"That was it," replied her brother. "You see, old lady Ramsy has an idea you want to abduct those girls. But it was a lucky breeze that blew the card to Andy. Otherwise you might expect an early call at Clover Cottage from the honorable Mrs. R of the Strawberry Patch." "As if there was anything strange about me dropping my own personal card," mused Cora aloud. "And what difference did it make who might pick it up?" The clock gave the alarm that the hour was about to strike. Cora jumped up and slipped into her coat and bonnet. "It seemed foolish for the Robinsons to hire a car to take their friends down when I am riding alone," she said, "but the girls made me promise not to offer my car, but to carry the bags in the tonneau--Bess and Belle expect to get as far as possible from the--chaperone conveyance. Well, Jack dear, I am rather a naughty sister to run away, and leave you thus, when mother specially intrusted you to my safekeeping. But you have compelled me to go, haven't you?" "Forced you to," admitted Jack, picking up the bag and following her to the door. The maids were in the hall waiting to assist Cora, and to bid her good-bye. A word of kind instruction to each, and Cora jumped into the car. Jack, having cranked up, took his place beside her. "I will go as far as the trolley line," he said. "I want to see if Andy takes that two o'clock car when it turns back." There were many little things to be spoken of between brother and sister, and, as they drove along, Cora referred more than once to the visit of the detectives. Jack assured her that he would attend to them and then, reaching the turnpike, where the trolley line ended, he bade her good-bye, jumped out, and, for a moment, watched the pretty car, and its prettier driver, fly down the avenue. The next moment a trolley car stopped at the switch. From the rear platform two elderly ladies alighted rather awkwardly. They were queerly dressed, and the larger, she in the gingham gown, with the brown shirred bonnet, almost yanked the other from the steps to the ground, in attempting to assist her. "The Ramsy and the Schenk!" Jack told himself. "Cora did not get away any too soon!" The women turned to the other side of the road. As they did, Jack felt a tug at his coat. "That's them," said Andy, almost in a whisper, "and there come the two detectives! If you like you can stay away from your house, and I will lay around, and find out what happens!" "Why, they will want to see me!" declared Jack, in some surprise at the suggestion. "Suppose they do? Let them want," answered the urchin. "If I was you I'd just lay low. My mother always says 'the least said is the easiest mended,' and she knows." The advice, after all, was not unwise, Jack thought. He had other things to attend to besides talking to a pair of foolish women, and answering the questions of a pair of well-paid detectives.