"Why, mother says the
lace she sold us was the most wonderful bargain, even though we did
give her more than she asked for it. And as for making pretty
things, why she's a positive genius. My pretty lace handkerchief
that was so badly torn, she mended beautifully. And she is so
skillful with the needle! Mother says she never need go out peddling
lace again. There are any number of shops that would be glad to have
her as a worker."
"It's so good she fell into your hands," murmured Bess. "But, as you
say, what about her? Papa has looked over her papers, and he says
there is really enough evidence in them to free Mr. Ralcanto. Papa
even cabled to some business friends in San Juan, and they confirmed
enough of Inez's story to make him believe it all.
"Of course I don't understand--I never could make head nor tail of
politics, but there seems to be a conspiracy to keep Mr. Ralcanto in
jail, and treat him shamefully. Inez did accidentally find the
evidence to free him, and her father's enemies tried to get it away
from her."
"Then that man whom Walter saw," began Cora, "was--"
"He might have been after the papers," interrupted Bess, "and again,
he might have been only a tramp, hoping to get a valise full of lace.
At any rate, he hasn't been around again."'
"Mother told our man John to be on the watch for him," said Cora.
"And now lets consider what we are going to do.
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