The Mystery of the Secret Band by Edith Lavell

Author:Edith Lavell
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781620138854
Publisher: Duke Classics

Chapter XI - Bail

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Mary Louise did not awaken until nine o'clock the following morning. A pleasant glow of triumph suffused her; she was experiencing her first thrill of professional success. But the occurrence of the preceding night was only a partial victory, she reminded herself; the job was just begun. There were more thieves to be caught, and valuables to be recovered.

She decided to ring for a breakfast tray in her room. She had often seen this luxury pictured in the movies; now was her chance to try it out for herself. While it was being prepared she took a shower and dressed.

Ten minutes later the tempting meal arrived. It was fun, she thought, as she poured the coffee from the silver pot, to play being a wealthy lady, but it would be more enjoyable if Jane were with her.... However, she had no time now to think of Jane or of her friends in Riverside; she must concentrate all her mental powers upon the mystery she was trying to solve.

These were the hypotheses she meant to build her case upon:

1. Pauline Brooks and Mary Green were two members of a secret band of hotel robbers, composed probably of women and girls.

2. Pauline's "aunt," as she called her, must be the leader, since she went from hotel to hotel.

3. The two transient guests who had undoubtedly stolen the silverware and the vase from Stoddard House were members of the same gang.

4. Pauline's "aunt" had a country place where she probably hid the stolen articles until they could be disposed of.

Now, with these facts in mind, Mary Louise had several poignant questions to answer:

1. Was this country place at Center Square, and was that woman whom Mary Louise had seen in the dark Pauline's aunt?

2. Was Margaret Detweiler connected with this gang?

Mary Louise remembered that Mary Green had admitted that she knew Margaret and that Pauline had instantly contradicted her.

It was still rather a muddle, she decided as she finished her breakfast and left the room. She took the elevator to Mrs. Weinberger's floor and hastily told her the story of the previous night's excitement; then, scarcely waiting for the older woman's congratulations, she hurried down to the manager's office.

"The hotel is exceedingly grateful to you for the service you have rendered us, Miss Gay," said the man. "The least we can do is to present you with a receipted bill for your room and breakfast."

Mary Louise gasped out her thanks: she had never dreamed of a reward.

"And what became of the girls?" she inquired.

"They are being held under five hundred dollars bail," was the reply.

"They won't have any trouble raising that, I'm afraid," said Mary Louise. "They'll skip and go right on with their old tricks."

"Perhaps you're right, Miss Gay."

"Is Mr. Hayden here?" she asked.

"No, he has gone home," replied the manager. "But he left this memorandum for you in case you want to visit the girls and see whether you can learn anything more about the case you're working on.

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