CHAPTER XVI
MARY'S LETTER
For a moment there was silence. Then Cora asked:
"Who does he say took it?"
"That's just it," went on her brother. "He doesn't say."
"Does he know?"
"He declares he does."
"Then why won't he tell?"
"You can search me. I don't know. He hasn't even told the police,I understand. He merely made that remark to Walter, and I heardabout it."
"Oh, Jack, are you sure that's all there is to it?" asked hissister.
"Sure. I'd tell you more if I knew."
At first they thought he was teasing, and the girls, with, all thewiles of which they were capable, besought him to explain, but hecould not, and, finally, they accepted his word as final.
"Well, it's very strange," commented Cora. "I hope it will be allcleared up soon--for all our sakes."
"So do I," joined in Belle.
Cora again referred to the proposed purchase of a car for the twins,and though they were disappointed that they could not have it atonce, Cora was rather glad, as she felt it would be a chance forPaul to get the order. Jack was appealed to, and gave the twosisters so many points about autos that they declared they feltquite bewildered.
"Well, I think we'd better be leaving, Cora, dear," said Elizabethat length, and the good-bys were said, with many whispered promisesmade to come over the next day to finish up the party plans.
"Cora," said Jack, when the pretty twins had gone down the path, "Iwant a chance to talk to you. You've been so busy of late that Ihaven't had an opportunity."
"In just a minute, Bud," interrupted his sister, feeling in hersleeve for the unread letter. "I must run upstairs for just amoment. Then I'll be right down."
"Yes, and then some one else will come in, and it will be the samething over to-morrow. No, sis, you're not treating me right," andJack's tone betrayed some grievance.
But Cora decided that she must read her letter, and she promisedthat she would soon return to the porch.
"I know it's from Mary Downs," she told herself as she glided up thestairs to the privacy of her oven room. "And I never could read itbefore any one."
She hastily tore open the envelope. Yes, the letter was signed withMary's name, and it was dated from Silver Falls.
Cora's heart beat expectantly. She had hoped, ever since the day ofthe eventful ride, that Mary might be able to furnish some clue tothe missing money. She was such an observing girl. Cora began toread the letter. It ran:
"MY DEAR MISS KIMBALL: I was so sorry to leave you withouthaving a chance to thank you for the pleasant time you gave me,but I was called away unexpectedly that same afternoon. Itwould only bore you to hear all the details. I simply had tocome here, and here I am still. It was most unfortunate, forMadam Julia will never forgive me, and even to her I dislike totell the reason for the hurried trip. In fact, I think shewould not understand it. Well, enough about that.
"I just want to thank you for the lovely time you gave me, andI am so sorry I cannot talk with you, for I have read of theloss of Mr. Foster's money, and surely it was a very strangething to happen. If I had a chance I might be able to give youa clue but it would not be wise to write it. I expect to beback in Chelton soon, and then I will tell you what I thinkabout it, for I know I can trust you.
"With kindest regards,
"MARY DOWNS.
"P.S.--I was greatly surprised yesterday to meet Mr. Wilcox,or, rather, to see him pass in a new automobile. He did notsee me. I did not want him to. M. D."
"Of all things!" exclaimed Cora, dropping the letter into her lap."Just like every other girl on earth. Tells you what she wants youto know, but never says a word about what you want to find out. I'vea good mind to let Jack read this letter. He might know what wouldbe best to do."
Then she hesitated. Cora always did hesitate before taking animportant step, just as she always stopped and looked around whenleaving her room--to see if she had forgotten anything, or if shehad left it all right.
"But it does look strange," she reasoned. "Yet I would trust Mary.She has such an honest face. I will just tell Jack the whole thing."
Picking up the letter she hurried back to the porch.
There sat Walter Pennington and Ed Foster with her brother.Concealing one expression of surprise, and another of disappointmentthat Jack was not alone, Cora greeted the young men pleasantly andinvited them in to dinner, an invitation which Jack, in hisrough-and-ready fashion had given by asking his chums to stay todine.
