"The doctor will be here shortly, Miss Dodge," said Del Mar. "You need not wait, if you don't care to. I'll take care of him."
"Oh, thank you—ever so much," she murmured. "Of course it wasn't our fault, but I feel sorry for the poor fellow. Tell the doctor to send me the bill."
She and Del Mar shook hands. I thought he held her hand perhaps a little longer and a little tighter than usual. At any rate Elaine seemed to think so.
"Why, what a curious ring, Mr. Del Mar," she said, finally releasing her own hand from his grasp.
Then she looked quickly at the woman, half joking, as if the ring had something to do with the strange woman. She looked back at the ring. Del Mar smiled, shook his head and laughed easily.
Then Elaine picked up her bag and we went out. A moment later we climbed back into the car and were off again.
. . . . . . .
Having left us at the door, Del Mar hurried back to the library. He went straight to the desk and picked up the book, eager now to make sure of the safety of the plan.
It was gone!
"Did you, Smith—" he began hastily, then checked himself, knowing that the clerk had not taken the plan.