The brother and sister sat in silence for a few moments, then a step on the path attracted their attention. "Here comes Belle," exclaimed Cora. "Whatever brought her out alone, so near to nightfall? She is usually so timid." Belle was actually trembling, as she took a chair on the porch. "Oh dear!" she began, "I am all out of breath. I was just scared to death coming over." "Why didn't you 'phone?" asked Jack, "and I would have gone over after you." "Cora," went on Belle, ignoring Jack's remark, "I am afraid--there is a strange detective in--Chelton!" "Well, what of that?" asked Cora, with a laugh. "Detectives are not really dangerous; are they?" "Now don't joke," begged the girl. "I came over to warn you!" "To warn me!" "Yes, I heard that they are looking for----" "Detectives looking for Cora!" almost yelled Jack, leaping up from his chair, as if some hidden spring had thrown him to his feet. "This is some of that woman's work! Tell me quickly, Belle, all you have heard--all you know." "Bess and I were at the post-office when two strange men alighted from a runabout," went on Belle. "They came inside--and at the stamp window asked where Cora Kimball lived. Then Bess became alarmed, declared that they were detectives, and she wanted to come straight over and tell you, but father drove up at that very moment, and Bess had to go in town with him. Then I was on my way over when Tillie, our maid, met me and told me that mother had company from the West, and I was to hurry back home. Oh dear me, I did think I would never get here! Such complications!" "Now, dear," said Cora soothingly, "don't you be the least bit alarmed. Of course, it is quite natural that Mrs. Ramsy should try to find her nieces, and quite right, too, so there is no harm whatever in her directing any one to me, to make inquiries. She evidently thinks I know more about the girls than I do." "But there is a note in the evening paper telling all about the whole thing," declared Belle, "and it mentions that one hundred dollars reward will be paid for the return of the diamond earrings." "Which looks," said Jack, "as if they are more anxious about the stones than they are about the girls. Well, we will have to await developments. I was going down to bowl to-night, but I guess I had better hang around now." "Why, don't be foolish, Jack. You may just as well go out as not. Even if a strange man does come up, I am sure I will be able to talk to him. I have--ahem!--met strange men before," declared Cora. "All the same, I guess I'll stay. I want to take Belle home, at any rate, and I am not particularly interested in the bowling game to-night, though Ed wanted me to be on hand." A shout from the road, however, reminded Jack that it was time to start. The voice was at once recognized as that of Ed Foster, and Cora begged her brother to run along, and have no fears on her account.