"The Mystery of her Complexion, or, the Shade of Her Pretty Nose," quoth Jack. "Well, I don't mind. But I would like to get hold of The Silent Artist of Cedar Lake," he finished, in crude eloquence.
Paul was looking carefully inside the canoe. Presently he stood up straight, and held a note in his hand. "Let's have the light Jack?" he asked. "I have something."
Jack held the lantern so that it's gleam fell on the paper. "Miss
Cora Kimball," they both read, then they handed the paper to Cora.
It was enclosed in an envelope of very fine linen; Cora saw this instantly, for she felt, as well as saw, the texture. Just as she was about to tear open the missive a thought occurred to her.
"I had best wait until I get indoors," she said. "I might drop something out of it here and break the charm."
A murmur of disapproval followed this remark. But Cora won out, and with much apprehension carried the strange letter inside. Under the light she looked first at the signature. It was Brentano!
CHAPTER XX
LAUREL'S FLIGHT
"What is it? What is it?" demanded the girls in chorus.
Cora made light of her actions as she hid the note, but in reality she had no idea of reading it before any one. What might it not contain?