“Yes, my first duty is to you and to Miss Azalea. I will not protect my own relatives at your expense!”
Goaded beyond endurance, Doris faced Ronald Trent defiantly.
“Call me no cousin of yours!” she cried. “I believe you’re nothing but a bluff!”
The man’s face went white with anger and for an instant Doris thought he meant to strike her. Instead he laughed harshly.
“Don’t say such things!” Azalea commanded sternly. “Ronald is the son of our dear friend, John Trent.”
“Let him prove it,” Doris cried.
“Young lady,” Ronald told her angrily. “The burden of proof is upon you. Prove that you didn’t take those papers!”
“All right, I will!” Doris announced with sudden decision. “I’ll tell you where the papers are!” At her words, Cora and Henry Sully recoiled a step, but the Misses Gates did not observe their guilty action.
“Tell us!” Azalea commanded.
“Yes,” Ronald echoed, but with less force. “Spin your fairy tale.”