"That is true, and it does make a difference. Are you sure you can spare the money for a day or two?"
"Quite so, Miss—"
"Loring," prompted the young lady.
"Are you related to Mrs. Arabella Loring of Cleveland?"
The young lady looked very much surprised.
"She is my mother," she replied. "But how in the world do you know of her?"
"I will tell you later," answered Mark.
He felt that it wouldn't be wise to mention the commission, or let any one know that he had a diamond ring in charge.
"Are you going directly to Cleveland, Miss Loring?"
"Yes, but about thirty miles this side I have a young niece at a boarding school. She will join me on the train, and will expect me to pay her railroad fare. But for that, the loss of the money would have entailed no inconvenience."