diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31719-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 604920 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31719-h/31719-h.htm | 7044 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31719-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 95903 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31719-h/images/gs01.jpg | bin | 0 -> 93679 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31719-h/images/gs02.jpg | bin | 0 -> 101878 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31719-h/images/gs03.jpg | bin | 0 -> 91670 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31719-h/images/gs04.jpg | bin | 0 -> 95766 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31719-h/images/quote.png | bin | 0 -> 214 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31719.txt | 6659 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31719.zip | bin | 0 -> 120319 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
13 files changed, 13719 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31719-h.zip b/31719-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..01404d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/31719-h.zip diff --git a/31719-h/31719-h.htm b/31719-h/31719-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..06f9efe --- /dev/null +++ b/31719-h/31719-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7044 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Madge Morton's Trust, by Amy D. V. Chalmers + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 1em; +} +p.cap, p.cap2 { + text-indent: 0em;} +p.cap:first-letter { + float: left; + padding: 0 2px 0 0; + margin-top: -.05em; + line-height: 1em; font-size: 2.8em; +} +p.cap2:first-letter { + float: left; clear: left; + padding: 0 2px 0 0; + line-height: 1em; font-size: 2.8em; +} + +em {font-style: italic;} +ins {text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 1px dotted #dcdcdc;} + +hr { margin: 5em auto 3em auto; + height: 0px; + border-width: 1px 0 0 0; + border-style: solid; + border-color: #dcdcdc; + width: 500px; + clear: both; +} +hr.hr2 { width: 250px; margin: 2em auto 2em auto;} +hr.hr3 { width: 100%;} +hr.white { margin: 5em auto 0em auto; border: none; +} +hr.hr4 {border-style: double; border-width: 4px 0 0 0; width: 100%;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0; +} + +th {font-size: .7em;} +th.thr1 {text-align: right; padding-right: 1em;} +th.thr2 {text-align: right;} + +td {vertical-align: bottom; padding-bottom: .5em;} +td.tdl {text-align: left; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; padding-right: 1em; vertical-align: top;} +td.tdr {text-align: right; vertical-align: top; padding-right: 1em;} +td.tdr2 {text-align: right;} + +.pagenum {/* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /*visibility: hidden;*/ + position: absolute; + left: 1%; + font-size: 10px; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + font-style: normal; + letter-spacing: normal; + text-indent: 0em; + text-align: right; + color: #999999; + background-color: #ffffff; +} /* page numbers */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} + +.right {text-align: right; padding-right: 8em;} +.right2 {text-align: right; padding-right: 6em; margin-bottom: 0em;} +.right3 {text-align: right; padding-right: 4em; margin-top: 0em;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-size: .8em;} + +.noi {text-indent: 0em;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: 5em auto 3em auto; + text-align: center; +} +.figleft { + float: left; + margin: -.5em 1px 0em 0em; + padding: 0; text-align: left;} + +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poemblock {margin: auto; width: 24em; text-align: center;} +.poemblock2 {margin: auto; width: 28em; text-align: center;} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.io { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3.5em; +} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.tp {margin: 5em auto 5em auto;} +.title {font-size: 2.5em;} +.author {font-size: 1.4em;} +.books {font-size: .8em;} +.illus {font-size: 1.2em;} + +.block {margin: auto; width: 24em;} +.sub2 {font-size: .9em;} +.ws {word-spacing: 1em;} +.ws2 {word-spacing: 8em;} +.ls {letter-spacing: .8em;} +.ls2 {letter-spacing: .3em;} + +.tn {border: 1px solid black; background-color: #f4e5c6; + width: 38em; margin: 5em auto 5em auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.hang {margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 2.2em; text-indent: -2em;} + +.prblock {text-align: center; max-width: 38em; margin: auto;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Madge Morton's Trust, by Amy D. V. Chalmers + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Madge Morton's Trust + +Author: Amy D. V. Chalmers + +Release Date: March 21, 2010 [EBook #31719] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADGE MORTON'S TRUST *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<hr /> + +<h1>Madge Morton's Trust</h1> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 496px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="496" height="600" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 385px;"> +<img src="images/gs01.jpg" width="385" height="600" alt="Frontispiece" title="" /> +<span class="caption">The "Sea Gull" and the "Merry Maid" Began their Voyage.<br /> +<em>Frontispiece.</em></span> +</div> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + + +<div class="tp"> +<p class="center"><span class="title">Madge Morton's<br /> +Trust</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +By<br /> + +<span class="author">AMY D. V. CHALMERS</span><br /> + +<span class="books">Author of Madge Morton, Captain of the Merry Maid; Madge<br /> +Morton's Secret, Madge Morton's Victory.</span><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<span class="ls">PHILADELPHIA</span><br /> +<span class="ws"><big>HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY</big></span></p> +</div> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<h5><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1914, by Howard E. Altemus</span></h5> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="Contents"> +<tr> +<th class="thr1"><span class="smcap">Chapter.</span></th> +<th class="thr2" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Page.</span></th> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">I.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Late Arrival</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#i">7</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> II.</td> +<td class="tdl"> <span class="smcap">The Doctor's Suggestion</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#ii">17</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> III.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">David Finds a Friend</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#iii">27</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> IV.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Search</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#iv">40</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> V.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Pulling Up Anchor for New Scenes</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#v">52</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> VI.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Wanderlust</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#vi">60</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> VII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Rescue</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#vii">72</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> VIII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Motor Boat Disaster</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#viii">84</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> IX.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Leaving the Houseboat to Take Care of Itself</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#ix">96</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> X.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Ghost Story</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#x">104</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XI.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Feast of Mondamin</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xi">112</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">A Boy's Temptation</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xii">124</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XIII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Eleanor Gets Into Mischief</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xiii">137</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XIV.</td> +<td class="tdl"> "<span class="smcap">Confusion Worse Confounded</span>"</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xiv">149</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XV.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Black Hole</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xv">158</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XVI.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Better Man</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xvi">169</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XVII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Birth of Suspicion</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xvii">181</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XVIII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">David's Mysterious Errand</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xviii">191</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XIX.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Ghosts of the Past</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xix">200</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XX.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Fancy Dress Party</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xx">213</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XXI.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Interruption</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxi">221</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XXII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Madge Morton's Trust</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxii">232</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr"> XXIII.</td> +<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Little Captain's Story</span></td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxiii">241</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr">XXIV.</td> +<td class="tdl">"<span class="smcap">Good Luck to the Bride</span>"</td> +<td class="tdr2"><a href="#xxiv">248</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>Madge Morton's Trust</h2> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<h2><a name="i" id="i"></a>CHAPTER I<br /> +<br /> +<small>A LATE ARRIVAL</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">IT was a particularly hot day in early July. A girl came out on the back +porch of an old-fashioned New England house and dropped into a hammock. +She looked tired, but her big black eyes were eager with interest.</p> + +<p>She held a fat letter in her hand which contained many pages. At the top +of the letter was a pen-and-ink drawing of a miniature houseboat with +five girls running about on the deck, their hair blowing, their skirts +awry. One of them held a broom in her hand; she was the domestic +Eleanor! Another waved a frying pan; Miss Jenny Ann Jones, Chief Cook +and Chaperon! The third girl was drying her long, blonde hair in the +sun; Miss Lillian Seldon, the beauty of the houseboat party!</p> + +<p>The girl in the hammock recognized herself: she was feeding a +weird-looking animal on four legs with a spoon. And standing among the +others, apparently talking as fast as she possibly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> could, and doing no +work of any kind, was a young woman whom the artist had carefully +labeled "Madge."</p> + +<p>Phyllis Alden laughed until the tears rolled down her cheeks. She could +not recall having laughed in two months, and she was sure she would keep +on giggling as long as she read her letter.</p> + +<p>"Miss Alden"—a woman in the uniform of a professional nurse appeared at +the door—"your mother says do you know where the twins are? She is +restless about them. I promised her I would come to you. I am sorry to +disturb you; I know you are tired."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of it, Miss Brazier," insisted Phil stoutly. "Those dreadful +babies! I had forgotten I had not seen them in the last half hour. Of +course, they are in mischief. I will look for them right away."</p> + +<p>Phil thrust her precious letter into her blouse. It was four o'clock in +the afternoon and her letter from her chum had arrived in the morning +post. These were busy days for Phyllis Alden. Early in May she had been +called home from school by the illness of her mother. Since that time +the care of her father's house and looking after the irrepressible twins +had been Phyllis's work. Her mother was better now, on the sure road to +convalescence, and Phil<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> had begun to confess to herself that she was +tired.</p> + +<p>At one side of the house there was a rain-barrel. It was strictly +forbidden territory, so Phil knew at once where to look for the twins. +Hanging over the edge of the barrel were two fat little girls with tight +black curls. They were bent double and were fishing for queer, bobbing +things that floated on the surface of the rainwater. A firm hand caught +Daisy by one leg. Dot, terrified by her big sister's sudden appearance, +tumbled into the barrel with a gasp and a splash.</p> + +<p>Phil felt half-vexed; still, she was obliged to laugh at the little +ones, they looked so utterly roguish.</p> + +<p>"Frog in the middle, can't get out," she teased the small girl in the +center of the barrel. Then she fished Dot out and started with both +little maids for the house to make them presentable before dinner. +Phyllis knew that they must both be washed and dressed before she would +have another chance to peep at her precious letter. Still, it comforted +her to think how amused her Madge would be by her funny little +four-year-old twin sisters and their mischievous ways.</p> + +<p>It was just before dinner time when Phyllis firmly locked her bedroom +door and took her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> precious letter from her blouse. She would read it +now, or die in the effort. It began:</p> + +<p class="noi">"<span class="smcap">Dear old Phil</span>:</p> + +<p>"I am not writing you from 'Forest House,' but from no other place than +the famous old city of Boston, Massachusetts. I came here the other day +because I believed I would find news of my father, but I was +disappointed and am going back home in a few days.</p> + +<p>"But I don't want to write about myself; I want to write about you, dear +old Phil! I am so glad your mother is better. When she is quite well, +can't you come to visit Nellie and me at 'Forest House'? We have missed +you so. The Commencement exercises at Miss Tolliver's were no fun at all +this year. When Miss Matilda got up and announced that Miss Phyllis +Alden had been called home before the final spring examination because +of the illness of her mother, and would, therefore, be passed on to the +senior class of her preparatory school on account of her high standing +in her classes, I cheered for all I was worth, and so did every one +else.