"Sid," she began bravely, "you must come with me at once. I will aid you all I can, but we must go right over to the Kimballs', explain everything, and set matters right." "What!" exclaimed the youth in an anxious whisper. "You mean confess?" "Yes, that's just it." "But--but--er--I--" "I've promised to help you,", she said slowly. They were talking outside now, for the clerk had come back and was behind the showcase. "You must come, Sid, and tell everything. I will do my part. Besides, there is really nothing to confess, you know. You really didn't steal the money, but you must tell them--tell Ed, Cora and all--what you did with it--and about the empty wallet." "Oh, Ida, I never could do that!" Sid's bravery--his gay, sneering, bold manner--were all gone. He was a craven--weak. "You'll have to tell them," he added. "I'm going--going away." "That's just like you!" exclaimed Ida. "Leave me to shoulder all the shame. No, Sid Wilcox! I've risked enough for you! I'm done! If you don't go to the Kimballs' this very afternoon and tell everything, I shall go to the police and relate to them all that I know about the missing money, the bonds and the wallet. The detectives will be glad enough to get the reward." Sid was really afraid now. His face was pale, and his voice shook as he answered: "I'll--I'll make it all good now. I have the money. Can't you--can't you give it back to Ed, the way the bonds--" "No!" "Not to help me out?" "No!" "But you promised--" "I promised too much! Will you tell everything, or--" There was a moment's silence. Sid was battling with his mean nature. Even yet he was trying to find a way of escape--to discover some plan by which he could avoid the shame of making a humiliating confession. "Well?" asked Ida, and there was a new ring in her voice. "I--I suppose I'll have to," spoke Sid in low tones. "Come, then. I'll go with you." An hour later Cora, Jack, Ed, Sid Wilcox and Ida Gales were seated in the library of the Kimball home. Sid was uneasy, and Ida's eyes showed that she had been weeping. "Sid has something to tell you all," began Ida, "and so have I. I guess you know what it's about." Cora nodded and smiled at Ida. Then she went over and stood beside the unhappy girl. "I'll make a clean breast of if, fellows," began Sid hesitatingly. "I--I really didn't mean to make so much trouble over it, but one thing went to another, and when I started there didn't seem to be any stopping place, or any way to get back. "When Ed stooped over to fix the mud guard on Cora's car, that day of the race and the collision, the wallet dropped from his pocket into the soft dust of the road. I saw it and picked it up, intending first only to play a joke on him. Ida and Mary Downs saw me, and--well, I don't know what they thought, but I only did it for fun." "Queer fun," murmured Jack indignantly.