Bess and Belle had gone into
their own apartments a little before, and had not heard, the talk.
"Just in time," murmured Jack, as he closed the door, having a
glimpse of a servant coming along the corridor. "Now, what is it,
Inez?" and, after a quick glance about the ransacked apartment, he
gazed at the girl.
"My papairs--for my father--zey are gone!" With a tragic gesture she
pointed to the opened valise.
"Was your room this way when you came in?" asked Walter, who rather
imagined he was gifted with amateur detective abilities.
"Just like this--yes, Senor Jack."
"Never mind the senor. Just plain Jack will do. And where were the
papers?"
"In the valise--in my bed. But they are gone."
There was no doubt of that--also no doubt of the fact that Senor
Ramo--the man who was suspected by Inez of being in the plot to keep
her father in the political prison--was likewise missing.
"Hum," mused Jack. "It may be merely a coincidence--or it may not."
"I should say it was not!" declared Walter, positively.
"And get into trouble saying it, Wally," remarked Jack. "No, the
best thing to do in this case is to keep quiet about it."
"But my papairs!" cried Inez. "My father--in prison. I must get him
out."
"Yes, and I think you can best do it by not letting it be known that
you have discovered the theft," Jack said.
"I think that's silly," declared Cora.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124