Cora laughed a little. Ed put things so nicely. He never presumed upon her own intimacy—it was always just "Jack's friend."
"Besides," he pressed, seeing, in, Cora's eyes, his advantage, "I feel I can do more alone. I have got to take Hazel back to her brother, then I promise you I shall not rest until I have found Clip, and made sure of her exact situation."
"Oh, I know, Ed, you will do everything possible. But it seems like treason for me to go on a pleasure trip and leave two very dear friends in such trouble. Even Jack may be implicated."
Ed turned away to hide his own tell-tale face. He knew perfectly well that Jack was implicated, knew that Rob Roland had deliberately accused him of taking Cecilia Thayer out to the Salvey cottage for the purpose of gaining possession of the promise book. For this very reason Ed wanted Cora to go on—to escape, if possible, the anxiety she must experience if she should have to know the real story.
"Well," sighed Cora, "it is getting late. I suppose it will be best,
Ed, as you say. Take Hazel back, and find Clip. Have her 'phone me at
Breakwater, tomorrow."
"That's the girl!" exclaimed Ed, taking both her hands in his own strong clasp. "See, the girls are looking at us. They think you have accepted me."
"I have," she answered, "accepted you, and your terms. Good luck, Ed.
It is so nice for Jack to have such a good friend."
Hazel was soon tucked in the little runabout, the detective going on in another car that was sent out to him in answer to his call over the telephone.
"Is your premonition all fulfilled, Cora?" asked Daisy, her voice far from merry. "I suppose you were 'premonited' that Hazel should go off like that."
"If we keep on losing," said Gertrude, "we will soon all fit in the
Whirlwind."