"Ed says he knows who took the money." As Jack made this announcement he looked around as indifferently as if he had made the most ordinary remark on the most commonplace subject. CHAPTER XVI MARY'S LETTER For a moment there was silence. Then Cora asked: "Who does he say took it?" "That's just it," went on her brother. "He doesn't say." "Does he know?" "He declares he does." "Then why won't he tell?" "You can search me. I don't know. He hasn't even told the police, I understand. He merely made that remark to Walter, and I heard about it." "Oh, Jack, are you sure that's all there is to it?" asked his sister. "Sure. I'd tell you more if I knew." At first they thought he was teasing, and the girls, with, all the wiles of which they were capable, besought him to explain, but he could not, and, finally, they accepted his word as final. "Well, it's very strange," commented Cora. "I hope it will be all cleared up soon--for all our sakes." "So do I," joined in Belle. Cora again referred to the proposed purchase of a car for the twins, and though they were disappointed that they could not have it at once, Cora was rather glad, as she felt it would be a chance for Paul to get the order. Jack was appealed to, and gave the two sisters so many points about autos that they declared they felt quite bewildered. "Well, I think we'd better be leaving, Cora, dear," said Elizabeth at length, and the good-bys were said, with many whispered promises made to come over the next day to finish up the party plans. "Cora," said Jack, when the pretty twins had gone down the path, "I want a chance to talk to you. You've been so busy of late that I haven't had an opportunity." "In just a minute, Bud," interrupted his sister, feeling in her sleeve for the unread letter. "I must run upstairs for just a moment. Then I'll be right down." "Yes, and then some one else will come in, and it will be the same thing over to-morrow. No, sis, you're not treating me right," and Jack's tone betrayed some grievance. But Cora decided that she must read her letter, and she promised that she would soon return to the porch. "I know it's from Mary Downs," she told herself as she glided up the stairs to the privacy of her oven room. "And I never could read it before any one." She hastily tore open the envelope. Yes, the letter was signed with Mary's name, and it was dated from Silver Falls. Cora's heart beat expectantly. She had hoped, ever since the day of the eventful ride, that Mary might be able to furnish some clue to the missing money. She was such an observing girl. Cora began to read the letter. It ran: