Mystery of the Secret Band by Edith Lavell 11 Young Adult Teen Mystery Book Public Domain.
chapter 11 of mystery of the secret band by edith lavelle this librivox recording is in the public domain baal 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 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 there were the hypotheses she meant to build her case upon 1. pauline brooks and mary greene were two members of a secret band of hotel robbers composed probably of women and girls two 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. hauling'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 one was this country place at center square and was that woman whom mary louise had seen in the dark pauline's aunt two was margaret detweiler connected with this gang mary louise remembered that mary greene 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 receded 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 500 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 mary louise put the paper with the address on it in her handbag and hurried back to stoddard house she found mrs hillard in her office on the first floor planning her work for the day i've got great news for you mrs hillard she cried carefully closing the door behind her i've cut two of the thieves and you'll never guess who they are no i won't even try return the other i'm not much good as a detective but hurry up and tell me pauline brooks and mary green hauling brooks repeated mrs hillard in amazement but tell me how you know the detective at the bellevue and i caught them in men's clothing trying to rob another guest at the hotel remember i thought it was a man who stole my watch though he did seem awfully small well it was pauline and she was dressed up the same way last night you're the cleverest girl i ever met mary louise how did you ever come to suspect those girls i'll tell you the whole story later when i have more time mrs hillard i've...