"Then, _who_ took it?" demanded Shirley. "Who would know that it was valuable? And who would want it?"
"Say Shirley, if you ever get tired of photography and want a new job, you'd better be a detective," laughed Kit. "Go on, ask some more questions and maybe we'll hit on the right solution to the mystery."
The girls laughed, but Kit added: "No fooling, girls! I know a woman in Arizona who trapped a cattle rustler all by herself, and if she did that, why can't we find the fan?"
"That's right. The Merriweather Girls should be able to find a clue. I'm sure Lady Betty would have done so in less than no time," remarked Joy.
"Perhaps she would. I wonder," said Bet sadly.
Bet Baxter insisted that Phil Gordon was not mistaken when he said he had put the ivory fan on her father's desk. But the detective shook his head and later in a talk to Chief Baldwin said:
"It looks bad for that young man, Chief. He was the last to have it. He acknowledges he's hard up, and he knew its value."
"You're barking up the wrong tree, Longworth. Everybody knows Phil Gordon and would trust him anywhere."
"All the more reason why he can act so brazen and innocent in the matter. It looks bad," Detective Longworth announced. "I've seen so many cases just like it. I'll keep my eye on that young fellow and I bet I'll get the goods on him."
The detective's suspicions travelled at a lively rate around the village and before twenty-four hours it came to the ears of the Merriweather Girls. It was Edith Whalen and her shadow, Vivian Long, who passed on the gossip to Joy Evans.
"Now what do you think of your friend Phil Gordon?" asked Edith. "I guess Bet didn't know she was associating with a thief. I saw him with that fan at the party and he was acting in a suspicious way. Lots of folks are sure he stole it."
"Who says Phil took the fan?" demanded Joy.
"Everybody's saying it! And the detective seems to think he has the clue pretty well run down and expects to arrest Phil any time now." Edith asserted with venom in her voice.
"I don't believe a word of it!" snapped Joy.
Indignation was at its highest pitch when Joy told Bet and her chums what Edith had said.
"Now we've just got to do something!" exclaimed Shirley. "We must clear Phil and that's all there is about it!"