CHAPTER XX
THE AFTERMATH
Ed Foster and Jack Kimball sat in the library of the latter's homeuntil quite late that night--long after the merrymakers haddeparted.
"If you suspect who put the bonds into your pocket," Jack wassaying, "don't you think the easiest way to clear it up would bedirectly to accuse the suspect?"
"No," answered Ed, "for I feel that it will all come out shortly,without any unnecessary publicity. You see, the money and bonds mayonly have been--er--well, let's say borrowed. Just as many banks arerobbed. Or the person who took it may have thought there was only asmall sum in the wallet, and finding such a large one, probablybecame terribly frightened, and did not know what to do."
"Well, of course it's your affair," returned Jack and lookedthoughtful, "but, in a measure, it affects my sister."
"It never did affect your sister, Jack, and never can. I am sorryabout the wallet being found in her car, but there never was themost remote--"
"Oh, I know, of course not, on your part. But others--"
"No one ever really suspected her. And, what is more, I have itfrom her own lips that she would rather not have the guilty onespunished, for she thinks, as I do, that the money and bonds were nottaken as a deliberate robbery."
"Well, what are you going to do--wait?"
"Yes. I shall invest these bonds so they will be safe, and then lettime do the rest. I do not think we shall have long to wait. Theyhave been holding the bank stock for me, so I have not reallysuffered--thus far."
"Well, you certainly are a cool one!" complimented Jack. "If Ithought some one had my money--some coward, as this person must be,to keep silent all this while--I would never sleep until I had itback."
Ed smiled rather indulgently and indifferently.
"Well, you see," he went on, "I have gotten along so many yearswithout the use of that twenty thousand dollars that I did not missit when it was taken. Of course, I am losing interest on it, but Ican easily make that up."
"Then suppose we retire?" suggested Jack, for Ed was to be his guestfor the remainder of the night. "I am actually sweltering in thesetogs. Aren't you in a hurry to get back into yourself and be just EdFoster?"
"No; I rather like being Adonis. I fancy I like him infinitely morethan I cotton to that Foster chap," and he laughed.
"Well, you made a hit," complimented Jack.
"Thanks."
Ed stood up and surveyed himself in a pier glass. He laughed at thefigure he presented, but there was a serious look upon his handsomeface. Fancy Adonis being serious!
"You also made good, Jack," he said after a pause. "I don't knowwhen I've seen a braver brave. Do you ever expect to get that stuffoff your face in time to go back to college?"
"I guess it will wear off. If it doesn't I'll use gasolene from theauto tank, or take a steam bath at some lady beauty doctress'sestablishment." He rubbed his countenance vigorously with hishandkerchief. "If it doesn't remove," he added, "I'll tell 'em I'vegot the jaundice."
"Did you see Sid this evening?" asked Ed.
"I thought I saw him, and then I wasn't sure. He wasn't invited.Whom do you think he was?"
"I--well, I wouldn't be sure, either," answered Ed evasively. "I sawso many chaps about his size and build that it was hard todistinguish. Hastings was splendid, wasn't he? I like that fellow."
"So do I. He's perfectly square, and measures up all right. Imanaged to get the order for the Robinson twins' auto for him."
"You did?"
"Yes. You know, he is going to represent the Whitehall automobileconcern from the first of the month, over in New City. Going to takeone of their cars across country, you know. He was mighty pleased toget the order. It was Cora's idea, of course. She is just full ofsuch ideas--always thinking of other people."
"That's right. She never does lose a chance to do a fellow a goodturn. I suppose she told you about the ride when she and Paul outdidSidney Wilcox?"
"No; but Paul did. Wasn't that plucky of her?" and Jack beamed withadmiration. "Cora has a lot more courage than have some fellows Iknow."
"Indeed she has," and Ed's voice was earnest.
The tall clock was chiming two when the young men left the library.They had so many things in common that they talked like two girls.Just as they passed the hall door they were startled by a quick stepon the veranda.
"Hello! Who's that?" asked Jack, hurrying to the portal.
"It's me--Paul Hastings," answered a voice outside, and as Jackswung open the door the young chauffeur, who was still in hiscostume, entered. He seemed greatly excited.
"I was afraid you'd be in bed," he panted, "and I ran until I'm allout of breath."
"But what's the matter?" asked Ed.
"Come on in and sit down," invited Jack. "We're not particularwhether we go to bed or sit up the rest of the night. Come and joinus. But has anything happened?"
"No; I--I can't stay," and Paul leaned against the doorway. "But Ifound this in my coat pocket--it's a diamond ring. I was nearly homewhen I discovered it. I thought some of the girls or ladies might befrantic over the loss, so I hurried back with it."
He handed over the sparkling object.
