“Not for you!” answered Lem defiantly.

Cora brought the stick down with stinging force on his wrist.  With a howl of pain he let go and advanced toward Cora, but she struck him aver the head with her weapon, and Ida, who had recovered her courage, catching up a heavy stone, made it a more even battle.  With a muttered snarl Lem slunk away and disappeared in the underbrush.  Cora felt herself trembling violently, but she kept control of herself.

“Oh, Cora!” sobbed Ida.  “I believe I would have died if you had not come along.  I was never afraid of Lem Gildy, and when I saw him following me along the road I never dreamed that he would molest me.”

“What did he want?” asked Cora.

“Oh, it’s all over that dreadful money!  Mr. Foster’s, you know.”

Indeed, Cora was beginning to suspect that.

Sobbing like a child, Ida leaned on the arm that Cora held out to her, though as a matter of fact Cora was in need of assistance herself.

“Well, never mind,” she said to Ida.  “Just get in my car and we’ll go right to your home.  He was a perfectly horrid man, and should be punished.  See what he did to Jack, starting off his car and injuring him.  Now he tries to rob you.”

“Not exactly rob, Cora.  He says some one—­”

“Now don’t go into details until you feel better.  Come, get in the car with me,” and Cora led Ida back to where the auto waited.

“Oh; Cora!  I—­I can’t get in your car with you—­I—­I can’t accept any kindness from you—­after—­after what I’ve done.  And to think that you should come to save me from him!  I—­I feel like a—­a thief!”

“But you’re not!” declared Cora stoutly.

“No, not exactly, but almost as bad.  Oh, Cora, I—­I wish I could tell you, but I—­I daren’t!” and again Ida sobbed hysterically.

“Well, Ida, dear, you don’t have to tell me now—­maybe not at any time,” spoke Cora soothingly as she placed her arm about the girl’s waist.  “Come along for a ride in the Whirlwind.  That will settle your nerves.”

“Where are you going?” asked Ida as she noticed they were not heading for Chelton.

“We’ll go to New City, Ida,” went on Cora with sudden resolve.  “I want to ask you a question.”

“Yes,” spoke Ida nervously.

“Did you lose anything at my party?” and Cora’s thoughts were on the diamond ring in the safe.

“No,” replied Ida firmly.

“Didn’t you, really?” insisted Cora, surprised that Ida would not admit ownership of the ring.

“I—­I didn’t lose anything, Cora,” and Cora wondered at the stress Ida placed on the word “lose.”

“Well, I have a secret to tell you.  Jack did not want me to speak of it, but I’m going to, for I’m just consumed with curiosity.  Paul Hastings found a beautiful diamond ring in his pocket after the fete, and your initials were engraved in the gold.”

Cora turned so as to look into Ida’s face, and she could plainly see that a change came over her countenance.