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Phil, dear, it has been ages since last I saw you! I would give all +my curls, and my hair really makes a long braid nowadays, if I could +only see you. How I wish we could spend the rest of this summer on our +beautiful houseboat! The poor little 'Merry Maid'! How<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> lonely she must +be without us. Tom Curtis and Jack Bolling wrote and asked me to let +them tow us up the Rappahannock River this summer. They are going on a +motor trip. But, alas and alack! we haven't any money to pay our +expenses, so I fear there will be no houseboat party this summer. It's +dreadfully sad, but, more than anything else, I regret not seeing you, +Phil. With my dearest love. Write soon. Your devoted</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Madge</span>."</p> + +<p>Phyllis finished her letter with a warm feeling around her heart but a +sigh on her lips. No "Merry Maid" this summer! Well, Phyllis had not +expected it, yet it seemed cruel to think of the four girls and Miss +Jones being separated for another year from their "Ship of Dreams," +where they had spent two wonderful holidays.</p> + +<p>The story of how Madge Morton, Phyllis Alden, Lillian Seldon and Eleanor +Butler came into possession of a houseboat is fully set forth in the +first volume of this series, entitled "<span class="smcap">Madge Morton, Captain of the +'Merry Maid.'</span>" The happy summer spent by the four young women on board +the "Merry Maid," chaperoned by Miss Jenny Ann Jones, one of the +teachers in the boarding school which they attended, was one long to be +remembered.</p> + +<p>While anchored in a quiet bit of water, a part of the great Chesapeake +Bay, they made many<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> friends, chief among whom were Mrs. Curtis, a +wealthy widow, and her son Tom. Mrs. Curtis's instant liking for Madge, +her subsequent offer to adopt her, and the remarkable manner in which +Madge and Phyllis were instrumental in discovering their friend's own +daughter, who had been lost at sea years before, in a poor fisher girl +whom they rescued from her cruel foster father, formed a lively +narrative.</p> + +<p>"<span class="smcap">Madge Morton's Secret</span>" told of the girls' second sojourn on their +houseboat, which was anchored near Old Point Comfort. There the girls +saw much of the social life of the Army and Navy, and it was while there +that Madge incurred the enmity of a young woman named Flora Harris, who +made the little captain's life very unpleasant for a time.</p> + +<p>The mysterious cutting of the "Merry Maid's" cable on a stormy night, +the voyaging of the little boat out into the bay, and the island shore +to which she drifted in the gray dawn, and how, after living the life of +young Crusoes for many weeks, they were rescued and returned to their +sorrowing friends, made absorbing reading for those interested in +following the fortunes of Madge Morton.</p> + +<p>But to go back to the subject of Phyllis Alden: She and her father, Dr. +Alden, were firm friends. Every evening since her mother's illness they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +had taken a walk together after the twins were safely tucked in bed. It +was a pleasure to which they both looked forward all day. To-night they +were late in getting away from the house, and, as they strolled along +through the quiet streets, Phyllis was unusually silent. She had told +her father of Madge's letter, but she had not mentioned her invitation +to visit Madge and Nellie at their home in Virginia. Phil did not think +she could be spared from home and did not wish to worry her father. Yet +all the time that Phil was so silent Dr. Alden was wondering where he +could send Phyllis to spend a well-earned holiday. He did not have much +money to spare, but his beloved daughter must somehow be given a rest.</p> + +<p>Phyllis and her father were almost home again when the girl thought she +heard some one running behind them. She turned with apprehensive +suddenness. The night was dark and the streets were narrow; only at the +corners the electric lamps made bright, open spaces. Under one of these +lights Phyllis looked back fearfully. She could barely discern a figure. +It was walking close to the fence and seemed to be carrying something. +Phil could not discover what it was, and Dr. Alden, who was slightly +deaf, heard nothing.</p> + +<p>Suddenly a watchdog set up a furious barking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> and rushed out into the +street. Phil felt more secure. If any one were lurking in the shadow +with the thought of attacking her father, the dog would surely come to +their rescue. Yet now she could hear six feet pattering after them +instead of two. The dog must have been won over by their enemy.</p> + +<p>"Father"—Phil put her hand nervously on her father's arm; she was not +herself to-night; she was tired and full of unexpressed longings for her +friends—"wait!" Phil ended her sentence abruptly. Some one distinctly +called her name, "Phil!" it echoed down the empty street.</p> + +<p>Dr. Alden and his daughter both turned. Yet <a name="it" id="it"></a><ins title="original had is">it</ins> was impossible to +see any great distance beyond them. They were in the light, while the +shadows down the sidewalk were densely black. Some one was coming toward +them, though it was difficult to know if it were a man or a woman.</p> + +<p>Straight into Phil's arms whirled a breathless girl, her hat on one +side, her curly hair tumbling down and her eyes as bright as the +fireflies that flickered through the dark streets. The girl carried a +heavy suit case, and a large dog walked protectingly at her side.</p> + +<p>It was Madge Morton. She had arrived alone and unannounced in the city +of Hartford at a perfectly incredible hour of the night!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>Dr. Alden was overcome with surprise. He had heard Phil give a cry of +rapture, saw a suit case drop to the ground, then two girls meet in a +joyful embrace.</p> + +<p>"I might have known you would come when I needed you most, Madge," cried +Phil rapturously. Phil was not really surprised by her chum's +appearance. She knew that the most astonishing things in the world were +just the things that Madge Morton would do as though they were the most +natural.</p> + +<p>"Is your mother better?" whispered Madge. "For goodness' sake, Phil, +dear girl, let me tell your father who I am and how I happened to appear +at this unearthly hour." Madge put her hand into the doctor's. "Please +forgive me, Dr. Alden," she began. "I wrote Phil I was in Boston and +about to start for home. I was on the way to the depot to buy my ticket +when suddenly I remembered that I wasn't so far from dear Phil. I have +been wanting to see her so dreadfully. So I just telegraphed Uncle and +Aunt that I was going to stop over in Hartford a few hours.</p> + +<p>"Of course, we had a wreck on the train, so here I am, only six hours +late. When I came in at the station to-night I just inquired what car I +should take to bring me to your address. And wasn't it funny? I saw you +and Phil cross the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> street at the corner, so I jumped off the car and +ran after you. I thought this old dog was going to eat me up, but the +dear old fellow has adopted me instead."</p> + +<p>Madge patted the strange dog affectionately with her left hand. Phil had +never let go of her right one.</p> + +<p>"I hope you will forgive my dropping in on you like this. I am ashamed +of myself, but I just had to have a look at Phil."</p> + +<p>"You've dropped from heaven! You are an angel unawares, Madge Morton," +vowed practical Phil Alden in devout tones. "I was never so glad to see +anybody in my life. Now, if you leave me to-morrow, I shall surely die."</p> + +<p>Madge laughed happily. How good it seemed to be with dear old Phil once +more. Dr. Alden picked up her suit case and looked at her with earnest, +kindly eyes.</p> + +<p>"Daughter," he said kindly, "I am almost as pleased to see you as Phil +is. Come home with us. You must be worn out from your journey."</p> + +<p>For the first time Madge realized that she was a little tired and that +she had been a little frightened at arriving alone in a strange city at +night. But then she was with Phil.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span><a name="ii" id="ii"></a>CHAPTER II<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE DOCTOR'S SUGGESTION</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">MADGE fitted marvelously into Dr. Alden's troubled household. She read +to Mrs. Alden when the nurse was away, cheered her with funny stories +and really helped her to grow well and strong.</p> + +<p>As for the twins, Dot and Daisy, they were never absent from the little +captain's side, except when Phil positively commanded it. Madge used to +take long walks with one of them clinging to either side of her skirt. +Where she found her patience when they tumbled down, lagged behind and +begged for more fairy tales every minute was a marvel. But Madge had +been shocked at her beloved Phil's careworn appearance and came +gallantly to her rescue. She might have little consideration for +strangers, she could do wonders for the people she loved and one long +look into her friend's tired face made her resolve to do her best for +Phil.</p> + +<p>The next morning after Madge's unceremonious arrival Dr. Alden wrote a +letter to Mr. and Mrs. Butler, asking them to allow Madge to make +Phyllis a visit. Madge also wrote a note, but it was not in the nature +of a request. Instead,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> she dashed off the following letter to her +Virginia relatives:</p> + +<p class="noi">"<span class="smcap">Dearest Aunt and Uncle:</span></p> + +<p>"Don't worry about me. I am at Phil's and having the best kind of a +time. I am going to stay with her for a few days, as she needs me. Do I +hear any dissenting voices? I hope not! Tell Nellie we miss her +terribly. With lots of love to all of you. Don't bother to write. I'll +take the will for the deed.</p> + +<p class="right2">"Lovingly,</p> +<p class="right3">"<span class="smcap">Madge</span>."</p> + +<p>"There," declared Madge as she skipped up the steps after handing her +letter to the postman, "that will stifle all Virginia objections. Now, I +am going to enjoy myself while I am with dear Phil."</p> + +<p>In the days that followed Madge's declaration she helped Phil keep house +with a will. Dr. Alden used to call her "The Second Daughter," and Madge +derived untold pleasure from the drives she took with him over the +country roads to see his patients.</p> + +<p>One afternoon, however, as they jogged along toward the home of a +patient who lived several miles from town, Madge was unusually silent. +Though the air was sweet with the perfume of honeysuckle, and their road +ran through a particularly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> beautiful bit of country, she was dreamy and +abstracted.</p> + +<p>From time to time Dr. Alden gazed at her humorously. His +fellow-passenger was in a deep reverie and had forgotten his presence.</p> + +<p>"Thinking of your houseboat, eh, Madge?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Doctor Man," answered Madge quickly, "of the houseboat and Phil." +She sat very straight in the buggy, and, drawing her level brows into a +frown, said slowly: "I was saying over to myself that when five nice, +capable young women wish a very special thing very much they ought to be +able to obtain it. You see, we wish to spend the beginning of the summer +on the houseboat. It would be splendid for Phil. But we haven't the +money, so I am trying to find out how to get it."</p> + +<p>The physician's eyes twinkled. "That is not a new occupation, Madge. +Most of us spend our time in trying to get hold of that same mighty +dollar. But we have to work for it as well as to think about it. I +wonder if you girls wish the holiday on your boat badly enough to work +for it? If only I could give you the money!"</p> + +<p>Madge looked earnestly at the doctor, then said slowly: "That's just it. +Of course, we are willing to work for the money. But I must find<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> out +what we can do in a hurry. You see, we need the money at once."</p> + +<p>After they reached their destination, the doctor stayed a long while at +his call on his country patient, and Madge, left alone in the buggy, had +plenty of time to devise a thousand schemes for acquiring riches and to +dismiss them all as impracticable. The physician had driven his old +horse inside the trim yard of his patient, and the road lay near the big +front porch door. The little garden was as pretty and tidy as the +pictures in Kate Greenaway books. It grew tall hollyhocks, neatly cut +hedges, and a riot of old rose bushes. Madge might well have spent her +time in gazing at it, as it was a typical New England garden on a small +scale. But it seemed too tiny and conventional to the little captain, +whose inner vision conjured up the sight of the great, oak-shaded lawn +at "Forest House." Just then she had more practical problems to occupy +her attention. She let the reins fall loosely on the horse's neck, for +he was in the habit of standing without being hitched. To-day old Prince +grew tired with waiting and began to nibble at the short grass. Madge, +lost in her daydreams, paid no heed to him. The horse moved on. Ahead +there was a particularly delicious bunch of tall, feathery grass, which +had been allowed to grow unaccountably<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> high. It was a rare shrub, but +the old horse was not aware of it. The wheel of the buggy that held the +heedless driver passed over the high porch step. The girl inside felt +herself let gently down on the ground and a high, black canopy covered +her. Then, at last, Madge became alive to the situation.</p> + +<p>But it was too late! Old Prince was frightened. The noise of the +overturned buggy had upset his nerves. He began to run—not very fast, +but fast enough so that Madge found herself being dragged along the +ground over the smooth grass lawn. She couldn't crawl out from under the +buggy and she certainly did not wish to remain under it. She raised her +voice in one long cry of terror.</p> + +<p>A boy had been working back of the house. He was in his shirt sleeves +and had an old, torn, straw hat pulled down over his eyes. An ugly scowl +was the only attention he had paid to the doctor and Madge as they drove +into the yard. His face was flushed, not so much from the sun as from +the anger that was raging within him. It was hard enough to work like a +slave for a cranky old maid, without being constantly "pecked at." David +believed that he hated every one in the world. Yet at Madge's shrill cry +for help he dropped his rake and ran toward the front lawn. He saw the +overturned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> buggy, heard the noise that came from underneath it, but he +could see no sign of Madge. Dr. Alden had also dashed from the house +onto the front porch. He was followed by a woman of about sixty years. +Her hair was parted in the middle and she wore little bunches of +corkscrew curls over each ear, in the fashion of half a century ago. +"Oh, my! Oh, my!" she cried, wringing her hands. "How can I bear it? how +can I bear it?" One might have supposed that she were frightened over +Madge.</p> + +<p>Dr. Alden started in pursuit of the horse. But at his approach old +Prince quickened his pace. "Stand still!" a peremptory voice called to +him sharply. "Stop crying out!" the same voice ordered Madge.</p> + +<p>Dr. Alden gazed in bewilderment at the speaker. Madge at the same +instant realized that she must be frightening the horse with the noise +she was making.