"Whew! That's a beauty!" exclaimed Jack. "A new one, too! Look,Ed! If that isn't an engagement ring I'll eat my war club! Now, whatyoung lady, do you suppose, could have used our grounds, ourhospitality and eaten of our swell supper with the maliciousaforethought of becoming pledged to unite herself in the holy bondsof matrimony? Who could have done it? And then to lose the guaranteethat goes with it! It's past belief!"
"It certainly is new," said Ed, critically examining the ring withits sparkling stone. "About a carat and a half, I should say. Nevercost less than three hundred dollars. Whoever bought it must haveplenty of cash. But how on earth did it get into your pocket, Paul?"
Ed was rapidly thinking of something that had happened to him thatnigh.
"That's what gets me," replied Paul. "Of course, these costume rigsare full of holes and corners. A girl might have been dancing withme, and the ring may have slipped from her finger into my pocket.Perhaps it was too large for her, being new. But I did not noticethat I danced with any one wearing it."
"Still, it might have happened that way," admitted Jack, "especiallyif she kept the stone turned in so no one, would see it. That's atrick they have."
"At any rate, she is sure to come back here for it," went on Paul,"and I wanted to save her any possible anxiety. I hope it belongs tosome real nice girl, and if it does, don't forget to say that Ifound it. And you might add that I would be glad to receive a smallreward in the shape of permission to show the aforesaid pretty girlthe sights around here in the auto I am soon to run."
"All right," laughed Jack. "That would be some sort of reward. But,as for myself, I must confess I would prefer a smile of gratitude.Just fancy the girl receiving back her ring! Won't she flop over ina sheer state of collapse!"
"Have you looked inside the ring?" asked Ed. "There might be a nameor initials in it."
"Never thought of it," admitted Paul. "Hazel, who was with me whenI found it, made me hurry right back, and I didn't get a chance."
Jack lead the circlet, and holding it close to a drop-light, hepeered closely at it.
"By Jove!" he exclaimed. "There are initials!"
"Whose?" asked Ed.
"'I.G.' Whose are they? 'I.G.' Why, of course. `I.G.'--IdaGiles! Whoever would have thought it? Ida Giles with an engagementring!"
"And why not?" queried Ed. "Isn't Ida the bright-red, dashing sort?Lots of fellows would call her dashing, and, from what I have seenof her to-night, she certainly is bright."
"Well, of all things!" exclaimed Jack, who seemed unable to get overit. "And you're on her side, eh, Ed? Why, man, not a fellow in thewhole of Chelton ever got through more than one dance withher--except Sid Wilcox, and I can't see why he sticks to her."
"Then the Chelton fellows are slow," commented Ed as he criticallyexamined the ring.
"I think Ida is quite taking."
"Was she here to-night?" asked Paul.
"She was invited," replied Jack, "for I saw her name on one of thebids Cora sent out. But I did not have the pleasure of a personalinterview with her this evening, and so I can't say whether she washere or not."
"Well," remarked Paul, moving toward the door, "I guess I'll beleaving again. Take care of the ring, Jack, and don't forget to givethe lady who calls for it my regards. And say, Jack, please thankyour sister for me for getting the order for that car for theRobinsons. I'm going after it to-morrow morning--no, I mean thismorning. It's after three o'clock now."
"Oh, I'm sure Cora was only too glad to be able to get you thechance."
"And thank you, also. I know the part you had in it."
"Oh, I didn't do anything. It was all Cora. Though of course BessRobinson would deny me nothing," added Jack and laughed. "She thinksI'm simply perfect. I heard her tell Cora so," and Jack walked upand down in pretended self-admiration, while the others threatenedto pick him up and toss him out into the cold moonlight, where theysaid he belonged in that particular state of lunacy.
"Ida's ring," mused Jack, after he had calmed down. "Just plainIda. Now if it had only been Bess, Belle or--Hazel."
"No, no!" protested Paul.
"Well, all right," assented Jack. "Ida's it is." He wrapped thering carefully in paper and put it in his pocket. "I'll take thebest of care of it, Paul, of course, and I'll also collect thereward for you, and hand it over personally. You can trust me forthat. But I wonder why we haven't had some inquiries from Ida beforethis?"
"Maybe she is so unused to it that she hasn't missed it," suggestedEd.
"No girl is ever unused to her first engagement ring," declaredPaul. "Well, I'm going. Goodnight."
"This finding of things in pockets is growing interesting," remarkedEd when the door had closed on Paul. "I wonder if any of the girlsfound valuables in their costumes?"
"Hardly," declared Jack. "No one could ever find their pockets todrop anything in. But I'll put this in the safe and mark it `to bekept until called for.' Won't Cora and the other girls besurprised!" and he slammed the iron door shut, having, by an oddchance, dropped the diamond circlet into the very compartment thatcontained the bonds so strangely returned to Ed.