Oh, we've been so alarmed!"
"Poor Belle," Jack murmured. "Now, Bess, just step up here and make
sure for yourself that Cora is just as intact as when you last saw
her. I am here to speak for myself. If anything she is better for
a night's rest in the open. We expect to start a camp on this plan.
It can't be beat."
Ed motioned Jack aside. "Wasn't that the police boat?" he asked.
"Yes, and Cora and I gave them all the clues they wanted. None at
all in other words. They're after Tony."
"Oh! and Cora, is she all right?" Ed questioned further.
"Splendid. Did you hear the latest?"
"Which?" asked Ed, significantly.
"Laurel's father is almost better. The hermit, you know."
"You don't say! Can he testify?" asked Ed.
"He may be able to if they require it. But the queer part is it
seems to have been the shock that awakened his brain. I have read
of such cases."
Ed was silent, for the girls were returning. Hazel had her brown
arms around Cora while Bess looked at Laurel as if she expected
every moment her chum might evaporate. Walter towed on behind the
little party.
"I must go down to the landing, Jack," Cora said. "I expect a
registered letter, and it is most important that I get it at once."
Now this was the very thing that Jack did not want her to do--to get
into the crowd of curious ones that would be sure to be congregated
about the landing.
Pages:
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168