must speak to Cora. I will promise not to be blue, but you know I
am very anxious about Paul."

"Then speak on, very briefly," replied Gertrude. "I will allow
you exactly five minutes."

"Thanks," said Hazel. "Cora," she began again, "Ed told Jack that
the papers lost from the mail belonged to Mr. Robinson, and have
to do with a very valuable patent. Do you suppose the post-office
will do anything to Paul?"

"Oh, you precious baby!" exclaimed Cora. "Don't you know that
Paul has been entirely cleared? The mystery is simply who took
the papers and otherwise left the mailbag intact?"

"Poor Paul!" sighed the sister.

"Poor Hazel!" added Cora. "A sister who is always worrying about
a handsome brother is bound to lose him, eh, Gertrude?"

Gertrude blushed. She had only met Paul once, and at that time
her remark was so positive that Cora had seized the opportunity of
teasing the girl. That she never noticed boys was Gertrude's
claim at college, and now Cora was delighted to have a chance of
reversing the claim.

Daisy and Maud, who had been at some distance from the Whirlwind,
now cut past Bess and Belle, making their way to the side of the
big maroon car.