</p> + +<p>The boy with the torn hat advanced quietly toward the horse, showing no +special interest in him. He called gently to the animal, holding out a +bunch of grass. Prince was only frightened at the strange turn his +affairs had taken. He now stopped for a minute. Immediately a firm hand +seized his head.</p> + +<p>Dr. Alden made a move toward his buggy. "Unhitch the horse," commanded +the boy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>Once the horse was free from the buggy Dr. Alden and the young man +lifted it on one side. Out crawled Madge, a most inglorious figure. She +was covered with dust, her face grimy. Her hair had tumbled down and +hung in a loose bunch of curls over her shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I am not a bit hurt, Doctor," she announced bravely, as soon as she got +her breath. "It was all my fault. I let old Prince get away from me. I +am so afraid I have broken the buggy."</p> + +<p>"What a nice girl!" thought David. "She isn't a bit fussy. I wonder how +she will take the old lady?"</p> + +<p>While the physician assured Madge that his vehicle was not injured in +the least, and that he would not have minded its being smashed into bits +so long as she was unhurt, a woman walked across the yard and glared +angrily at Madge.</p> + +<p>"Young woman," she said in a thin, high voice, "look—look at what you +and that wretched horse have done."</p> + +<p>Madge blinked some of the dirt from her eyes, then tried to twist her +hair back into some kind of order. "I am sorry," she answered in +bewilderment. "But what have we done?"</p> + +<p>David swallowed a malicious grin of satisfaction.</p> + +<p>The woman fairly gasped at Madge's question. "You've torn up my lawn, +trampled down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> my prize rose-bush, and—and—please take the young woman +away, doctor. My nerves won't endure anything more after the night I +have spent. I am sure I would never dare trust my life to any one who +goes about turning over buggies and ruining people's gardens."</p> + +<p>Trust her life? Of what was the woman talking? Madge thought she could +not have heard aright.</p> + +<p>"Never mind your lawn, Miss Betsey," answered Dr. Alden severely. "Be +grateful that the child isn't hurt. Thank you, David." The doctor began +fumbling in his pocket for his money.</p> + +<p>Madge saw her rescuer's face turn scarlet. He was a manly looking fellow +of perhaps eighteen.</p> + +<p>With a muttered, "I'm not a beggar," he turned and walked away from +them.</p> + +<p>After exchanging a little further conversation with Miss Betsey, the +doctor and Madge drove away. Outside the yard Madge began to laugh. She +could still see the old maid wringing her hands and gazing in anguish at +her cherished garden.</p> + +<p>"Scat!" grumbled Madge.</p> + +<p>The doctor smiled. "Miss Betsey is a bit of an old cat, child. But I +don't wish you to be prejudiced against her, poor old soul."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>"Oh, I wasn't thinking of her being like a cat, Doctor Man," apologized +Madge. "I am very fond of cats. I was thinking of Miss Betsey in 'David +Copperfield.' Don't you remember how she used to rush out and cry +'Scat!' all the time at the donkeys that she feared were going to ruin +her lawn? Old Prince and I were the 'donkeys' this afternoon. Who is +that boy named David? He is very good looking, isn't he?"</p> + +<p>"David? Oh, he is a poor boy who works around Miss Taylor's place—a +distant cousin of hers, I believe. His mother was a gentlewoman, but she +married a man who turned out badly and her family disowned her. This +youngster has a bad disposition and Miss Betsey says he is not faithful +to his work. He steals off every now and then and hides for hours up in +a loft. No one knows what he is doing up there."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't think I would like to work for Miss Betsey," returned +Madge thoughtfully. "Somehow I feel sorry for this David." She +remembered the boy's quick flush of resentment at the doctor's offer of +money. She wished that she had been able to thank him herself for his +share in her rescue.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you think you would not like to work for Miss Betsey," +returned the doctor unexpectedly,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> "because I had a suggestion to make +to you and Phil. But after to-day I am afraid it will be of no use. Miss +Taylor is a rich old maid patient of mine. I have looked after her since +<a name="Phyllis" id="Phyllis"></a><ins title="original had Phillis">Phyllis</ins> was a little girl. She has no relatives and no +interest in life except in her little estate, which has been in her +family for several generations. She makes herself ill by imagining that +she has a variety of diseases. All she needs is fresh air and young +companionship. I wonder if there is any way that she can manage to get +it?"</p> + +<p>Madge felt a shiver creep up and down her spine. She had a premonition +of what Dr. Alden was going to propose to her and to Phil. Surely they +could not be expected to Jonah their pretty houseboat by taking aboard +such a fellow-passenger as this dreadful old maid! How could they ever +have any fun with her on board? Instead of calling their pretty craft +the "Merry Maid," she would have to be re-christened "Old Maid," Madge +thought resentfully.</p> + +<p>Dr. Alden did not return to the subject of Miss Betsey during the long +ride home. He was too wise for that. Nevertheless, he had given Madge +something to think about.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span><a name="iii" id="iii"></a>CHAPTER III<br /> +<br /> +<small>DAVID FINDS A FRIEND</small></h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 8px;"> +<img src="images/quote.png" width="8" height="7" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="cap">IT'S all right, Phyllis! Tom Curtis is a dear. David is to go with us." +Madge breathed a sigh of satisfaction over the success of her scheme.</p> + +<p>Phyllis Alden laughed. She was buttoning the twins into clean pinafores. +"I am not surprised. I knew Tom would find a place for David if you +asked him to do so. Tom Curtis is quite likely to do Madge Morton's +will."</p> + +<p>Madge flushed. "Don't be a goose, please, Phil," she begged. "You know +that as long as we are to take Miss Betsey Taylor on board our +houseboat, in order to be able to pay the expenses of our trip this +summer," Madge made a wry face, "that we ought not to leave poor David +high and dry without any work to do. I was awfully sorry for the boy +when he came here the other day and heard what Miss Betsey thought of +doing. He turned quite white, and when I asked him if he was sorry to be +thrown out of work, he said 'Yes,' and then he wouldn't talk any more."</p> + +<p>Phyllis looked serious. "I hope it will turn out for the best, but it is +asking a good deal of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> Tom to take this strange boy way down to Virginia +with him. David hasn't a good reputation. Miss Taylor employs him only +because he is a distant cousin of hers. No one else will have anything +to do with him, he is so surly and unfriendly. He was turned out of the +district school, and——"</p> + +<p>Madge pretended to put her fingers in her ears. "Don't tell me any more +mean things about that poor fellow, please, dear," she pleaded. "I +suppose it is because I have never heard a good word about him that I, +being an obstinate person, don't think he can be as bad as he is +painted. I am a black sheep myself, sometimes, when my horrid temper +gets the better of me, and I know how dreadful it is not to be trusted."</p> + +<p>"You a black sheep! O Madge! how absurd you are," protested Phil.</p> + +<p>But Madge was in earnest and would not be interrupted. "Tom really did +need some one on his motor boat, Phil. He wrote me that he meant to hire +some one to come along with him. Tom wishes to run his own engine, but +he doesn't yearn for the task of cleaning it or to do the very hard +work. Of course, that is all right. He has plenty of money and can do as +he chooses. But it's different with David."</p> + +<p>"How many boys will Tom have on his motor boat while he has us in tow?" +inquired Phil.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> She realized that Madge had been seized with one of her +sudden fits of enthusiasm over Miss Betsey Taylor's "hired boy" and that +there was no sense in opposing her. The little captain would find out +later whether her enthusiasm had been right or wrong.</p> + +<p>"Four or five," answered Madge absently. "Do stand still, Daisy Alden, +while I tie your sunbonnet, or I'll eat you alive!" she scolded kissing +one of the twin babies on her fat pink cheek. "Come on, Phil. Hold tight +to Dot. If we are going to drive out to Miss Betsey Taylor's to see +whether she still desires to pay us sixty dollars a month for food, +lodging and the pleasure of our delightful society aboard our precious +houseboat, we had better start at once."</p> + +<p>Phil, Madge and the twins waved good-bye to Mrs. Alden, who was well +enough now to be about her house, as they piled themselves into the +physician's old buggy, which he had left for their use during the day.</p> + +<p>The doctor's suggestion looked as though it were going to come true. At +first Madge and Phil protested that they simply couldn't bear to take a +fussy old maid on their houseboat excursion. But then, if they did not +take Miss Betsey, there wouldn't be any excursion. The girls were +between Scylla and Charybdis, like the ill-fated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> Ulysses on his journey +back from Troy. Scylla, Miss Betsey, went with them, or Charybdis, the +houseboat party, would have to decline Tom Curtis's offer to tow them up +the Rappahannock River. So the girls decided to choose "Miss Scylla," as +they nicknamed poor Miss Betsey.</p> + +<p>As for Miss Betsey Taylor, she had been even more horrified than the two +houseboat girls when the doctor made the proposal to her. How was she to +cure her nerves by trusting herself to a party of gay young people with +a twenty-six-year-old chaperon as the only balance to the party. Absurd! +Miss Betsey wrung her hands at the very idea. But after a while the +allurement of the plan began to stir even her conventional old soul. The +thought of being borne gently along a beautiful river dividing the +Virginia shores wrought enchantment. There was something else that +influenced Miss Betsey. Years before she had had a "near romance." A +young Virginia officer had come to New York and had met Miss Betsey at +the home of a friend. During one winter he saw her many times, and +although he was too poor to speak of marriage, Miss Betsey was entitled +to believe that he had cared for her. One day Miss Betsey had an +argument with her admirer. It was a foolish argument, but the Virginia +officer believed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> that Miss Betsey had insulted him. He went away and +never saw her again. Afterward she learned that he had returned to his +ruined estate in Virginia.</p> + +<p>It was a poor shadow of a romance, but Miss Betsey had never had +another. In late years she had begun to think of her past. It <em>did</em> add +a flavor of romance to her trip in the houseboat to imagine that she +might have been a happy matron, living on one of the old places that she +would see in Virginia, instead of being Miss Betsey Taylor of Hartford, +who had never ventured farther than New York City in the sixty years of +her maiden life. To tell the truth, Miss Betsey was as enthusiastic over +the prospect of a trip in a houseboat as were the members of the "Merry +Maid's" crew.</p> + +<p>When the two girls and the children drove into Miss Betsey's yard David +helped Madge, Phil and the twins out of the doctor's buggy, looking more +surly and impossible than ever. A secret bitterness was surging in him. +Miss Betsey had promised to give him steady work at "Chestnut Cottage" +all summer. Now she was going away on a trip with a lot of silly girls. +Once again he was to be balked in the cherished desire of his life. In +his bitterness of heart he pretended he had never seen Madge before.</p> + +<p>"I would like to talk to you, David, after we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> have seen Miss Taylor," +said Madge in a friendly fashion to the scowling youth. "I won't take up +much of your time."</p> + +<p>David walked away without making any reply, which angered the girl, and +as she walked into the house she began to feel rather sorry that she had +tried to play Good Samaritan to such a churlish fellow.</p> + +<p>To-day Miss Betsey really wished to make a good impression on Madge and +Phil. She was as anxious that they should like her as the girls were to +please the queer old lady. Miss Betsey was waiting for her guests in her +prim, old-fashioned parlor. The dim light from the closed green blinds +was grateful after the brilliant sunshine of the warm July day. On a +little, spindle-legged mahogany table were tall glasses of fruit +lemonade and a plate of assorted cakes.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey surveyed Madge Morton with keen, curious eyes. She already +knew Phil. But before she trusted her life to these girls she wished to +take their measure. Madge's appearance as she emerged from under the +overturned buggy had not been prepossessing. To-day Miss Betsey would be +able to judge her better. As she scrutinized the little captain she was +not altogether pleased with Madge's looks. She preferred Phil's dark, +serious face. There was too much ardor, too much warm, bright color<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +about Madge in her deep-toned auburn hair and the healthy scarlet of her +lips. Madge breathed a kind of radiant impulse toward a fullness of life +that was opposed to Miss Betsey Taylor's theory of existence. Still, she +could find no objection to the young girl's manner. Madge was so shy and +deprecating that Phil could hardly help laughing at her. What would Miss +Betsey think later on, when the little captain had one of her attacks of +high spirits?</p> + +<p>Miss Taylor asked so many questions about the houseboat that Phil was +kept busy answering her. Madge spoke only in monosyllables, her +attention being devoted to the twins. The cake and lemonade having been +disposed of, these two tiny persons kept wriggling about the drawing +room in momentary peril of upsetting the tables and chairs.</p> + +<p>"Miss Taylor," broke in Madge suddenly, in her usual, unexpected +fashion, "if you don't mind, I think I will take the little girls out +into your back garden. I wish to speak to your boy, David. I have asked +our friend, Tom Curtis, to take David to help him with his motor boat +during our trip. I hope you don't mind?"</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey caught her breath. She was startled by the suddenness of +Madge's suggestion, as she was to be many times during her acquaintance +with that young woman. Then Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> Betsey looked dubious. "Take David +with us?" she faltered. "I don't advise it. It was good of you, child, +to think of it, and it would be a wonderful opportunity for the boy. But +I am obliged to tell you that David is not trustworthy. He spends too +many hours alone, and refuses to tell anybody what he is doing. Make him +confide in you, or else do not take him away with us. I'll try to find +something for the boy to do nearer home."</p> + +<p>Madge thought she caught a gleam in Miss Betsey's eyes that revealed a +goodly amount of curiosity about David's secret occupations, as much as +it did interest in his welfare. She made up her mind that she would not +pry into poor David's secrets simply because she had a chance to offer +him the opportunity to make his living during the summer.