Sincerely, M. DEL MAR.
Elaine looked up from reading the note. Miss Bertholdi was good to look at, and Elaine liked pretty girls about her.
"Jennings," she ordered, "call Marie."
To the butler and her maid, Elaine gave the most careful instructions regarding Miss Bertholdi. "She can help you finish the packing, first," she concluded.
The girl thanked her and went out with Jennings and Marie, asking Jennings to pay her taxicab driver with money she gave him, which he did, bringing her grip into the house.
Later in the day, Elaine had both Marie and Bertholdi carrying armsful of her dresses from the closets in her room up to the attic where the last of her trunks were being packed. On one of the many trips, Bertholdi came alone into the attic, her arms full as usual. Before her were two trunks, very much alike, open and nearly packed. She laid her armful of clothes on a chair near-by and pulled one of the trunks forward. On the floor lay the trays of both trunks already packed. Bertholdi began packing her burden in one trunk which was marked in big white letters, "E. Dodge."
Down in Elaine's room at the time Jennings entered. "The expressman for the trunks is here, Miss Elaine," he announced.
"Is he? I wonder whether they are all ready," Elaine replied hurrying out of the room. "Tell him to wait."
In the attic, Bertholdi was still at work, keeping her eyes open to execute the mission on which Del Mar had sent her.
Rusty, forgotten in the excitement by Jennings, had roamed at will through the house and seemed quite interested. For this was the trunk behind which he had his cache of treasures.