"Oh, I know, of course not, on your part. But others--" "No one ever really suspected her. And, what is more, I have it from her own lips that she would rather not have the guilty ones punished, for she thinks, as I do, that the money and bonds were not taken as a deliberate robbery." "Well, what are you going to do--wait?" "Yes. I shall invest these bonds so they will be safe, and then let time do the rest. I do not think we shall have long to wait. They have been holding the bank stock for me, so I have not really suffered--thus far." "Well, you certainly are a cool one!" complimented Jack. "If I thought some one had my money--some coward, as this person must be, to keep silent all this while--I would never sleep until I had it back." Ed smiled rather indulgently and indifferently. "Well, you see," he went on, "I have gotten along so many years without the use of that twenty thousand dollars that I did not miss it when it was taken. Of course, I am losing interest on it, but I can easily make that up." "Then suppose we retire?" suggested Jack, for Ed was to be his guest for the remainder of the night. "I am actually sweltering in these togs. Aren't you in a hurry to get back into yourself and be just Ed Foster?" "No; I rather like being Adonis. I fancy I like him infinitely more than I cotton to that Foster chap," and he laughed. "Well, you made a hit," complimented Jack. "Thanks." Ed stood up and surveyed himself in a pier glass. He laughed at the figure he presented, but there was a serious look upon his handsome face. Fancy Adonis being serious! "You also made good, Jack," he said after a pause. "I don't know when I've seen a braver brave. Do you ever expect to get that stuff off your face in time to go back to college?" "I guess it will wear off. If it doesn't I'll use gasolene from the auto tank, or take a steam bath at some lady beauty doctress's establishment." He rubbed his countenance vigorously with his handkerchief. "If it doesn't remove," he added, "I'll tell 'em I've got the jaundice." "Did you see Sid this evening?" asked Ed. "I thought I saw him, and then I wasn't sure. He wasn't invited. Whom do you think he was?" "I--well, I wouldn't be sure, either," answered Ed evasively. "I saw so many chaps about his size and build that it was hard to distinguish. Hastings was splendid, wasn't he? I like that fellow." "So do I. He's perfectly square, and measures up all right. I managed to get the order for the Robinson twins' auto for him." "You did?" "Yes. You know, he is going to represent the Whitehall automobile concern from the first of the month, over in New City. Going to take one of their cars across country, you know. He was mighty pleased to get the order. It was Cora's idea, of course. She is just full of such ideas--always thinking of other people."