fixing your car, and he missed it directly after he left our
crowd--"

He hesitated a moment, then continued:

"Well, maybe he thinks that some of us may have--"

"Better not jump at conclusions," cautioned Cora, and at this Walter
alighted near the street that led to his home.

"I won't," he promised Cora with a laugh as she sent the car ahead.
She was anxious to reach home and learn the, details of Jack's
search, though she and Walter knew, from an inquiry they had made at
the bank in New City, that it had not been successful.

That night nothing was so important a topic of conversation in
Chelton as the loss of the twenty thousand dollars. Speculation was
rife, and opinion was equally divided on the question of whether it
had been lost or stolen, or both, for that it might have been stolen
after it was lost was possible.

Ed consulted some business friends, but they could give him little
help. He was advised to hire private detectives, and said he would
do so, in case the police of New City or Chelton could do nothing.

It was two days after the loss of the money and bonds that Cora,
with her inseparable friends, the Robinson twins, and Walter, whom
she had picked up on the road, were out for a ride. They took the
turnpike, as it was the smoothest highway.