"
"Especially Lucia," laughed Donald.
"That's all right," was the good-natured reply; "but I have an
idea that the devil and Strong may have something in common."
"You don't think it was Strong who came and took the box, do
you?" queried Adrian.
"I don't know just what I do think, Ad; but I'm going to do a
little detective work and I want to give the impression that we
are all out. When you fellows go out, don't say anything that
would cause any one in hiding to think we are not all going out
together. Do you sabe?"
"Sure. I hope you'll get a clue if we do not."
When the others had gone, Billie sat quietly in his room for a
long time. He could easily have gone to sleep, as he had had only
a couple of hours' rest, but he made up his mind that he would
not be caught napping again if anything should happen.
But nothing happened.
The minutes passed into hours and it was rapidly nearing noon
when Billie made up his mind that it was a bad job.
"We had our chance at daylight," he muttered, "and now we will
not get another. Whoever is after the box, has it and is not
going to take any further chance of being caught."
He went out into the patio and looked up at the sun. It was
almost in the zenith and the air was stifling.
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