The Motor Girls at Lookout Beach Part 10

Meanwhile Bess and Belle were racing with Walter and Ed, and the afternoon was to them a time of that sort of enjoyment that comes unbidden, unplanned, and therefor proof against disappointment. Of course Cora was not by any means miserable, for no companion was to her more her chum than was Jack; then little Andy lent his novel personality to her surroundings, but still the thought that two young girls, Rose and Nellie, had deliberately run away, that they were practically accused of having taken a pair of diamond earrings valued at two hundred and fifty dollars, and that the case in which these stones seemed to have formerly reposed was actually found by Cora in the berry crate--was it any wonder that she did not laugh as lightly as did Bess Robinson? Or that she refused Ed Foster's pressing invitation to go into Snow's for an ice cream drink?

At the drug store Jack stopped the _Whirlwind_ to allow little Andy to board a trolley car back to Squaton, but, as he left, Cora warned him to be very careful what he said about the runaways.

"Oh, don't you never fear, miss," he answered, crowding his negatives to make one good big "no." "Rose and Nellie are my friends, and I know how to stick by 'em."

CHAPTER IX

COMPLICATIONS

"Isn't it strange, Jack," almost whispered Cora to her brother, as, later that evening, the two sat on the veranda of their home, and talked over the day's proceedings, "I cannot believe--they--took them.

But it does look very----"

"Well, sis," began the young man, "we have had other experiences with things that _looked_ strange, and you will remember that strange looks are not to be depended upon for absolute facts."

"Oh, I don't mean to say that those two poor, strange girls could be so dishonest," she hurried to say, "but the trouble is, that Mrs.

Ramsy is angry with them for leaving her, and of course she will do all she can to make trouble for them. Then she even threatened me."

"She did, eh?" exclaimed Jack. "Well, she had better go slow. I don't call a person ignorant just because they happen to be illiterate, for I always find they know more than I do on some subject, but this woman--she is the--limit."

"You see," faltered Cora, hardly knowing just how to tell her brother, "the girls, it seems, had their mother's wedding ring, and she took it from them. To make up for that they took the crate of berries, then finding the earring-box in it----"

"I know exactly what you are afraid to surmise, sis," said Jack, "but, as I said before, it may all be wrong. I, of course, have never seen the girls, and cannot confess to so lively an interest in them as you have worked up, but I must say, I would like to see the old lady get what's coming to her."

The brother and sister sat in silence for a few moments, then a step on the path attracted their attention.

"Here comes Belle," exclaimed Cora. "Whatever brought her out alone, so near to nightfall? She is usually so timid."

Belle was actually trembling, as she took a chair on the porch. "Oh dear!" she began, "I am all out of breath. I was just scared to death coming over."

"Why didn't you 'phone?" asked Jack, "and I would have gone over after you."

"Cora," went on Belle, ignoring Jack's remark, "I am afraid--there is a strange detective in--Chelton!"

"Well, what of that?" asked Cora, with a laugh. "Detectives are not really dangerous; are they?"

"Now don't joke," begged the girl. "I came over to warn you!"

"To warn me!"

"Yes, I heard that they are looking for----"

"Detectives looking for Cora!" almost yelled Jack, leaping up from his chair, as if some hidden spring had thrown him to his feet. "This is some of that woman's work! Tell me quickly, Belle, all you have heard--all you know."

"Bess and I were at the post-office when two strange men alighted from a runabout," went on Belle. "They came inside--and at the stamp window asked where Cora Kimball lived. Then Bess became alarmed, declared that they were detectives, and she wanted to come straight over and tell you, but father drove up at that very moment, and Bess had to go in town with him. Then I was on my way over when Tillie, our maid, met me and told me that mother had company from the West, and I was to hurry back home. Oh dear me, I did think I would never get here! Such complications!"

"Now, dear," said Cora soothingly, "don't you be the least bit alarmed. Of course, it is quite natural that Mrs. Ramsy should try to find her nieces, and quite right, too, so there is no harm whatever in her directing any one to me, to make inquiries. She evidently thinks I know more about the girls than I do."

