"And these papers?" asked Cora. "'What are they?"
"I know not, Senorita. I am not versed in such zings. A fellow patriot of my father gave them to me."
"Have you them with you?" asked Bess.
The girl started up in bed, and clutched at her breast. A wild look came over her face.
"I had zem in New York—I bring zem away wiz me. Zat man—he is ze enemy of my father and his party. He know I have zem, and he try to entrap me. But I am too—what you call foxy, for him! I slip through his fingernails. Ze papairs—in my valise—Oh, where is it? I—when I faint—I have it at my feet—"
"It was on the porch!" exclaimed Mrs. Kimball. "I forgot all about it in the excitement. It was full of lace—Oh, if some one has taken it!"
"And my papairs—zat could free my father!" cried the girl.
A shout came from the front of the house.
"That's Walter's voice!" exclaimed Cora, starting up.
"Here, drop that satchel!" came the call.