"And father and Bess will stop for me later," declared Belle. "They have been taking the Western folks out for a run. Bess has the car and papa the carriage, so there is no danger but that I shall fit in somewhere." It was, nevertheless, much against the better judgment of Jack Kimball that he left his sister and Belle, and joined his companions bound for the bowling alleys. He did not mention to either Ed or Walter his fears for the comfort of Cora, should she be visited by the detective, but they both noticed that he was not quite his jolly self, and that he seemed to take little interest in their conversation or the sport at the alleys. It was now almost nine o'clock, and, as Belle and Cora sat on the porch, enjoying the moonlight, in spite of their disturbed state of mind, they began to feel that the detective scare had been unfounded. "I can't see why they would ask where you lived," said Belle, "if they did not intend to call on you." At that moment a runabout turned into the driveway. Startled, the girls sprang from their seats and hurried forward to see who might be coming. Belle clutched Cora's arm. "Oh, it is the detectives," she gasped. "I know their machine! Oh, why did we let Jack go away?" "Don't be nervous," commanded Cora. "If they really are detectives they will have reason to suspect us, if they find us frightened." Then, at a sudden thought, she added: "Belle, I believe you had better run indoors. You are nervous, and you might say something that would be better unsaid. I am sorry that the maids are both out, and that mother is not at home--it does seem as if we should have kept Jack." There was no time for further comment, for as Cora opened the French window to allow Belle to enter the house without being noticed, the two men were seen coming up the path. Cora had been in unpleasant predicaments before, each time the circumstance being a matter of protecting some friend, and this time she felt "keyed up" to almost any emergency. Also her past experience had taught her valuable lessons, so that she had no idea now of saying one word that might in any way compromise the two helpless Catron girls. But even so wise a girl as Cora Kimball may be careless in some matter, that, in itself, may seem unimportant, but upon which may hang the very thread of fate. "Is this Miss Kimball?" asked the shorter of the two gentlemen who approached her. "Yes," she replied with unconcern. She stepped directly under the electric light that illumined the porch. "We are sorry to disturb you, especially as it is rather late," said the other man with unmistakable politeness, "but being in town we thought to cover this end of our business without making a second trip to Chelton. Is your brother, or mother at home?" "No," replied Cora, "but, if it is necessary, I can call for my brother, over the telephone."