</p> + +<p>Holding Dot by one hand and Daisy by the other, Madge appeared at the +half-open barn-door, her eyes shining with friendliness.</p> + +<p>David was working fiercely. He hated the cleaning of the barn, so he +chose to-day to do it as an outlet for his foolish feeling of injury.</p> + +<p>"David," exclaimed Madge, "I must call you that, as I don't know your +other name, I would like to speak to you." There was no hint of +patronage in Madge's manner. She was too well-bred a young woman either +to feel or to show it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> She really felt no difference between herself +and David, except that the boy had never had the opportunities that had +been hers.</p> + +<p>But David never turned around to answer her. "Speak ahead," he answered +roughly. "I'm not deaf. I can hear what you've got to say to me in here +all right."</p> + +<p>Madge colored angrily. A sound temper had never been her strong point. +She had almost forgotten how angry she could be in the two peaceful +weeks she had spent with Phil. The hot blood surged to her cheeks at +David's rude behavior. The boy had gone on raking the hay into one +corner of the barn.</p> + +<p>"I certainly shall not speak to you if you can't treat me courteously," +she answered coldly. She took the little girls by the hands and walked +quietly away from the barn. The babies protested. Their black eyes were +wide with interest at the sight of "the big boy." They wished to stay +and talk to him.</p> + +<p>David put his hand to his throat when Madge was out of sight. He felt as +though he were choking, and he knew it was from shame at his own uncivil +behavior to the girl who had treated him in such a friendly, gentle +fashion. David Brewster was a queer combination. He was enough of a +gentleman to know he had treated Madge discourteously, but he did not +know how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> to apologize to her. He glanced around the yard.</p> + +<p>Madge had taken the twins and was seated with them under a big apple +tree in the back yard. She was making them daisy and clover chains, and +she seemed completely to have forgotten the rude boy.</p> + +<p>David walked up behind the tree. If Madge saw or heard him, she gave no +sign. She was putting a tiny wreath of daisies on Daisy Alden's head and +crowning Dot with a wreath of clover.</p> + +<p>"Miss," said a boy's embarrassed voice, "I know I was rude to you out in +the barn. I am sorry. I was worried about something and it put me in a +bad temper. Do you feel that you would be willing to speak to me now?" +he asked humbly.</p> + +<p>Madge's face cleared. Yet she hesitated. She was beginning to fear that +she would be unwise to mention Tom's proposition to David. She knew that +Tom Curtis, with his frank, open nature, would have little use for an +ugly-tempered, surly youth on board his motor boat. Had she any right to +burden Tom with a disagreeable helper?</p> + +<p>But David seemed so miserable, so shy and awkward, that Madge's heart +softened. Again she felt sorry for the boy, as she had done at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> her +first meeting with him. Whether for good or evil, she made up her mind +that David should accompany them on their houseboat excursion.</p> + +<p>"Sit down, won't you, David?" she asked gently.</p> + +<p>David sat down shyly, with his torn hat between the knees of his patched +trousers while Madge explained the situation to him. She told him that +she and Phil felt sorry that they were making him lose his place by +taking Miss Betsey away. She said that Tom Curtis needed some one to +help him with his motor boat, and that he was willing to take David with +him if he would be faithful and do the work that Tom required of him. +"Mr. Curtis will give you five dollars a week and your expenses if you +would care to make the trip with us," concluded Madge.</p> + +<p>She was silent for a second. Her eyes were on the pretty twin babies, +who were chasing golden-brown butterflies on the grass just in front of +them, and screaming joyously at their own lack of success.</p> + +<p>"Didn't you hear me, David?" inquired Madge a trifle impatiently.</p> + +<p>The boy's face was working. His eyes were brimming with tears. He was +bitterly ashamed of them and tried to rub them off with his rough +coatsleeve. Then he said in a low voice:</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>"You mean that you got your friend to consent to take a fellow he knew +nothing about on a motor boat trip way down in Virginia, and just for +the little work that I can do on his boat? I can't understand it. You +see, I've never been twenty miles out of Hartford, and nobody thinks I +am much good around here. I know you have done this for me just because +you didn't want me to lose my job with Miss Betsey. I could see you were +sorry for me the other night, when I couldn't help showing that I cared. +Gee-whiz! I wonder how I will ever be able to pay you back?"</p> + +<p>Madge laughed. She could see that David had forgotten her and was +thinking and talking aloud.</p> + +<p>"You've paid me back already," she declared, smiling. "Didn't you help +pull me out from under the buggy the other day? You may have saved my +life. If old Prince had really tried to run away I might have been +killed. Please don't be grateful to me. You aren't obliged to be +grateful to any one, though, if you must, why, you can thank Tom Curtis. +It is his motor boat that is to tow our houseboat and take us on our new +adventures. He is a splendid fellow and I know you will like him. I am +sure you will get along nicely with him."</p> + +<p>"I'll do the best I can to be worth my keep.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> You won't be sorry you +told your friend Mr. Curtis to take me along," he said huskily.</p> + +<p>"It may not be easy for you all the time," added Madge, feeling that she +ought to give David some good advice. "There will be four or five young +men on board the motor boat, and they may all ask you to wait on them. +But I must not preach. I am dreadfully afraid I shall never be able to +get on with your cousin, Miss Taylor. You must tell me how to manage +her; because, if she and I were to quarrel, it would spoil the whole +houseboat trip. I have a very bad temper. I must go back to the house +now. Phil and Miss Betsey will wonder what has become of me. But where +are those children?" Madge sprang to her feet. The twins had been before +her eyes only a few seconds before. Now they had completely disappeared!</p> + +<p>David ran toward the barn. Madge searched the yard frantically. The +children had not returned to the house.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span><a name="iv" id="iv"></a>CHAPTER IV<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE SEARCH</small></h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 8px;"> +<img src="images/quote.png" width="8" height="7" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="cap">WHERE can they be, David?" asked Madge anxiously. "Do you suppose they +have run away?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing can possibly have happened to the children in such a few +moments. We will find them. They are probably hiding somewhere to tease +you."</p> + +<p>But though he made a systematic hunt about the yard, he did not find +them.</p> + +<p>"Dot! Daisy!" called Madge, "it's time to go home. If you'll only come +here, I will tell you the nicest fairy story you ever heard."</p> + +<p>Madge did not go into the house at once to tell Phil and Miss Betsey of +the disappearance of the children. She would surely discover them and it +was not worth while to worry Phil. But although she argued within +herself that nothing serious could have happened to the babies, she had +a premonition of disaster. Only a moment before they had been chasing +butterflies. It would seem as though a wicked hobgoblin had come up out +of the ground and carried them off.</p> + +<p>Next to Miss Taylor's back yard there was another field enclosed by a +low stone wall. It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> would have been easy work for Dot and Daisy to crawl +over it, and Madge knew their propensity for getting into mischief. +David and Madge clambered hastily over the wall into the field. It was +an open one, covered with low, waving grass, where the presence of even +little four-year-old girls could be seen at a glance.</p> + +<p>The conviction that the children had been mysteriously kidnapped began +to grow upon Madge. Yet Miss Betsey Taylor's home was a quarter of a +mile distant from any other house, and neither David nor Madge had seen +any sign of a tramp. The little captain made up her mind that she <em>must</em> +tell Phil. It was no longer fair to keep her chum in the dark. Phil must +assist in the search for her sisters.</p> + +<p>"Don't be frightened," consoled David, interpreting the look of fear in +Madge's eyes. "I promise to find the children for you."</p> + +<p>Madge went into the house with slow, dragging steps. She tried to hide +her fright, but her face betrayed her. She was utterly wretched. She had +come, uninvited, to visit her best friend, and Phil's father and mother +had treated her as though she were another grown-up daughter. Now, as a +reward, she had lost their beloved babies. For, if Madge had not been +talking with David, Dot and Daisy would never have run away from her and +disappeared.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>Phyllis sprang to her feet when she caught sight of Madge. She had been +wondering why her chum had not come in. One look at Madge's white face +was enough to convince her that something serious had happened.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry so, Madge," comforted Phil, when the girl had stammered out +her story, "I'll find those children. Nobody has run off with them. +Don't you know that getting themselves lost and frightening people +nearly out of their wits is the thing that Dot and Daisy love best in +the world?"</p> + +<p>Phyllis and Madge ran out of the parlor together, followed more slowly +by Miss Betsey, who was not at all sure that she relished so much +excitement. Phyllis Alden did not realize how thoroughly Madge and David +had looked for the lost babies before her friend had brought the news to +her. If she had, Phil would have been more alarmed.</p> + +<p>David determined to discover the missing children before Madge returned +to the yard. But where else should he seek for them? With a swift +feeling of horror, the boy thought of one more possible place. If his +surmise should prove true! Poor Madge! David thought of her with a +sudden flood of sympathy. Instinctively he realized, after his short +acquaintance with her, that she was the type of person who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> would never +recover from such a sorrow as the loss of these children would be.</p> + +<p>While David thought he ran. He hoped to make his investigation before +Madge and Phil could come into the yard.</p> + +<p>Several rods back of the barn in Miss Taylor's back garden there was a +disused well which had been closed for several years. A few days before +Miss Betsey had sent for a man to have this well reopened. The man had +not finished his work. He had gone away, leaving the well open with only +a plank across it.</p> + +<p>But David was not allowed to inspect the place undiscovered. Madge and +Phyllis were not long in finding him. "Look in the barn, won't you?" +David called back to the girls. "The children may be hiding under the +hay."</p> + +<p>Phyllis slipped inside the barn door. But Madge had ransacked the barn +too thoroughly to believe that there was a chance of finding the babies +there. Besides, she had seen David Brewster's face. He was pale through +his sunburn, so she left the barn to Phil and followed at his heels.</p> + +<p>"You've an idea what has happened to the children. Please tell me what +you think," she pleaded.</p> + +<p>The boy shook his head resolutely. "Don't ask questions, I've no time to +talk," he answered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> rudely. Yet David did not mean to be unkind. He only +knew that he could not face the look in Madge's eyes should his +suspicion prove true. Besides, there was no time to waste. Already they +must have waited too long to save the children if the little ones had +fallen down the old well.</p> + +<p>Instantly David knew. The plank that had lain across the well had fallen +over on one side. The children must have stepped on this plank and gone +down. David dropped flat on his stomach and peered over into the hole. +"Look out!" he cried sharply to Madge, she was so near him.</p> + +<p>Madge felt herself reel. The air turned black about her and the earth +seemed slanting at her feet, miles and miles away. A feeling of deathly +nausea crept over her. Then she pulled herself together. There might yet +be hope, and there was surely work to be done. She dropped on the ground +beside David.</p> + +<p>As they knelt side by side on the edge of the well they heard a little, +weak, moaning cry, and straining their eyes distinguished faintly the +tops of two curly heads. Madge uttered a cry of relief. As nearly as she +could judge, the babies were standing upright in the well with their +arms about each other. They were nearly dead with fright and +suffocation, but the wonderful instinct of self-preservation had made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +them continue to keep on their feet. There was not more than a foot of +water in the bottom of the well, and Madge believed that the fall had +not seriously hurt them.</p> + +<p>"Dot! Daisy!" called Madge, trying to speak in natural tones.</p> + +<p>Daisy turned a pair of big black eyes to the little light that shone +above her. Hanging over the edge of the well she spied her Madge and +stretched both tiny arms upward.</p> + +<p>"You tumbled into a big hole, didn't you, dears?" soothed Madge +cheerfully, although she was trembling. "Stand up just a moment longer, +won't you, darlings? Madge is right here and she will not go away. We +will have you out of that dark place in a minute."</p> + +<p>David had disappeared after his first glance at the children. Madge felt +absolutely sure that he would be able to get the babies out of the well +within the next few moments. She did not know how and she didn't think. +It was her part to keep up the children's courage. Somehow she knew that +this strange boy, of whom everybody spoke ill, would justify the curious +confidence she had placed in him from their first meeting.</p> + +<p>When David returned he brought with him Phil, Miss Betsey, and Jane, the +cook. He carried a small clothes basket in his hand with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> handles at +either end and a great coil of heavy rope.</p> + +<p>Turning to Madge he said, "One of us must go down in the well. Shall I +go, or will it be better for me to draw up the basket? I am the +strongest."</p> + +<p>For answer Madge took hold of the rope. "Let me go," she begged.</p> + +<p>"It is my place," demurred Phyllis, with a white face.</p> + +<p>"Phil!" Madge's eyes said all she could not speak. It was her fault that +Dot and Daisy had fallen into the well. Could she not be allowed to risk +herself to save them?</p> + +<p>Phyllis stepped back. During this brief exchange of words David had not +been idle. He had knotted his rope securely about Madge's waist.</p> + +<p>Over the side of the old well he had seen many loose bricks and open +places. With him above to steady her, a plucky girl could manage to +climb down the side of the well with small danger to herself.</p> + +<p>Madge slipped the rope around one arm. If she fell, she might, with +David's assistance, be able to drop down sailor fashion.