"There you are. One woman who might put him in jail flies off to New York. You could at least accuse him of fraud and you refuse. I myself know of one wrong doing that affected me and I prefer to keep quiet—for the present at least. You see what cowards we all are where our pride is concerned.
"You are not a coward, Cora Kimball," exclaimed Mabel, "and I know perfectly well you would denounce him if you thought that safest."
"At any rate, Mabel, I think it will all come out right," Cora assured her. "Just wait until I have a glass of milk and I will go over and see Jeannette."
"I can never tell how it all happened," sighed Mabel, "I really think he had me hypnotized."
"He is a clever rogue," agreed Cora, and she knew now more about his roguery than she cared to sum up even to herself.
CHAPTER XIV
TALKING IT OVER
The interview with Miss Jeannette Blake was not altogether satisfactory, but Cora was too careful of the sick one's feelings to ask deliberate questions. She could not really find out how far the Blakes had gone with Tony Jones in the matter of paying him for the alleged placement of Mabel with a theatrical company, but she guessed they had either actually paid a large sum, or had given a note that might be equally compelling.
Also the notices that had been prepared for the press announcing her coming "debut" were very embarrassing.
It was the day after the races, and Cora sat with her brother on the porch of their bungalow. She had told him of Mabel's plight and was asking him to help her clear up some of the shades and shadows.