“I'm not here to take much of your time, Mr.
Lee, but I was directed to you by some one who
thought you could tell me about where I could
find a boy that was going here by the name of
Ramon Balinsky.”

“Yes?” returned Mr. Lee, waiting for more
explanation. Betty dropped the little cushion
she was making and leaned forward, exchanging
a glance with her mother.

The man hesitated, expecting a more enthusi-
astic reply, it might be presumed. But Betty
could imagine the calm but cool expression with
which her father was regarding the stranger,
having courteously and kindly brought him in.

“Do you know him, Mr. Lee?”

“Yes, I know to whom you refer. He was a
nice lad, looked after my car for me at times.”

“Yes. I found the garage where he worked
and found that he went to school here for
awhile. Well, do you know where he is now?”

“That might be hard to say. Perhaps you
will explain your interest in him.”

Betty, tense, hoped that her father would not
tell about the letter. Perhaps this was some-
body that wanted to hurt Ramon! There was
that story that Ramon was running away from
some one, or that he was after somebody him-
self. Mrs. Lee made a little gesture and smiled

[[197]]

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