</p> + +<p>She dared not glance down as she began the descent, finding open spaces +for her feet and hands along the brick wall. "Steady, steady!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> she +could hear David's voice cheering her, as foot by foot he let out more +of his rope.</p> + +<p>David had not trusted to his own strength alone. The rope he guided was +in Phil's hands and also those of Jane, the cook.</p> + +<p>When Madge was within two feet of the bottom of the well she jumped and +gathered little Dot, who had toppled over, in her arms. Daisy was still +standing, although she tottered and clung to her rescuer's skirts.</p> + +<p>"Let down the basket quickly!" cried Madge. Like a flash the basket +swung down. The little captain made haste to lift poor Dot into it. The +basket had a rope tied on the handle at each end. Madge could see that +David had replaced a heavy plank across the mouth of the well, and that +he sat astride it, so as to be able to draw up the basket without +striking it against the sides of the well.</p> + +<p>Madge took little Daisy in her arms and cuddled her head on her +shoulder, so she should not see what was taking place. "Shut your eyes, +baby," she pleaded. "We'll soon be out of this dark old place."</p> + +<p>Daisy did not answer. The wreath of daisies with which Madge had crowned +her little head still hung loosely down among her black curls.</p> + +<p>It seemed ages before Dot was safely landed on the ground and gathered +in Phil's arms.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> During that time Madge had never ceased comforting +Daisy. But when the basket descended for the second time Daisy refused +to get into it. She was too frightened. She clung desperately to Madge +and would not unloosen her fat arms from about the girl's neck.</p> + +<p>What was to be done? The little captain was afraid to put Daisy in the +basket while the little girl fought and struggled. She would probably +fling herself out in her fright and be badly hurt. It was almost a +miracle the way in which the two babies managed to fall straight down in +the well without striking against the sides.</p> + +<p>"Can't you coax her, Phil?" asked Madge in desperation. "She is +determined not to go into the basket."</p> + +<p>But all Phyllis's efforts to persuade her baby sister to return to terra +firma via the basket route proved unavailing. Daisy kicked and screamed +at the slightest attempt on Madge's part to put her into the basket.</p> + +<p>"If you will bring a ladder and lower it into the well I believe I can +climb up with Daisy on my back," proposed Madge faintly. The strain was +beginning to tell upon her.</p> + +<p>"I'll have one down in ten seconds," called David cheerily.</p> + +<p>He was back to the edge of the well almost instantly with a long ladder +that he had spied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> leaning against a fruit tree. He cautiously lowered +it to the waiting girl.</p> + +<p>Madge tested it to see that it was firm, then, setting Daisy down, she +bent almost double.</p> + +<p>"Climb on Madge's back, dear. Daisy must be very brave. Then we'll go +up, up, up the ladder to Sister Dot. Put your arms around Madge's neck +as tightly as ever you can," directed the little captain.</p> + +<p>The novelty of the situation appealed to Daisy and she fastened her fat +little arms about poor Madge's neck in a suffocating clasp. Slowly but +surely, in spite of the hampering embrace, Madge climbed steadily to the +top, to be met by the firm, reassuring grasp of David's strong hands.</p> + +<p>Phil lifted the clinging Daisy from Madge's tired back. The little +captain staggered and would have fallen but for David, whose hand on her +elbow quickly steadied her.</p> + +<p>Then the boy of whom Miss Betsey entertained such unpleasant suspicions, +the "ne'er-do-weel" of the community, took charge of the situation with +a dignity that surprised even Madge, who believed in him.</p> + +<p>"I think it will be best for me to notify Dr. Alden of what has +happened. I will telephone him, then drive over and bring him back. It +will be better not to let Mrs. Alden know that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> the children fell into +the well. Dr. Alden can look them over. As your mother is recovering +from a long illness, she must not be worried or frightened. What do you +think of my plan, Miss Alden?"</p> + +<p>Phyllis quite approved of the suggestion. She looked at David almost +wonderingly. Was this resolute, self-contained young man the surly, +unapproachable boy she had always disliked to encounter when calling +upon Miss Betsey? She awoke to a tardy realization that whatever faults +David Brewster possessed, they were merely on the surface, and that at +heart he was a good man and true. And although David never knew it, on +that day he made another friend whose friendship was destined to prove +as faithful as that of Madge Morton.</p> + +<p>That night as the two chums, wrapped in their kimonos, were having a +comfortable little session together before going to bed, Phyllis said +thoughtfully, "Do you know, Madge, I think David Brewster is splendid. I +am afraid I have misjudged him."</p> + +<p>"Phil," said Madge with conviction, "David is a man, and I am sure he is +good and true at heart, no matter how gruff he may seem on the surface. +I asked Tom to take him with us on the trip, and now that he has +consented to go, I feel as though I were responsible for him. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> know +Miss Betsey believes him to be sneaking and undependable. So far, +however, I have seen nothing about him that looks suspicious, and I do +not believe him to be a sneak. I trust David now, and I am going to keep +on trusting him."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span><a name="v" id="v"></a>CHAPTER V<br /> +<br /> +<small>PULLING UP ANCHOR FOR NEW SCENES</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">A MOTOR boat ploughed restlessly about near the broad mouth of the +Rappahannock River. It flew a red and white pennant, with the initials +of the owner, "T. C.," emblazoned on it. The name of the boat, "Sea +Gull," was painted near the stern. It was a trim little craft with a +fair-sized cabin amidships and was capable of making eight knots an hour +at its highest speed.</p> + +<p>"Toot, toot, toot, chug, chug, chug!" the whistle blew and the engine +thumped. The captain stood with his hand on the wheel, gazing restlessly +out over the water.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what can have happened?" muttered Tom Curtis impatiently. +"Here it is, as plain as the nose on your face: the 'Merry Maid' with +four houseboat girls, a chaperon and one other passenger, will join the +'Sea Gull' at the entrance to the Rappahannock River on the southern +side of the Virginia shore near Shingray Point, on August first, at ten +A.M." Tom looked up from the paper he was reading. "We have the time and +the place all right, haven't we, fellows? But where are the girls?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>"Cheer up, old man!" Jack Bolling clapped Tom on the shoulder. "A +houseboat is not the fastest vessel afloat. Who knows what kind of tug +the girls have had to hire to get them here? And a woman is never on +time, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"We'll be in luck if the houseboat gets here by to-night, Curtis," +argued Harry Sears, another member of the motor boat crew of five +youths. "Do slow down; there is no use ploughing around these waters. We +had better stay close to the meeting place. It's after twelve o'clock; +can't we have a little feed?"</p> + +<p>"Here, Brewster, stir around and get out the lunch hamper," ordered +George Robinson. "We must all have something to sustain us while we wait +for the girls."</p> + +<p>David Brewster's face colored at the other's tone of command, but he +went quietly to work to obey.</p> + +<p>"David," interposed Tom Curtis, "come put your hand on this engine for +me, won't you? I will dig in the larder if Robinson is too tired. I know +where the stores are kept better than you other chaps do, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Tom Curtis is a splendid fellow," thought David gratefully. "Miss +Morton was right. He doesn't treat one like a dog, just because he has +plenty of money."</p> + +<p>David Brewster and Tom Curtis had traveled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> down from New York to +Virginia together. Their fellow motor boat passengers they had picked up +at different points along the way. David had come to understand Tom +Curtis pretty well during their trip—better than Tom did David. But +then, Tom Curtis was a fine, frank young man with nothing to hide or to +be ashamed of. David had many things which he did not wish the public to +know.</p> + +<p>The houseboat party had arranged to join one another in Richmond. From +there they were to go by rail to a point up the Chesapeake Bay, where +the "Merry Maid" had been kept in winter quarters since the houseboat +trip of the fall before. A tug was to escort the houseboat to the mouth +of the Rappahannock River, where they were to meet Tom and his motor +launch.</p> + +<p>Phyllis Alden had accompanied Madge to "Forest House," so the two girls +and Eleanor were not far from Richmond. Miss Jenny Ann Jones and Lillian +had come from Baltimore together. But Miss Betsey Taylor took her life +in her own hands and traveled alone. She carried only the expenses of +her railroad trip in her purse. But in a bag, which she wore securely +fastened under her skirt, Miss Betsey had brought a sum of money large +enough to last her during the entire houseboat trip, for when a maiden +lady leaves her home to trust herself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> to a frisky party of young +people, she should be prepared for any emergency. Miss Betsey also bore +in her bag a number of pieces of old family jewelry, which she wore on +state occasions.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<p>When luncheon time passed and there was still no sign of the "Merry +Maid," Tom Curtis could bear the suspense of waiting no longer.</p> + +<p>"Something has happened, or the girls would have been here before this," +he declared positively. "Bolling, I am going to leave you and Sears to +wait here in the rowboat. I am going to look down the coast."</p> + +<p>"All right, old man," agreed the other boys. They did not share Tom's +uneasiness. Indeed, as the "Sea Gull" headed down the coast, the three +men on board her heard Harry Sears shouting an improvised verse:</p> + +<div class="poemblock2"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="io">"Where, oh, where, is the 'Merry Maid'?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What wind or wave has her delayed?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our hearts are breaking, our launch is quaking,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fear and despair are us overtaking,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where, oh, where——"<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>The rest of this remarkable effusion was lost to their ears as they +glided along.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>"It is rather strange that we haven't picked them up yet, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>David Brewster said nothing. He was always a silent youth. With Tom's +telescope in his hand he stood eagerly scanning the line of the coast as +the motor launch ran along near the shore.</p> + +<p>"Ho, there!" he cried. "What's that? Look over there!"</p> + +<p>Tom shut off speed and hurriedly seized the spy-glass.</p> + +<p>There, apparently peacefully resting on the bosom of the water, was an +odd craft, gleaming white in the afternoon sun. Tom Curtis at once +recognized the "Merry Maid."</p> + +<p>No one on board the houseboat noticed the approach of Tom's motor launch +until he blew the automatic whistle. Then, with one accord, the four +girls rushed to one side of the boat. They made frantic signals, then +all began to talk at the same time.</p> + +<p>"What's up? Where's your tug?" demanded Tom. "Here you are, as peaceful +as clams, while we have been scouring the coast for you."</p> + +<p>"Don't scold, Tom," laughed Madge, "and don't refer to us as clams. We +are stuck in the mud. Our wretched little tug brought us too near the +shore, piled us up here and then went away two hours ago for help. We +were so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> afraid you would go on without us. What can we do?"</p> + +<p>While the girls talked Tom, Jack and David had been quietly at work. +They had secured the houseboat to the launch by means of their towing +ropes. Tom put on all speed. His motor launch tugged and strained +forward. The "Merry Maid" did not move. She was a fairly heavy craft, +with her large cabin and broad beam. Miss Betsey Taylor and Miss Jenny +Ann joined the crowd of anxious watchers on the houseboat deck. Instead +of gliding up a peaceful river, gazing at fruitful orchards and lovely +old Virginia homesteads through the oncoming twilight, the houseboat +crew would have to remain ignominiously on a sand bank until a larger +boat came along to pull her off.</p> + +<p>Tom tried again. Once more the "Sea Gull" went bravely forward—the +length of her towing rope.</p> + +<p>The girls were almost in tears. Suddenly Madge laughed. Eleanor and +Lillian looked at her reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"I don't see anything to laugh at," expostulated Eleanor.</p> + +<p>"I don't either, Nellie," agreed Madge. "We ought to cry, we are such +geese. Tom! David!" she cried. "You have never pulled up our anchor. Of +course we can't get off the sand bank.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> We forgot to tell you that the +captain on the little tug anchored us here to keep us from drifting +away. I am so sorry."</p> + +<p>In a little while Tom Curtis's motor launch, followed by the "Merry +Maid," entered the Rappahannock from the Chesapeake Bay. It was Tom's +intention to tow the houseboat along several of the Virginia rivers +during their vacation. It looked as though they might have a peaceful +excursion with nothing to mar its serenity. But there were five boys and +four girls aboard the boats, besides the two older women.</p> + +<p>The voyagers did not journey far the first day. It was about sundown +when they came along shore near a wonderful peach orchard and it was +here that they decided to spend the night. The crew of the "Merry Maid" +entertained the crew of the "Sea Gull" at dinner, the young folks +spending the evening together. As Tom was about to bid Madge good night +she said almost timidly, "Thank you so much, Tom, for being so good to +David. I hope he hasn't disappointed you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, he is all right," replied Tom. "He is a queer fellow, though; never +has much to say. He has asked me to let him have an hour or so to +himself every day that we are on shore. Of course, it is only fair for +him to have the time, but why does he wish to go off by himself?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>"I don't know." Madge shook her head disapprovingly. Then she adroitly +changed the subject, but she could not help hoping that David would not +incur the displeasure of the boys by his mysterious ways. It looked as +though the boy she had determined to trust was to prove very +troublesome.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span><a name="vi" id="vi"></a>CHAPTER VI<br /> +<br /> +<small>WANDERLUST</small></h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 8px;"> +<img src="images/quote.png" width="8" height="7" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="cap">MISS JENNY ANN, I don't think I can endure her," declared Madge +mournfully.