Nor were suspicious tongues idle. If Cora was not openly accused,
it was because she had a brother who would vigorously defend her.
Nor did the Robinson girls altogether escape, though it was
generally hinted, in the case of all the young ladies, that they
might have hidden the money "just for fun," and when they saw what
excitement it caused they were afraid to return it.

"As if that was a joke," said Cora, when she heard this version.

Of course, the boys who took part in the race had to answer numerous
questions for the police, but at the end of a week, which was an
unpleasant one for all concerned, the detectives were as far off the
track as ever. Sid and Ida had their share of the "third degree" of
police questioning in a mild form, and though Sid was at first
indignant and refused to answer questions, he finally gave in. There
was an unofficial verdict of "not guilty" in the case of all, and
Ed's little fortune seemed likely never to be found.

When, about two weeks after the loss, Cora took a hundred-dollar
bill to the bank to get it changed, and the teller looked at it
rather longer than seemed necessary, Jack, who was with his sister,
asked:

"What's the matter? Isn't that good?" He betrayed some feeling,
for the finger of suspicion seemed pointing at his family from every
person he met.

"Why--I hope it's good," was the smiling answer. "If it isn't I
have lost faith in the government printing office."