That there was more wisdom than eloquence in this was plain to Cora, but, even at that, she failed to grasp the whole meaning of Andy"s warning.
"Will you go to-day?" he almost begged.
"Why, Andy?"
"Yes, please do go. I would hate to see you git into that--mix-up."
"Now, little boy, you must not worry about me. See what a big strong girl I am, and you know what a strong man Jack is."
""Taint a matter of fists," Andy declared, clenching up his brown hands, "but it"s them womens" tongues. You don"t know what sneaks they are, and if you don"t say you will go away to-day, before they git at you, I think I had better tell your brother all about it."
"Haven"t you told _me_ all about it?"
"Not quite," said Andy. "I don"t suppose a girl ought--to know everything about--sc.r.a.ps!"
CHAPTER XII
THE "UNPLANNED" PLANS
Cora was always a pretty girl, but in her corn-colored, empire gown, that morning at the breakfast table, even her own brother was forced to express openly his admiration for her.
"Whew, Cora!" he exclaimed, "but you do look like a--tea-rose in that wrapper."
"Jack, dear, this is not a wrapper, but the very best design in empire," and she smoothed out the fullness that lay about her.
"Well, it"s all right, anyway," declared Jack. "Makes me think of rose leaves, the way it clings about you."
"What a pretty speech, brother. Now, if that had only been saved up for Bess, or Belle or Hazel! By the way, we haven"t seen Hazel this summer. I suppose she is studying as hard as ever. What a pity a bright girl like Hazel is not bright enough to save her health by taking the regulation vacation."
"Well, with Paul away I suppose Hazel thinks there is nothing left to do but study. I never saw brother and sister more attached," remarked Jack, taking his fruit from the dainty leaves in which, when Cora "kept house," she always insisted that fruit be served.
Paul and Hazel Hastings were indeed devoted brother and sister. Paul was also a devotee of the motor, and more than the amateur chauffeur, yet not quite the professional. He had an interesting part to play in the story "The Motor Girls On a Tour." But Cora had just remarked, Hazel had not been with them during the summer in which this story took place, and, as Jack further explained, this was due to the fact that Paul Hastings, after a severe illness, had taken a position to operate a car abroad, Mr. Robinson having arranged the "business end,"
in recognition of Paul"s heroic work for Mr. Robinson in a mysterious robbery.
"But Belle had a letter from Hazel," said Jack, after some thought, the trick of which was not lost on Cora. "Yes, she said Hazel might go away with them. And now, sis, where are they going, anyway? Come, haven"t I waited long enough for that secret?"
"It really isn"t any secret, Jack, but the girls have a baby way of wanting to keep things to themselves until all the preparations are made. I find it convenient to--keep my affairs to myself, so you see, dear, I have a selfish motive in humoring the others."
Cora"s cheeks lighted under the cascade of shadows that fell from her splendid black hair. Jack saw, too, that his "little sister" was growing up, and even in her summer plans there were things other than flounces and frills to be considered.
The lighter vein of their conversation had been taken up after Cora had told her brother all that she felt it was prudent to tell about Andy"s early morning call. And now----
"Well, I suppose you are determined to see the detective fellows,"
said Jack, moving Cora"s chair out so that she might more easily leave the table.
"What else can I do?" she asked, and answered at once, with her decisive tone of voice.
"I think with Andy--you ought to "git away,"" and Jack smiled in imitating the earnest youngster.
"And make matters look as if I were more deeply involved than I really am? Now, Jack, dear, that is not like you."
"No matter what you make matters look like, so long as you don"t make them look like themselves," replied the boy. "That"s my brand of logic in a case like this. Don"t you see, sis, you may throw them off the track, and by getting a chance to talk with you, they are bound to find out something, or lose their badges."
Cora"s face was bent in the roses that stood on the serving table.
"But what could I do?" she asked, this time with less decision.
"Anything. Just take a run to--the beach--or anywhere. Leave me to see the officers."
The rapid tooting of horn of the _Flyaway_ interrupted them.
"My!" exclaimed Cora, "more early morning callers? There"s Bess!"
And, true enough, there was Bess, guiding her car up the drive, her veil flying in the breeze, and her cheeks like the very roses that outlined the path.
"Why the where-for-ness?" demanded Jack. "I am startled--collapsed--I might say, by the suddenness of this--pleasure----"
"Now, Jack," and Bess had alighted from her car, "you are not to make jokes, we haven"t time. I am almost dead from hurrying. Mother decided, about midnight last night, that we should go to----"
Then she stopped. How silly it would be to blurt out in one mouthful all the story of their secret planning!
"Oh, go ahead," said Jack with a light laugh. "I am deaf and dumb, also blind and halt. I have no idea where you are going. A trip over the Rockies----"
"Come in, Bess dear," said Cora, "and leave the boy to himself. You are certainly out of breath, and----"
Cora drew the arm of her friend within her own, and with all sorts of glances at Jack, who was actually seated in the _Flyaway_ to make sure that the girls would not get away without his knowledge, Bess and Cora pa.s.sed into the house.
"We are going to-day," went on Bess. "Mother wants our Western friends to have an outing at the beach--they have never been to salt water--and, as they must start back in a few days, we have to go to-day. Can you come?"
"How could I--go, this very day?"
"Why, we won"t start until afternoon. And you have everything ready,"
urged Bess. "It will be fun. We"ll stop over night at a hotel and reach the sh.o.r.e next day."
It seemed to Cora that all the powers were conspiring to get her out of Chelton that day, and it also seemed as if it might be rash to oppose such a force. True, she did have everything ready, and her household matters were always in such shape she could leave the servants on an hour"s warning. Bess saw that Cora was uncertain, and she hurried to take advantage of the possible favorable opportunity.
"Oh, Cora, do come! What a perfectly stupid time we would have on that long run with just mama and the others. We wanted to go in the _Flyaway_ and let them go by train, but, of course, mama would not hear to that. So now papa has hired a big machine and a chauffeur from the garage and Belle and I will go in our "_Bird_," while the others travel near us in the hired car. Don"t you see, if you go along with the _Whirlwind_ what a splendid time we shall have?"
"Let"s tell Jack--or ask him," said Cora finally. "He knows we are getting ready for some trip, and I guess we can trust him not to tell the other boys."
"Don"t you want the other boys to know?" asked Bess, a tone of disappointment in her voice.
"Do you?" asked Cora, mischievously.
"Oh, I suppose they will find it out. And besides, Cora, honestly, don"t you think we would be--lonely without--the boys?"