</p> + +<p>It was late afternoon. The houseboat was gliding serenely along the +river bank. Several yards ahead of her puffed the motor launch. Harry +Sears and George Robinson were in the kitchen of the houseboat, helping +Lillian and Eleanor wash the dinner dishes. Phil sat comfortably in the +motor launch, having her usual argument with Jack Bolling. Tom Curtis +was steering his launch, with a cloud over his usually bright face. +David Brewster was looking after the engine. He was silent and sullen. +But unless he was at work this was his ordinary expression.</p> + +<p>"You can see for yourself, Miss Jenny Ann," continued Madge, her lips +trembling with vexation, "that nothing I can do pleases Miss Betsey. I +am just as polite to her as I know how to be, but she just hates me. +According to what she says, everything that goes wrong is my fault. I +have a great mind to leave the houseboat and let you and the other girls +take the trip. It isn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> much fun for the rest of the party to have Miss +Betsey and me quarrel all the time. It is unpleasant for everyone, isn't +it?"</p> + +<p>Miss Jenny Ann did not answer. Madge caught hold of her impulsively.</p> + +<p>"Do scold or preach, whichever you like, Jenny Ann," she pleaded, "but +please answer me. It is not polite to be so silent."</p> + +<p>"What is it now?" Miss Jenny Ann inquired teasingly.</p> + +<p>The little captain's face sobered. "It isn't a little thing this time, +like my putting the sheet on Miss Betsey's bed wrong side up. It's very +important. Miss Betsey says," whispered Madge in Miss Jenny Ann's ear, +although they were standing some distance away from any one else, "that +nearly every day for the past week some of her money has disappeared out +of her wretched old money bag. Not very much at a time. First she +noticed that three dollars had gone, then five, and now it's ten. She +seems to think that I ought to know how it happens. She doesn't want to +worry you about it. Of course, I know she is mistaken," cried Madge +indignantly. "She just does not know how much money she had. There +hasn't been a single person on this boat this whole week except our +party."</p> + +<p>Miss Jenny Ann looked serious. "Does Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> Taylor suspect any one?" she +asked carelessly, not glancing at Madge.</p> + +<p>Madge's cheeks reddened. "Miss Betsey says she does not suspect any one, +but she spoke darkly of poor David Brewster. She says he never took +anything that she knows of when he was on her farm, but that his father +was almost a tramp. He came up to New England from goodness-knows-where, +and every now and then he disappears and is gone for months at a time. +Miss Taylor believes that when Tom ties up our boats in the afternoons, +and David goes off and leaves everybody, it is his vagabond blood +showing in him. Isn't it cruel to make the poor fellow responsible for +his father's sins? I am going to stand up for him through thick and +thin. Coming, Miss Betsey," answered Madge cheerfully, in response to a +call from the tyrannical old spinster.</p> + +<p>Miss Jenny Ann remained by herself a few moments longer. She wondered +why Miss Taylor required more attention from poor Madge than she did +from any of the other girls. It was certain that she liked her least. +But Miss Jenny Ann shrewdly suspected that prim Miss Betsey thought that +their impetuous captain needed discipline and had set herself to +administer it to her. About David Brewster Miss Jenny Ann was more +worried. She did not like<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> the lad. No one did. He was the discordant +element in their whole party. Lillian and Eleanor fought shy of him. +Phyllis was kind to him but had little to say to him, and the boys in +the motor launch, except Tom, treated him with a kind of scornful +coolness. The boy was neither a gentleman nor a servant. It was small +wonder that generous-hearted Madge championed him. Miss Jenny Ann +understood, from Madge's allusion to David's father, one reason why +Madge was kind to the boy.</p> + +<p>Miss Jenny Ann Jones and Miss Betsey Taylor shared one of the houseboat +staterooms. The four girls, to their great joy, bunked together in the +other.</p> + +<p>It was exactly a half hour before Miss Betsey would let Madge come out +on deck again. She wished her money carefully counted and a new place +discovered for concealing it. Madge was strangely patient, for she had +had a long talk with Dr. Alden before she left Hartford. He had told her +that she would have a good deal to bear from Miss Betsey. Yet, if she +wished to give the pleasure of the houseboat trip to her friends and to +herself, she must remember the tiresome old adage, "What is worth having +is worth paying for." So far Madge had paid with little grumbling.</p> + +<p>This afternoon, as she <a name="reappeared" id="reappeared"></a><ins title="original had re-appeared">reappeared</ins> on deck,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> her red lips were +pouting and her cheeks were a deeper color. Her resentment against Miss +Betsey was at its height.</p> + +<p>No one noticed the little captain standing alone on deck. Usually she +would have thought nothing of it, but this evening she was tired and +cross. It did not seem fair for her to have to take all the trouble with +their houseboat boarder on her shoulders. She could hear Lillian, +Nellie, Harry Sears and George Robinson singing on the upper deck of the +little houseboat. Phyllis was talking busily to Jack Bolling and did not +even glance over toward Madge from her seat on the launch. Madge knew +that Tom was angry because she had not joined him in the motor boat +earlier in the afternoon, when the boats had put in to the shore. She +had not been able to go on account of Miss Betsey, but she certainly had +no intention of explaining anything to Tom. He could think what he +chose.</p> + +<p>The two boats were in the habit of landing several times during a day's +cruise. Ordinarily they went ashore just before sunset, and the boys and +girls had their dinner together in some sequestered place. They then +spent the night with the houseboat and motor boat at anchor. But this +evening it was so lovely, gliding along the face of the river, with its +hills on one side and meadows and orchards on the other, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> Miss +Jenny Ann requested Tom not to land until just about bed-time.</p> + +<p>Madge stood looking at the sunset for a few minutes. There was nothing +to do and no one wished to talk to her. She would go to bed. A little +later she tumbled into her bed and shed a few tears, she was so sorry +for herself. She did not waken until the other three girls came in for +the night at about ten o'clock.</p> + +<p>"Is there anything the matter, Madge?" whispered Phil before she crept +into the berth above her chum. "We missed you dreadfully."</p> + +<p>Madge gave Phyllis a repentant kiss. She knew that she had been absurd. +But now that Phyllis had awakened her, she could not go back to sleep +again. It was a hot August night, with a moon almost in the full. Not a +breath of air was stirring along the river. The moonlight shone through +the little cabin window, flooding the room with its radiance. Madge felt +that if she could only get a breath of air, she might be able to go to +sleep. Just now she was suffocating. Yet the other girls were breathing +gently. She slipped softly into her clothes, put on a long light coat, +tucked her hair under a boy's cap and stole silently out on the +houseboat deck. All was solemn and still. She was the only person awake +on either of the two boats. An almost tropical heat made the moon look +red and ominous.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> Madge was oppressed by its mysterious reflection on +the water. The shore seemed peaceful, deserted. She went noiselessly +down the gang plank. She walked up and down the bank, keeping the boats +in sight. However, the shore was not quiet. The ceaseless hum of the +August insects set her nerves on edge.</p> + +<p>"Katy did, Katy did," the noise was insistent. To Madge's ears the name +was transposed. "David did, David did," it rang. Yet she did not really +believe that David had stolen Miss Betsey Taylor's money. If not David, +who else? Surely the money could never be found in the new hiding place +where she and Miss Taylor had stored it that afternoon. It was quite +secure from thievish fingers.</p> + +<p>It was lonely along the river bank. The sudden hooting of an owl sent +her flying toward the houseboat. She waited a second before going +aboard. The "Water Witch" was floating peacefully on the water, tied to +the rail of the "Merry Maid!"</p> + +<p>All at once the passionate love which Madge felt for the water, that she +believed to be an inheritance, woke in her. It was wrong and reckless in +her, yet the desire to be alone out there on the river was +uncontrollable. She went swiftly to their little rowboat, and without +making a single unnecessary sound she rowed straight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> out into the +moonlight that streamed across the water.</p> + +<p>No one heard her or saw her leave the shelter of the two boats. Only +David, who was also awake, thought for an instant that he caught the +splash of a pair of oars skimming past the motor launch. He supposed it +to be some idle oarsman who lived along the river, and he never glanced +out of his cabin window.</p> + +<p>Madge rowed for more than an hour in the golden moonlight, meeting no +one. A cool breeze sprang up. Her restlessness, impatience and suspicion +passed away. She felt that she would like to move on forever up this +silent river, near her well-loved Virginia shores. It never dawned upon +her how far she had gone, or that she might be missed, or that the river +would be dark when the moon went down. Neither did she consider that she +was not familiar with the spot where the houseboat and motor boat were +anchored. Tom had chosen the landing place for the night after she had +gone into her stateroom.</p> + +<p>For a long time Madge rowed on, regardless of time. She was dreaming of +her own father. To-night she felt that she would find him. The night +seemed trying to convey to her the message, "He lives."</p> + +<p>It was nearly one o'clock when the moon went<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> down. Madge felt, rather +than saw, the darkness on the water. She was so oblivious to time that +she believed for a few minutes that the moon had only gone behind a +cloud. At last she realized that it was now time for her to turn back. +She had been rowing in the middle of the river, where the water was +deep, and she was unfamiliar with the line of the shore. Yet she knew +that here and there along either bank of the river there were shoals and +shallow places where rocks jutted out of the water. Once or twice Tom +steered them past places in the river where there were falls and swift +eddies in the current. Now she awoke to the fact that she was in danger. +She could go down the river in the center of the stream as she had come +up. But in the black darkness she could not pull in close to the river +bank without nearing perilous places. Yet, unless she kept near the +shore, how could she ever spy either the houseboat or the motor launch?</p> + +<p>Madge rowed slowly and cautiously along. She tried to keep at a safe +distance from the land while she strained her eyes for a glimmer of +light that might come from either one of their boats. She was growing +tired, for she was beginning to feel the effects of her long row. Her +arms and back ached. All at once she became stupidly sleepy. She +wondered dimly what on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> earth Miss Jenny Ann and the girls would do if +they discovered that she had disappeared. What would Miss Betsey Taylor +think of her now, when she learned that she, Madge Morton, had gone out +on the river alone at night without a word to any one?</p> + +<p>Madge sleepily pulled on her oars. She wished that she had persuaded +Phil to come out on the water with her. Now the loneliness of the +deserted river began to oppress her. She could have fallen over in the +boat from sheer exhaustion. Through the darkness she suddenly saw a +flickering light. Thank goodness, she was home at last! The light came +from the left bank of the river, where their boats were moored. Madge +rowed joyfully toward it. A little further in she saw that the light was +on land. She had seen only its reflection in the water.</p> + +<p>After another half hour's steady pulling Madge believed that she must +have passed by their boats. Surely she could not have gone so far up the +river as she had rowed down. She turned her boat and began to retrace +her way, then drew in a few yards nearer the shore. Danger or no danger, +she must not pass the houseboat by again. She wondered if she would have +to stay out on the water until the dawn came to show her the way home. +She would have to cease rowing and let the boat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> drift. She was too +tired to keep on. She was growing so drowsy. All at once the "Water +Witch" trembled violently. It gave a forward leap in the dark and went +downward. Madge was thrown roughly forward. But she kept a firm grasp on +her oars. She could not see, yet she knew exactly what had happened. Her +boat had gone over some falls in the river. There was nothing for her to +do but to try to stay in her boat. The "Water Witch" might overturn, or +else right herself, at the end of her downward plunge.</p> + +<p>The little skiff did neither. At the end of the falls she was caught in +a swift whirlpool. Crouched in the boat, with her teeth clenched and her +eyes watching the white spray that she could see even in the darkness, +Madge felt her boat rotate like a wheel. She had never let go her oars. +Now she braced herself with all her strength and gave one forward, final +pull. The "Water Witch" leaped ahead. It was safely out of the eddy and +in the current. But Madge's oar struck against a rock. It snapped in two +and the lower half went floating with the stream. There was a grating +sound, then she felt her boat ground between two rocks and stick fast.</p> + +<p>Ahead the river seemed to gurgle and splash alarmingly. There might be +other falls and whirlpools in her course. Madge had sense<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> enough to +know when she was beaten. If she pushed out from the rocks, where her +boat was caught, with her single oar, she might find herself in far +worse danger. She was grateful that the "Water Witch" had run aground.</p> + +<p>Madge lay down in the bottom of her boat. She would wait until the +daylight came and see what was best to be done. She did not mean to go +to sleep, for she realized her peril. She idly watched a single star +that shone through the clouds, then her heavy eyelids closed and she +fell asleep to the sound of the water beating against the side of her +skiff.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span><a name="vii" id="vii"></a>CHAPTER VII<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE RESCUE</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">WHEN Madge opened her eyes the sun was shining into them. It was already +broad daylight. Her boat was no longer held fast between rocks. In the +night it had made its own way out and had floated toward the land. It +was now only a few yards from the shore. With her one oar Madge pushed +herself gently toward land.</p> + +<p>Hills rose up along the river bank. The farmhouses lay farther back, she +supposed. Certainly she had not the faintest idea where she was. The +hills were thickly covered with scrub oaks and pines. She had not landed +in a friendly spot. It was far more deserted than any place that she had +ever noticed along the Rappahannock. At least, so she thought in the +gray dawn of the August morning. Yet she knew that there were plenty of +kind people who would be glad to help her if she could get over the +hills to their homes.