Mrs. Kimball was preparing for a little trip, and though very busyshe warmly greeted her son's friends, and entertained them, as sheknew so well how to.
"You young folks are so taken up with your motors," she said as shetook her place at the head of the table, "that we older and lessfortunate people scarcely get a chance to speak to you. Cora is soenthusiastic over her car and its swift motion that our maiddeclares she will soon turn into a bird and fly."
"A dove," whispered Walter, just loud enough to be heard by everyone, but softly enough to disguise the platitude.
Cora laughed lightly. Walter had a very taking way of sayingthings. He seemed to know exactly how to be nice without beingsilly.
The dinner over, the young people went to the porch. Mary's letterwas in Cora's belt, and the edge of the envelope, scratching herhand as she sat down reminded her of her anxiety concerning thecontents. Should she tell all the boys? Ed ought to know, that washer first thought. Surely Jack ought to know of it, and, as forWalter--well, he ought to know also, for he had found the emptypocketbook.
Ed was making some remark to Jack about the lost money. Coralistened to see if it had any reference to what her brother had toldher that morning. She crushed the letter in her hands.
"I've just had a note," she began, "from my friend Mary Downs."
"What I From the pretty runaway?" exclaimed Jack. "So that letterwas from her, eh? No wonder I didn't recognize the hand."
"She did not run away, Jack," objected his sister, and there was awarning note in her voice.
"Oh, no, of course not. But, anyway, she vas pretty. Wasn't she,boys?"
"A hummer!" declared Walter, adjusting a porch steamer chair forCora.
"Well, if you want to hear about the letter--" began the girl.
"Hear about it? Why, we want to read it for ourselves!" cried Jack,and he tried to take it from his sister's hand. Cora struggled toretain it, and finding that she was being bested, threw it overJack's head to Walter. He grabbed it, and defied his chum to touchit.
"Now, easy, fellows," begged Ed in his quiet way. "If there happensto be news from Mistress Mary, though she be quite contrary, praylet us hear it."
"That's what I say," added Walter, handing Cora the missive. "Now,Jack, I'm going to stand on guard, and if you interfere again--"
"Oh, go ahead. I'll get it, anyway, later, when sis is asleep."
"No, you'll not!" declared his sister. "But this is the news," shewent on guardedly. "Mary intimates that she knows something aboutthe money."
"Is that so?" cried Ed eagerly.
"Oh, every one is intimating that," declared Jack in some contempt."Is that all? What we want is an intimation that makes good, eh,Ed?"
"Yes, I suppose so. But what does Mary say?" and he looked sharplyat Cora.
"I think I had better read the letter," she said, "for, like allgirls, or most of them, at least, she only hints at the mostimportant statement."
"Go ahead," ordered Jack. "I'll listen and close my eyes to call upa picture of pretty Mary. She's pretty, she's witty, she's all agirl--"
He began to sing.
Cora jumped up.
"If any one wants to hear this letter he has got to keep--" shebegan.
"I'll be good," promised Jack contritely.
Walter gently slipped his arm around Cora's waist. Ed, towering
above Walter, put his arm around his chum and Jack's sister. Jackmanaged to edge under her arm.
"Well, we're a happy family now," said Jack. "You may read theletter, Cora. We each have you all to ourselves."
With a quick move Cora freed herself.
"Oh, you might know she'd duck," pouted Jack, "just as we weregetting comfortable. Keep your old letter. I won't listen to itnow," and he moved away.
"I've forgotten something in my machine!" exclaimed Ed suddenly witha sly wink at Cora. "I'll just run and get it, if you'll excuse me."
Cora knew exactly what he intended to do. Quickly, as he came backin his runabout, she ran down the piazza steps, and was in themachine before either Walter or Jack realized what was taking place.
"Now I'll hear the letter without being interrupted!" exclaimed Edas he put on speed and escaped with the laughing girl, who waved themissive above her head.