e were travelling over the mountains," went on Jack. "Of course you
have, as you say, taken care of all the ends, but the arrest of that
fellow seems the most reasonable motive."

"Had Miss Kimball any girl enemies? Any who might like to--well, would
it be possible for them to induce her to go away, on some pretext, so
that she might be detained?" asked the other detective.

Jack and Ed exchanged glances. There was a girl, an Ida Giles, of
whom, in the other books of this series, we were obliged to record some
very unpleasant things. She was an enemy of Cora's. But the
detective's idea was absurd. Ida Giles would have no part in any such
conspiracy.

"No girl would do anything like that," declared Jack emphatically. The
sleuths of the law arose to go.

"Thank you for your close attention," said Ed. "We certainly have
fallen among friends in our trouble. The fact that I left her
alone----"

"Now, Ed, please stop that," interrupted Jack. "We have told you that
it didn't matter whom she was with, the thing would have happened just
the same. Any one would have fallen a victim to the false message."

Again for the detectives' information the strange man who called Ed
into the hotel office was described. But of what avail was that? He
was easier to hide than was Cora, and both were safely hidden, it
seemed.

Finally, having exhausted their skill in the way of obtaining clews,
the officers left, while the two young men, alone once more, were
struggling to pull themselves together, that the girls might still have
hope that there was a possibility of some favorable news.

"It looks bad," almost sobbed Jack, for the interview with the officers
had all but confirmed his worst fears, that of throwing more suspicion
upon the Gypsy tribe.

Ed was silent. He did not like to think of Cora in the clutch of those
unscrupulous persons. The thought was like a knife to him. Jack saw
his chum's new alarm and tried to brighten up.

The door suddenly opened. Both young men started.

A young woman entered the office.

"Mr. Kimball, Mr. Foster!" she exclaimed, as the boys looked at her in
surprise. "I am so sorry!"

It was Miss Robbins.

"We are very glad to see you," said Jack. "We need all sorts of
doctors. Belle is very ill, and the others are not far from it."

"And Cora?" she asked anxiously.

"No news," said Jack, as cheerfully as he could.

"Listen. I must tell you while I have a chance--before I