After the "Paul Jones," a feature of the Tip-Top affairs, had been danced, every one wanted to cool off or down, according to the temperature desired. Cora was with Ed. They had drifted out on a side porch. Without any preamble one of the waiters touched Ed on the arm and told him there was a message for him waiting in the office.
"How do you know it's for me?" asked Ed, astonished.
"You are with the motor girls, aren't you?" replied the man, as if that were an explanation.
"I'll take you back to the others," said Ed to Cora. "I may as well see what it is."
"Oh, run along. It may be something urgent," suggested Cora. "I can slip back into the dance room when I want to, or I can wait here. You won't be long."
Ed followed the waiter indoors, then went into the office as he directed. He was not absent more than ten minutes, but when he returned to the porch Cora was gone!
CHAPTER XVII
MISSING
"I left her here ten minutes ago!" gasped Ed, trembling with excitement, as he related the news.
"She must have gone inside," replied Jack, equally alarmed. "We must look before we tell the others."