“And making fun of mine!” snapped Ida.

Louise had entered to attend to the new customer.  Ida turned to her: 

“I wish to see Madam Julia!” she exclaimed.  Outside Bess burst into her full, hearty laugh.

Then the three motor girls made their escape.

“I thought I would choke in there!” she exclaimed.

“Lucky for you that Ida didn’t take a hand in, helping you out in the choking process,” remarked Cora.  “She looked as if she would like to have done it.”

“But what in the world do you suppose she wants with a motor hood?” asked Belle.

“To ride with Sid, of course,” answered Cora.

“But his machine is out of order, and he as much as said that he didn’t intend to get it fixed right away,” persisted Belle.

“Maybe he’s going to get a new one,” ventured Cora.

“I don’t see how he can,” replied Belie.  “I heard father say he was dreadfully in debt.  His folks had some dealings with father, I believe, about advancing him some money that is to come to him when he is a certain age, but it won’t be for some time yet.  They had to have some to pay his debts.”

“You ought not to repeat that, Belle,” cautioned Bess.  “You know father would be displeased if he knew you had spoken of his private affairs.”

“Well, I’m sure it will go no further—­with Cora,” retorted Belle.  “I wouldn’t mention it to any one else.”

“Of course, I’ll not repeat it,” promised Cora.  “But what do you think .about Mary leaving so suddenly?”

“I don’t know what to think,” replied Bess.  “It looks odd. to say the least.  What reason would she have for leaving town so-well, mysteriously, to put it mildly?”

“Of course, it may be a mere coincidence,” went on Cora, “but in connection with her talk with Ida and Sid—­well, I have often noticed that matters conspire to `look strange’ whenever there is a chance of making complications.”

CHAPTER XII

A RACE AGAINST TIME

It was a few days after the visit to Madam Julia that Cora was out alone in the Whirlwind.  She had been feeling very unhappy over the loss of Ed’s money and the suspicion that naturally attached to her on account of the finding of the empty wallet in her car.  She could not dismiss the matter from her mind.

But Ed Foster had done everything in his power to make her feel that she was in no wise concerned.  He had called and taken dinner with Jack, and had announced that, as far as he could see, he feared he would have to charge the money and bonds up to profit and loss.

“Principally loss,” he remarked with a rueful smile.  “I don’t believe those detectives will ever get it.”

Jack had offered to go with his sister when she announced that she was about to take a run in her car, but, with a little nod of thanks, she declined his company.