</p> + +<p>From the appearance of Madge's clothes she might easily have been +mistaken for a tramp. Her long coat was wet to her ankles and her shoes +and stockings were muddy. She had long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> since lost her little cap and +her hair was rough and tumbled from her night's sleep in the boat, while +her face was white and haggard. Instead of following the line of the +river, where she was sure to find some life stirring in another hour or +so, Madge foolishly pushed up over the hill. She did not find a path, so +she might have guessed that she was off the beaten track. She must have +walked up the hill for half a mile when she saw a sight that at last +gave her hope. An old, broken-down horse was tethered to a tree, eating +grass. Surely he was a sign-post to some human habitation farther on.</p> + +<p>Madge spied a cornfield to the left of her, though some distance off. +She knew that the Virginia farmers cultivated the low hills for their +crops, and that she was near some house. She sniffed the fresh morning +air. A delicious odor wafted toward her, the smell of boiling coffee, +which came from the thickest part of the hillside, away to the right of +the cornfield.</p> + +<p>Madge made straight for it. She had to push aside branches and +underbrush, and the place was farther off than she supposed, but she +found it at last. Seated on the ground before a small fire was an old +woman, the oldest the little captain had ever seen. She was +weather-beaten and brown, withered like a crumpled autumn leaf. She was +roasting something in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> fire and muttering to herself. A little +farther on a man was drinking coffee from a quart cup. They were +rough-looking people to come across in the woods. But Madge knew that in +the harvest season many tramps and gypsies traveled about through +Virginia, living on the crops of the fruitful land. They were usually +harmless people, so she felt no fear of the strangers. They had no tent, +but a few logs with branches over them formed a sort of hiding place.</p> + +<p>"Please," began Madge timidly, "will you tell me where I am?"</p> + +<p>The man sprang up and rushed toward her with a big stick in his hand. He +seemed not so angry as frightened. The little captain's appearance +disarmed his suspicions. He dropped his stick to the ground. The strange +girl was a gypsy or tramp herself.</p> + +<p>"Will you give me some coffee?" asked Madge pleadingly. She was +beginning to feel weak and faint.</p> + +<p>With the instant hospitality of the road the man passed Madge his own +quart can. She took it, shuddering a little, but she was too thirsty to +hesitate. She held the cup to her lips and drank. Then she went over and +dropped down on the ground by the side of the old woman, who, although +her eyes were fastened on the girl, had never ceased to mutter to +herself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> Madge began telling the story of her night's adventure.</p> + +<p>"I haven't any money with me," she declared as she finished her story, +"but if the man will get an oar and take me down the river to my +friends, I will pay him whatever he thinks is right. I dragged my +rowboat up on the shore not very far from here. I must return to my +friends at once."</p> + +<p>The old woman looked at the man questioningly. Madge's eyes were also on +him. It did not dawn on her that the fellow could have any reason for +refusing her simple request.</p> + +<p>The man shook his head doggedly. "I can't row," he announced.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that does not matter," replied Madge. "If you will get me an oar +and come with me, I can do the rowing. I am rested now."</p> + +<p>The man grunted unintelligibly, then went on with his breakfast. He paid +no further attention to Madge. The old woman continued her curious +muttering.</p> + +<p>"Won't you try to find me an oar?" asked Madge again.</p> + +<p>The man shook his head. His face darkened with anger.</p> + +<p>"Then I might as well leave you," declared Madge haughtily. "If you are +so unaccommodating, I will look for some one else." She<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> struggled +wearily to her feet to continue her search. Her body still ached with +the fatigue.</p> + +<p>"Don't be rough with her," the old crone spoke from behind Madge.</p> + +<p>The young girl felt her arms roughly seized and drawn back. She was +forced to the ground. She struggled at first, but she was powerless. The +man took a small rope and bound her feet together so that she could not +move them. The ropes were not tight. The fellow did not wish to hurt +her, but merely to prevent her getting away.</p> + +<p>"You can't leave this place by day, Miss," he announced quietly. "I +can't have anybody following you back here and running me down. When +night comes I'll let you go."</p> + +<p>Madge bit her lips. Night! Once more she must wander alone in the +darkness in a vain search for her lost friends. What would they think if +a day, as well as a night, passed with no sign of her?</p> + +<p>Her big blue eyes were dark with grief and protest. "Please let me go," +she entreated. "I promise, on my honor, that I will never show any one +your hiding place, or say that I have seen you. I must get back to my +friends, they will be so frightened." She was shaking with terror and +anger, but she struggled to keep back her tears. Surely the man must +relent and let her go back to the houseboat.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>He turned away without paying the least attention to her demands. +Creeping under the pile of underbrush, he lay so still that no one would +have dreamed that a human being was concealed there.</p> + +<p>It came over poor Madge, at first dully, then with complete conviction, +that the man whom she had come upon in the woods was a fugitive from +justice—an outlaw hiding from the police.</p> + +<p>Madge flung herself down in the warm, soft grass. For the first time in +the seventeen years of her life she cried without any one to care for or +comfort her. Until to-day Eleanor, her uncle or aunt, or one of her +chums—some one—had always been near at hand to soothe her grief. Madge +knew that her own recklessness had got her into this predicament. She +had deserved some of the punishment. But she thought, as a great many +other people do, that she was being judged more severely than her fault +merited.</p> + +<p>"Here, child," a voice said not unkindly, "bathe your face and eyes. +There's no use crying. We don't mean you no harm. Only you have got to +wait here."</p> + +<p>Madge sat up; the old woman, who looked like an aged gypsy, was handing +her a dirty basin filled with a small supply of river water. The woman +evidently went about and got what was necessary for the existence of the +man and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> herself. At other times she kept guard over his hiding place.</p> + +<p>Madge bathed her tired eyes and face. She was glad to have the use of +her hands. She even managed to smile gratefully when the woman offered +her a piece of cornbread and an ear of roasted corn.</p> + +<p>She resolved to summon all of her courage and endurance to her aid. She +would not plead or argue again. She would wait patiently until the long +day had passed. Perhaps Tom or David or one of the other boys would see +her skiff on the beach and come to her aid.</p> + +<p>The morning went by. No one spoke or moved. Only once the man crawled +out from under the brush for food and water. Then he stole back again.</p> + +<p>Madge grew more tired with every hour. It was hard to have to sit still +so long in one place, so she lay down on the grass. She did not go to +sleep, but was drowsy from the heat and fatigue.</p> + +<p>The old woman came over to where she lay and stood looking at her sadly. +Her pretty white face, with its crown of sun-kissed hair, gleaming with +red and gold lights, her brilliantly red lips, brought back to this +ugly, time-worn crone the memory of her own youth. Madge always caused +other women to think of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> their own youth, she was so radiant, so full of +faith and enthusiasm. It was partly because of this that Miss Betsey +Taylor disliked her. Her own springtime had been prim and narrow. She +had wasted the years that Madge was living so abundantly, and +unconsciously Miss Betsey envied Madge.</p> + +<p>The little captain saw the old gypsy's little, beady eyes fixed on her. +She tried to sit up, but found herself too tired to do so. The woman +dropped down near her and lifted her up. She had a pack of dirty cards +in her hand. "Want your fortune told, honey?" she asked. "Then cross my +palm with gold." The crone looked narrowly at the single gold seal ring +that Madge wore. It had been a gift to her from her three houseboat +chums.</p> + +<p>Madge shook her head. "No, thank you," she answered politely, then +listened for the sound of approaching footsteps. She looked up toward +the crest of the hill. "'From whence cometh my strength'," she thought +to herself. But she could not see or hear any one. The little spot where +she was held a prisoner was surrounded with heavy shrubbery and walled +in with ancient trees that had grown on the Virginia hillside for +centuries.</p> + +<p>The woman ran the cards through her withered hands. "Better let me tell +your fortune;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> never mind the gold." She shook her head and muttered so +mysteriously that Madge's cheeks flushed.</p> + +<p>"I see, I see," the gypsy crooned, "many hearts in your fortune, but as +yet few diamonds. And here, there, everywhere there is mystery. You are +always seeking something. I can't tell whether it is a person, or +whether you are only looking for happiness. But you are very restless." +For a long time after this the old woman said nothing more. She sighed +and mumbled to herself. Two or three times she went over her pack of +cards. Madge watched her in fascination.</p> + +<p>"Now I see a light-haired and a dark-haired man. They will come together +when you are older. One of them will bring diamonds and the other +spades. Neither are for you, not at first, not at first. I see water all +about you and a fortune in the sea. But be careful, child, be careful. +Go slow and——"</p> + +<p>Madge was no longer interested. "There is always a dark man and a light +one in everyone's fortune," she thought wearily. "What a silly old +woman, and what utter nonsense she is talking! Oh, if you would only let +me go away from this place?" she begged aloud.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 385px;"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs02.jpg" width="385" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">David Came to Her Rescue.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>At some distance off there was an unmistakable sound of people coming +through the woods. Madge's heart leaped within her. She gave one glad +cry, when the gypsy woman clapped both hands over her mouth. Madge +fought the woman off. She cried out again. The man crept from his hiding +place, half dragging, half pulling Madge behind a thick cluster of +trees, keeping his coarse, heavy hand over her mouth.</p> + +<p>Madge heard Phyllis Alden's and David Brewster's voices, yet she could +not call out to them for aid.</p> + +<p>She saw some one pull aside the low branch of a tree, then David's face +appeared, discolored with anger as he caught sight of her. Before the +man who had seized her could strike at the boy David had grasped him by +both shoulders and hurled him to the ground.</p> + +<p>Whipping out his knife David cut the cords that bound Madge and raising +her to her feet, placed one arm protectingly around her. Her captor had +also risen and stood glowering at David without offering to attack him. +The boy's rage was so terrifying that even this hardened lawbreaker +quailed before it.</p> + +<p>"We didn't mean any harm," mumbled the old woman. "You know us, boy. You +know we wouldn't hurt the young lady. You won't say you saw us, will +you?"</p> + +<p>But ignoring her question David turned to help Madge back to her +friends.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span><a name="viii" id="viii"></a>CHAPTER VIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE MOTOR BOAT DISASTER</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">IT was Miss Betsey Taylor who had first discovered Madge's absence. Just +before daylight she awakened with the feeling that some one had stolen +into her stateroom, for she was dreaming of her lost money. Miss Betsey +sat straight up in bed and looked about her small cabin. There was no +one to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Miss Betsey," called Miss Jenny Ann from the berth above, "what is the +matter?" Nor would Miss Jones go back to sleep until she had explored +the houseboat thoroughly.</p> + +<p>As she stole into the next cabin where the girls slept she noticed that +Madge was not in her bed. She must have heard the same noise that had +disturbed Miss Betsey, and gone to investigate the cause. But Miss Jenny +Ann could not ascertain the cause of the noise nor did she find Madge on +the decks. She aroused Phil and they sought for her together. Then +Eleanor and Lillian joined them, and Miss Betsey, a prey to curiosity, +came forth to find out what all the commotion was about.</p> + +<p>It took a very brief space of time to examine the entire houseboat. The +girls held the lanterns<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> and scurried about, calling "Madge!" It seemed +incredible that she did not answer.</p> + +<p>Tom was the first of the boys on the motor launch to be disturbed by the +unusual sounds from the "Merry Maid." His first thought was fire. With a +cry to the other boys on the "Sea Gull" he rushed to the houseboat. But +the appearance of the five young men, who had come to join in the search +for the lost Madge, merely added to the confusion. They tumbled over one +another, and as they were half asleep, most of them did not know what or +whom they were looking for.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Brewster," commanded Tom Curtis, "it is absurd to think that +Miss Morton can be anywhere near and not have heard us. It may be she +became restless and went for a little walk on the shore; let us look +there."</p> + +<p>David and Tom crept along the river bank, their eyes turned to the +ground. They detected Madge's footprints leading away from the launch +and then returning to the houseboat. The revelation only added to the +mystery.</p> + +<p>There was one thought in the minds of the seekers. Could Madge have +walked in her sleep and fallen over into the water? The river was +shallow along the bank, but she might have been borne by the current out +into the stream. It did not seem a very probable idea. But then,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> no one +had any possible explanation to offer for the little captain's vanishing +into the night like this. No one had yet seen that the rowboat, too, was +missing.