hide that box safely in my room," she reflected. "Thatwas why I kept it in my blouse,--so as not to forget it."
The long window opened and Belle almost fell into Cora's arms.
"Oh, have they gone at last?" she gasped. "What dreadful thinghappened?"
"Why, nothing happened," replied Cora, making up her mind instantlythat the fewer persons who knew about the jewel box the better. "Ithought them very polite officers."
"But when I saw you step to turn on the light I thought somethinghappened--I saw you start."
"Belle, my dear, you are too romantic," said Cora, evasively. "I amafraid I shall have to disappoint you this time, however, for mycallers scarcely said a single word that was new. They are justlooking for our runaways. And I do wonder where the poor, dear, lost,little things may be to-night!"
"Isn't it dreadful to think about it! I have read of such things, butto think that we really--know the girls."
There was a catch in Belle's voice when she said "know the girls."Plainly she had her doubts about the desirability of theiracquaintance.
A whistle on the path told of Jack's return.
"Dear me," exclaimed Cora, "whoever would think it is almost teno'clock!"
"And what can have become of papa and the others!" pondered Belle."They were to call for me----"
The familiar toot of the _Flyaway's_ horn interrupted her.
"There they are now," declared Cora. "My! what a full evening we havehad. I feel almost too flustrated to meet your Western friends," andshe smoothed out various discrepancies in her toilette.
"Come on, Belle," called Bess from the machine. "We can't come up.It's too late, Cora!" she continued to call, "come here a moment. Iwant to tell you something."
At this Cora and Belle went down to the roadway. Bess was in the_Flyaway_ with her mother and a strange lady, while down near theturn, at the corner, the lights of Mr. Robinson's carriage could beseen flickering in the summer night's shadows. He had not gone on thelong road taken by the auto and in consequence, the two vehicles hadarrived at the same time.
"Cora," began Bess, without introducing the stranger, "we have had thestrangest experience! Away out on the river road we thought we heardthe cry of a young girl! Yes, and we saw something white run acrossthe road, in such a lonely place!"
"Mercy!" interrupted Belle. "I am glad I was not along."
"Well, papa happened to meet us there and stopped, and the coachmangot out, and we looked all over the place with our lamps in hand, andsee what we found!"
In the uncertain light Cora could not at once make out just what wasthe object Bess held up for her inspection.
"Don't you recognize it?" asked Bess. "Why, it's Nellie's ginghamdress; the very one she wore the other day."
"Oh," gasped Belle, "do you suppose they have drowned themselves!"
"Come, daughter," interrupted Mrs. Robinson, "we have already heardtoo much of these two very--indiscreet young persons. Come, Belle, mydear, we must get home. Cora, I would not advise you to waste too muchsympathy on the girls from that farm. Evidently they are quite capableof looking after themselves."
This was said with that authoritative manner used by older, and moreprudent persons, when trying to curb the enthusiasm of theinexperienced. Mrs. Robinson was not unkind, but she did not think itwise to let the girls' sympathy "run away with them," as her husbandput it.
"All right, mamma dear," replied Belle meekly, really glad to climbinto the small seat at the back of the _Flyaway_ and start for home.The detectives had furnished enough excitement, but now came thisstrange news----
"Oh, I just want to tell Cora one thing more," said good-natured Bess."Cora, when we finally did give up the search, and had gone along alittle way, a trolley car passed, and it stopped just at that turn inthe road where there was an electric light."
"And couldn't you see who boarded it?" asked Cora.
"No, it was a park resort car, and just packed full of people, so wedidn't even have a chance to get a glimpse of those who either got onor got off. Well, good night, dear," and Bess switched on the sparkand started the engine without cranking. "I will see you to-morrow. Wehave got to finish up our plans--for--you know."
It was the approach of Jack that stopped Bess in her remark. The youngman joked about it, and declared that he would soon discover thesecret, warning the girls that Cora could never keep good news awayfrom him, and that he felt it in his bones she would tell him about itthat very night.
The girls retaliated with the assurance that this time, at least, Jackwas not to know their secret, then, when the _Flyaway_ had whirreditself off, Cora and Jack, arm in arm, started back to the porch.
Cora hardly knew how to tell her brother about the jewel box, but shefinally managed to explain the peculiar happening.
"Well," said Jack, when she paused for his opinion, "there's no usecrying over spilled milk. The thing to do, I suppose, is to keep one'shands off milk. Now, I reckon you will be subjected to a lot ofquestions, when those fellows come to-morrow."
"They were really very polite," Cora assured him, "and I haven't theslightest dread about their questions. It seems to me, now, that weall ought to do what we can to trace the girls. From what Bess justtold me I am afraid they are running about at night in lonely anddangerous places. And bad as their lot might have been, with theiraunt, that was safer than these night escapades."
"True--very true, little sister," said Jack with his usual goodspirits, "at the same time if they have committed--we will call it anindiscretion, in trying earrings in their ears, it might be just aswell to give them a chance. No use running them into the very teeth ofthe law."
That was exactly how Cora felt about it. "Well," she said, as shepicked up her fan and other little belongings, preparatory to goingindoors, "we will see what comes of my official investigation.Perhaps, when the detectives have finished questioning me, they willbe able to go to a telephone and call the girls home. I have alwaysheard that detectives do such wonderful things."
"Well, this time, sis, I will be at home when they call, unlesssomething very unforeseen happens."
Jack pushed the bolt on the heavy door, and Cora went over the firstfloor of the house, attending to the duties, with which her mother,upon her departure for the city, had entrusted her.
Then, handing the silver to Jack, she put out the lights, and bade himan affectionate good-night.
The Motor Girls at Lookout Beach; Or, In Quest of the Runaways Page 10