"But there is a note in the evening paper telling all about the whole thing," declared Belle, "and it mentions that one hundred dollars reward will be paid for the return of the diamond earrings."

"Which looks," said Jack, "as if they are more anxious about the stones than they are about the girls. Well, we will have to await developments. I was going down to bowl to-night, but I guess I had better hang around now."

"Why, don't be foolish, Jack. You may just as well go out as not. Even if a strange man does come up, I am sure I will be able to talk to him. I have--ahem!--met strange men before," declared Cora.

"All the same, I guess I'll stay. I want to take Belle home, at any rate, and I am not particularly interested in the bowling game to-night, though Ed wanted me to be on hand."

A shout from the road, however, reminded Jack that it was time to start. The voice was at once recognized as that of Ed Foster, and Cora begged her brother to run along, and have no fears on her account.

"And father and Bess will stop for me later," declared Belle. "They have been taking the Western folks out for a run. Bess has the car and papa the carriage, so there is no danger but that I shall fit in somewhere."

It was, nevertheless, much against the better judgment of Jack Kimball that he left his sister and Belle, and joined his companions bound for the bowling alleys. He did not mention to either Ed or Walter his fears for the comfort of Cora, should she be visited by the detective, but they both noticed that he was not quite his jolly self, and that he seemed to take little interest in their conversation or the sport at the alleys.

It was now almost nine o'clock, and, as Belle and Cora sat on the porch, enjoying the moonlight, in spite of their disturbed state of mind, they began to feel that the detective scare had been unfounded.

"I can't see why they would ask where you lived," said Belle, "if they did not intend to call on you."

At that moment a runabout turned into the driveway. Startled, the girls sprang from their seats and hurried forward to see who might be coming. Belle clutched Cora's arm.

"Oh, it is the detectives," she gasped. "I know their machine! Oh, why did we let Jack go away?"

"Don't be nervous," commanded Cora. "If they really are detectives they will have reason to suspect us, if they find us frightened."

Then, at a sudden thought, she added: "Belle, I believe you had better run indoors. You are nervous, and you might say something that would be better unsaid. I am sorry that the maids are both out, and that mother is not at home--it does seem as if we should have kept Jack."

There was no time for further comment, for as Cora opened the French window to allow Belle to enter the house without being noticed, the two men were seen coming up the path.

Cora had been in unpleasant predicaments before, each time the circ.u.mstance being a matter of protecting some friend, and this time she felt "keyed up" to almost any emergency. Also her past experience had taught her valuable lessons, so that she had no idea now of saying one word that might in any way compromise the two helpless Catron girls.

But even so wise a girl as Cora Kimball may be careless in some matter, that, in itself, may seem unimportant, but upon which may hang the very thread of fate.

"Is this Miss Kimball?" asked the shorter of the two gentlemen who approached her.

"Yes," she replied with unconcern. She stepped directly under the electric light that illumined the porch.

"We are sorry to disturb you, especially as it is rather late," said the other man with unmistakable politeness, "but being in town we thought to cover this end of our business without making a second trip to Chelton. Is your brother, or mother at home?"

"No," replied Cora, "but, if it is necessary, I can call for my brother, over the telephone."

"Well, our business is a little unpleasant," went on the man, "and we would prefer to speak with you--before your brother. Yet, as he is not at home, I believe we had best call again. We really only need to make sure that you are not going out of town at once. We have heard that you intend going to the seash.o.r.e, and as we are detectives, looking for the two Catron girls, we felt you might be able to give us some clue as to their whereabouts. However," and he turned to go down the steps, "we will come again to-morrow--if we may now make an appointment for an interview with you."

Cora was much impressed with the man's manners. She moved to the edge of the steps.

"Certainly, I shall be at home to-morrow," she said, "and I will have my brother here with me. I will answer any questions, but really I know absolutely nothing of the whereabouts of the girls."

The men were on the steps. The light from the porch lamp cast a shadow, and Cora raised her hand to turn the switch that would light the lower steps. As she did so, something dropped from her blouse.