“How about our bedroom?”
“You know Cora goes snooping around there. She might find it.”
“I know!” Doris exclaimed. “We’ll hide it under the mattress. No one would ever think of looking there!”
“Great!” her chum approved. “Let’s do it now, while the coast is clear.”
They hurried upstairs and, closing the bedroom door, secreted the tiny jewel case beneath the mattress, taking care to rearrange the covers.
“Now we can forget about it,” Kitty declared.
However, both girls knew that as long as the ruby ring remained in their possession, they could not forget its existence. It was certain to give them many uneasy moments.
Satisfied that for the time being the jewel was safe, they left the mansion by the back gate.
Locked Gates was located at the edge of Rumson but it was only a short walk to the main part of the little city. The girls stopped first at the post office where they dispatched an air mail letter to Dave.
Then, as time rested heavily upon them, they dropped in at a corner drug store for an ice cream soda. Doris bought a few things she needed, and they continued down the street with no particular destination in view.