the least. What reason would she have for leaving town so-well,
mysteriously, to put it mildly?"

"Of course, it may be a mere coincidence," went on Cora, "but in
connection with her talk with Ida and Sid--well, I have often
noticed that matters conspire to `look strange' whenever there is a
chance of making complications."




CHAPTER XII

A RACE AGAINST TIME


It was a few days after the visit to Madam Julia that Cora was out
alone in the Whirlwind. She had been feeling very unhappy over the
loss of Ed's money and the suspicion that naturally attached to her
on account of the finding of the empty wallet in her car. She could
not dismiss the matter from her mind.

But Ed Foster had done everything in his power to make her feel that
she was in no wise concerned. He had called and taken dinner with
Jack, and had announced that, as far as he could see, he feared he
would have to charge the money and bonds up to profit and loss.

"Principally loss," he remarked with a rueful smile. "I don't
believe those detectives will ever get it."