“Standard Condonite is one of the new oil companies that has been growing like a mushroom. The stock has tripled in value during the last year!”
“Then our bonds really are valuable!” Azalea exclaimed. She looked accusingly at Henry and Cora who had the grace to hang their heads. “You knew this!”
“That man put us up to stealing them,” Henry muttered, indicating Ronald Trent.
“But I don’t understand how you knew we had them,” Iris murmured in bewilderment.
“My wife heard you and Miss Azalea talking one day and you mentioned your bonds,” Henry offered. “We didn’t think anything more about it until that man Trent came here. He gave us money to tell him what property you had. He wanted us to git this stuff for him. Said he’d give us part of it.”
“And you thought you’d hog the whole of it,” Trent added bitterly. “You were planning to get away before I got wise to your scheme.”
“I’m afraid there’s no honor among thieves,” Doris observed dryly.
“If only we had back the money we gave away!” Iris said regretfully. “We need it so badly.”
“How much did you give the rascal?” Jake asked bluntly.
“Nearly eight hundred dollars in all. Only yesterday we went to the bank and drew out five hundred. It was practically our last cent.”
Jake crossed over to the swindler and jerked him roughly out of the chair into which he had slumped. Quickly he went through his pockets and brought out a fat billfold. From this he extracted a number of bills which he placed upon the table.
Eagerly Azalea and Iris counted the money. In all it came to five hundred and fifty-two dollars.
“I’m afraid that’s all you’ll get back,” Jake told them. “He’s likely spent the rest.”
“It’s better than losing everything,” Azalea declared gratefully, “and we have our bonds which we can sell.”
“What do you want done with these birds?” Jake next asked. “I have a private grudge with Jeffery so he’s going to jail, but you can do what you please with the other two, for all of me.”
Azalea and Iris looked doubtfully at each other, and the Sullys, observing their indecision, began to plead for their freedom.
“We didn’t mean to steal,” Cora said tearfully. “You’ve always been so good and kind to us. For the sake of little Etta—”
“It seems to me you haven’t considered her yourself until now,” Azalea interrupted. “However, we are not without sympathy even for those who have plotted against us. Cora, I feel that you have allowed your husband to lead you astray. Your mother worked for us a number of years and I promised her that I would try to see that you never came to grief. For that reason Iris and I shall permit you and your husband to go free, providing you promise to lead a straight life from this day on.”
“We promise,” the two murmured together.
“Then take your things and leave the house immediately. You have demonstrated that you are unfit parents, so Etta must be left behind. You may go now.”
Cora and Henry, without a word of thanks, rushed out of the room. Within half an hour they had left the house.
“Now I’ll be gettin’ this fellow out of your way,” Jake declared briskly.
“Just a minute,” Iris said quietly. “You’re quite sure there can be no mistake. This man is really Joe Jeffery and not Ronald Trent.”
“There’s no mistake, ma’am. He’s just an impostor.”
“But how did he ever learn of John Trent?” Doris demanded. She turned to Ronald. “What do you know about my uncle?”
“Please tell us,” Azalea begged. “It will mean so much to know.”
“Go to Cloudy Cove and find out for yourselves,” he snapped, forgetting that he had ever treated the twins in a courtly manner.
“Oh, but we are too old to travel,” Iris sighed. “If only we could find out what became of John!”
“I’ll go,” Doris volunteered.
“How kind of you!” Azalea murmured gratefully. “You’ve done so much for us already. I don’t know how we can ever repay you.”
“I’m not looking for pay,” Doris returned with a smile. “I’ll be glad of an opportunity to look into the matter for you.”
Her promise was not an idle one. Very shortly, Doris and her friends were to go to Cloudy Cove, there to learn more of the details of John Trent’s strange career. Her adventures in this connection are related in the volume entitled, “Doris Force at Cloudy Cove, or, The Old Miser’s Signature.”
Jake telephoned to the police station and within fifteen minutes the officers arrived to take charge of Joe Jeffery. They positively identified him as a notorious swindler and assured Doris and her friends that the reward money would go to them.
“I think Jake and the Misses Gates should have it,” Doris declared. “The money will make up for what Ronald took!”
“Oh, we wouldn’t think of taking it,” Azalea and Iris protested. “You and your chum were really responsible for capturing the man. You saved our money!”
“I didn’t do anything,” Jake protested. “I just came here as Doris asked me to, and then when I saw that bird I recognized him. I don’t want any money.”
“What a situation!” Doris laughed. “Five thousand dollars and no one wants it!”
“Say, I have an idea,” Marshmallow broke in.
“Unburden yourself,” Doris laughed.
“Well, since no one of you is willing to accept the money, why not divide it equally among you?”
“Doris should have the greater share, though,” Jake protested. “She was the one who was responsible for solving the mystery.”
“But you landed the coup de grace,” Doris insisted.
Jake scratched his head and grinned.
“The which?”
“Coup de grace—that’s French. It means the finishing stroke.”
“I reckon Joe Jeffery is finished all right,” Jake agreed. “He won’t try to swindle any more people out of their hard earned cash.”
After considerable discussion it was decided that the reward money should be divided between Doris, Kitty, the Misses Gates and Jake. The Misses Gates declared at first that they would accept no share, but Doris and her friends, realizing how badly they needed ready money, insisted that they take it. At last they gave in.
“We didn’t do a thing to help bring Ronald—I mean Joe Jeffery to justice,” Azalea murmured. “We even hindered you, Doris, thinking you were prejudiced against him. It doesn’t seem fair that we take anything.”
“If you and your sister refuse your share, then I’ll not take mine either,” Doris told her.
“Let us take one share between us,” Iris protested.
Doris shook her head.
“No, we must share alike. It makes easier arithmetic, too. An even thousand dollars apiece.”
“A thousand dollars!” Kitty gasped. “Am I actually to get that much? I think I’m going to faint!”
“Go ahead,” Marshmallow invited impudently. “I’ll catch you.”
“Two thousand dollars,” Azalea murmured, and looked almost tearfully at