first I thought it was Dr. Blake himself but when the footsteps
became softer, and more stealthy, as the novels have it, I took a
quiet observation.

"Then I saw this Italian-looking chap reaching for the valise. I let
out a yell, went after him and he dropped it. Ahem! Nothing like
having a first-class hero in the family!" and Walter swelled out his
chest, and looked important.

"Better find out, first, whether you saved the papers, or just the
empty valise," suggested Harry, with a smile. "Such things have been
known to happen, you know."

"That's right!" admitted Walter. "Guess I had better look," and he
was proceeding to open a valise when Belle hastily took it from him.

"You mustn't!" she exclaimed. "It isn't ours, and poor little Inez
may not like it. Leave it up to her and she can tell if anything is
missing."

"Just tell that I saved it for her--I, Walter Pennington!" begged the
owner of that name. "Nothing like making a good impression, from the
start, on the pretty stranger," he added. "Eh?"

"Just my luck!" murmured Harry, with a tragic air.

"Oh, you silly boys!" laughed Belle. She hastened up the stairs to
the room where Inez as resting, the lace trailing from the
half-opened valise.