</p> + +<p>It was an hour after the first alarm, and daylight was beginning to +dawn, when Phyllis Alden heard a noise from Miss Betsey's stateroom. She +went in, to find the old lady seated on her trunk wringing her hands. +She had been awake so long that she was tired and querulous. Her +corkscrew curls were carefully arranged and she was fully dressed. Her +head was bobbing with indignation. "I am perfectly willing to confess +that I am worried about that child," she announced to Phyllis. "But I +knew, as soon as I set my eyes upon her, that wherever Madge Morton went +there was sure to be some kind of excitement. It may not be her fault, +but——" Miss Betsey paused dramatically. "And your father, Phyllis +Alden, was a great goose, and I an even greater one, to trust myself on +this ridiculous houseboat excursion. A rest cure! Good for my nerves to +be among young people!" Miss Betsey fairly snorted. "I shall be a happy +woman when I am safe in my own home again!"</p> + +<p>Phyllis hurried into the galley and came back with a glass of milk for +the exhausted old lady. "Come, take a walk around the boat with me,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +Miss Betsey," she invited comfortingly. "We can't do anything more to +find Madge until the morning comes."</p> + +<p>Phil was always a consolation to persons in trouble, she was so quiet +and steadfast. She wrapped Miss Betsey in a light woolen shawl and +together they walked up and down the little houseboat deck. Phyllis kept +her eyes fixed on the shore. Madge had surely gone out for a walk and +something had detained her. Her loyal friend would not confess even to +herself the uneasiness she really felt.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey and Phil stood for a quiet minute in the stern of the "Merry +Maid," watching the morning break in a splendor of yellow and rose +across the eastern sky. Not far away Miss Jenny Ann was talking to +several of the boys, with her arms about Eleanor and Lillian.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey Taylor glanced down at the mirroring gold and rose of the +water under her feet.</p> + +<p>"My gracious, sakes alive, it has gone!" she exclaimed, pointing a +trembling finger toward the river.</p> + +<p>"What has gone, Miss Betsey?" inquired Phil. "Don't tell us that +anything else besides Madge has vanished."</p> + +<p>"But it has," Miss Betsey Taylor insisted. "Where is that little rowboat +that you girls<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> call the 'Water Witch,' that is always hitched to the +stern of this houseboat? I saw it last night just before I went to bed. +Wherever that child has gone the boat has gone with her."</p> + +<p>Everyone crowded around Miss Betsey and Phyllis. Tom and David returned +from their search on the shore. "I am sure I don't know what it all +means," declared Miss Jenny Ann in distracted tones.</p> + +<p>"Don't worry so, Miss Jenny Ann," protested Phil. "It only means that +runaway Madge went out for a row by herself on the river last night +after we went to bed." And Phil's voice was not so assured. "Something +must have happened to keep her from getting back home. We shall just +have to look along the river until we find her."</p> + +<p>Tom was already aboard his motor launch. It took only a few moments to +get his engine ready for service. "Come on, Sears and Robinson," he +cried, "you can help me by being on the lookout for Miss Morton while I +run the boat. I'll go from one end of the Rappahannock to the other +unless I find her sooner."</p> + +<p>"Let me go with you, Tom, please do," pleaded Eleanor, looking very wan +and white in the morning light. "It's too dreadful to wait here on the +houseboat with nothing to do."</p> + +<p>Tom nodded his consent. He was too busy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> to waste time in conversation. +So Harry Sears helped Lillian and Eleanor to the cabin of the "Sea +Gull."</p> + +<p>Tom put on full speed, heading his launch up the river. He had been the +captain of his own boat for several years. To-day he was unusually +excited. The speed limit of his boat was eight knots an hour. Tom tested +his motor engine to the extent of its power as he dashed up the river, +the water churning and foaming under him.</p> + +<p>Eleanor, Lillian, Harry and George looked vainly up and down the shore +for a sign of Madge. Tom was going so fast they could see nothing.</p> + +<p>"Do, please, go a little slower, Tom," begged Eleanor. "We shall never +find Madge at the rate you are traveling."</p> + +<p>It was morning on the river. The river craft were moving up and down. +Steamboats carrying freight and heavy barges loaded with coal made it +necessary for Tom to steer carefully.</p> + +<p>The "Sea Gull" slowed down. Every now and then Tom would put in +alongside another boat to inquire if a girl in a rowboat had been seen. +No one gave any news of Madge.</p> + +<p>After gliding up the Rappahannock for ten miles, and finding no trace of +the lost girl, Tom decided she must have rowed down stream instead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> of +up. So the "Sea Gull" turned and went down the river.</p> + +<p>The launch's engine was not in the best of humors. It may not have liked +being roused so early in the morning, and David Brewster was not by to +tend it under Tom's careful directions. Every now and then the gasoline +engine would emit a strange, whirring noise. Harry Sears, who was +watching the engine, heard it lose a beat in its regular rhythmical +throb. "See here, Tom," he called suddenly, "something is wrong with +this machinery. I can't tell what it is."</p> + +<p>Harry had spoken just in time. The motor launch stopped stock still in +the middle of the river. Tom flew to his beloved engine. "Don't worry," +he urged cheerfully, "I'll have her started again in a few seconds."</p> + +<p>Tom kept doing mysterious things to the disgruntled engine. The two boys +and Lillian watched him in fascinated silence. Eleanor was not +interested. They were only a few miles from the houseboat, and she +wondered if Madge could possibly have returned home.</p> + +<p>Eleanor stepped out of the little cabin of the launch toward the fore +part of the boat. Drifting down toward them, directly ahead and in their +straight course, was a line of great coal barges, three or four of them +joined together, with a colored man seated on a pile of coal, idly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +smoking and paying little heed to where his barges were going. It was +the place of the smaller boats to get out of his way. The barges could +only float with the current.</p> + +<p>But the "Sea Gull" was stock still and there was no way to move her.</p> + +<p>"Tom!" Eleanor cried quietly, although her face was as white as her +white gown, "if we don't get out of the way those coal barges will sink +us in a few minutes. You will have to hurry to save the 'Sea Gull'."</p> + +<p>Tom sprang up from his work at the engine. Eleanor was right. Yet his +motor engine was hopelessly crippled. He could not make it move.</p> + +<p>"Get to work with the paddle, Robinson, and paddle for the shore for +dear life," he commanded, seizing the other oar himself. Tom was a +magnificently built fellow, with broad shoulders and muscles as hard as +iron. He never worked harder in his life than he did for the next few +minutes. The girls and Harry Sears watched Tom and George Robinson in +anxious silence. The coal barges were creeping so near that the "Sea +Gull" was in the shadow they cast.</p> + +<p>The two boys had to turn the launch half way around with their paddles +before her nose pointed to the land. The man on the coal barge was +shouting hoarse commands when the side of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> the first barge passed within +six inches of the stern of Tom's launch.</p> + +<p>Tom wiped the perspiration from his face. "I think I had better take the +girls to land," he decided. "Then we can find out what is best to be +done."</p> + +<p>"Your automobile boat's busted, ain't it?" inquired a friendly voice as +the entire party, except Tom, piled out of the launch to the land.</p> + +<p>A colored boy of about eighteen was standing on the river bank grinning +at them. He held a piece of juicy watermelon in his hand.</p> + +<p>Eleanor and Lillian eyed it hungrily. They suddenly remembered that they +had had no breakfast.</p> + +<p>"The young ladies had better come up to my ole missus's place?" the boy +invited hospitably. "They look kind of petered out. I spect it will take +some time to fix up your boat."</p> + +<p>The entire company of young people looked up beyond the sloping river +bank to the farm country back of it. There, on the crest of a small +hill, was a beautiful old Virginia homestead, painted white, with green +shutters and a broad, comfortable porch in front of it. It looked like +home to Eleanor. "Yes; suppose we go up there to rest, Lillian," pleaded +Eleanor. "If Tom can't get his engine mended, we can row back to the +houseboat in a little while."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>David Brewster and Phyllis Alden had not waited quietly on the "Merry +Maid" while Tom and his launch party went out in search of Madge.</p> + +<p>Five minutes after the "Sea Gull" moved away David left the houseboat +and went on shore.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going, David?" called Phyllis after him.</p> + +<p>"I am going to look for Miss Morton along the river bank," he answered +in a surly fashion. "Anybody ought to know that if an accident happened +to her rowboat, the boat would have drifted in to the land."</p> + +<p>"I am going along with David Brewster, Miss Jenny Ann," announced Phil. +"It's mean to leave you and Miss Betsey alone, but I simply can't stay +behind."</p> + +<p>David's face grew dark and sullen. "I won't have a girl poking along +with me," he muttered.</p> + +<p>"You will have me," returned Phyllis cheerfully. "I won't be in your +way. I can keep up with you."</p> + +<p>At first David did not pay the least attention to Phyllis, who kept +steadily at his heels. Phyllis could not but wonder what was the matter +with this fellow, who was so strange and taciturn until something +stirred him to action.</p> + +<p>Only once, when Phil stumbled along a steep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> incline, David looked back. +"You had better go home, Miss Alden," he remarked more gently. "I'll +find Miss Morton and bring her to you." And Phil, as Madge had been at +another time, was comforted by the boy's assurance.</p> + +<p>"I am not tired," she answered, just as gently, "I would rather go on."</p> + +<p>At one o'clock David made Phyllis sit down. He disappeared for a few +minutes, but came back with his hands full of peaches and grapes. He had +some milk in a rusty tin cup that he always carried.</p> + +<p>"Did some one give this to you?" asked Phil gratefully.</p> + +<p>David shook his head. "Stole it," he answered briefly. Phil, who could +see that David was torn with impatience for them to resume their march, +ate the fruit and drank the milk without protest.</p> + +<p>It was about four o'clock in the afternoon, when David spied the "Water +Witch," drawn up on the river bank out of the reach of the water. Some +unknown force must have led him to Madge's hiding place in the woods.</p> + +<p>Afterward he made no explanation either to Phyllis or Madge of his +unexpected acquaintance with the man who had kept Madge a prisoner, and +neither girl asked him any questions.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>David managed to get the "Water Witch" out into the river with the +single oar, and a party of young people in another skiff, seeing their +plight, brought them safely home to the houseboat.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span><a name="ix" id="ix"></a>CHAPTER IX<br /> +<br /> +<small>LEAVING THE HOUSEBOAT TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF</small></h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 8px;"> +<img src="images/quote.png" width="8" height="7" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="cap">I SHOULD dearly love it," declared Eleanor.</p> + +<p>"I think it would be a great lark," agreed Lillian.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure you would like it, Miss Betsey?" asked Phyllis and Miss +Jenny Ann in the same breath.</p> + +<p>"I certainly should," Miss Betsey asserted positively.</p> + +<p>Madge was unusually silent. She had been in such deep disgrace since her +escapade, both with Miss Taylor and Miss Jenny Ann, that she felt she +had no right to express her opinion in regard to any possible plan. But +her eyes were dancing under her long lashes, which she kept discreetly +down.</p> + +<p>Miss Taylor had just suggested that, in view of the fact that Tom Curtis +was obliged to take his motor launch to the nearest large town to have +it repaired, and their excursion up the river must cease for a time, the +houseboat party desert the river bank and spend ten days or more farther +inland.</p> + +<p>George Robinson had offered to go back with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> Tom. David Brewster +expected to do as he was ordered, but Harry Sears and Jack Bolling +positively refused to give up their holiday. And there was no room for +them on the houseboat.</p> + +<p>Eleanor and Lillian had come back from the old farmhouse, where they had +spent the day before, filled with enthusiasm. Mr. and Mrs. Preston were +the most delightful people they had ever met. Their house was filled +with the loveliest old mahogany and silver, and they had no visitors and +no family. Eleanor was sure that, if she begged her prettiest, Mrs. +Preston could be persuaded to take them all in her home until Tom came +back with his motor launch.</p> + +<p>"You see, Jenny Ann," entreated Eleanor, with her hands clasped +together, "every year Mr. Preston has the most wonderful entertainment. +He told us all about it. In August he gives what he calls 'The Feast of +the Corn.' All the country people for miles around come to it. He asked +me to bring every member of our party over for it at the end of the +week. It's just like Hiawatha's feast. Do let's ask them to take us in, +if only for a little while."</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey Taylor's New England imagination was fired. The house that +Eleanor described was just such a Virginia home as she had dreamed of in +her earlier days. She must see it. Also, Lillian had related the story +of a wonderful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> sulphur well not many miles from the Preston estate. +Miss Betsey was sure that sulphur water would be good for her nerves.</p> + +<p>Two days later the entire party stood out on the deck of the "Merry +Maid" to see Tom and George Robinson start off with their broken-down +motor launch before the rest of the party moved over to wait for them at +the Preston farm.</p> + +<p>"I am so sorry, Tom," apologized Madge, with her eyes full of remorse. +"It is really my fault that you will have to miss this part of our +holiday. I wish I could go back with the boat instead of you. Can't you +send David and stay here with us?"</p> + +<p>Tom shook his head. He was ashamed of his previous grumbling. "Of course +not. It wasn't your fault. The engine would have broken down just the +same if I hadn't been searching the river for you. But I must see to its +being mended myself, and Robinson is a brick to go along with me. I +shall have no use for Brewster. Perhaps, after all, we may be able to +get back in time for the Indian feast. Good-bye, Madge."</p> + +<p>A few minutes after the launch was seen moving back down the river, +being ignominiously towed by an old horse, the same gay craft that had +proudly advanced up the stream only a few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> days before with the "Merry +Maid" in her wake.</p> + +<p>The houseboat party waved Tom and George a sad farewell, and then +promptly forgot almost all about them in the excitement of moving their +clothes and a few other possessions up to the farm, Eleanor having +persuaded the Prestons to take them for a few days as boarders.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Preston drove down in her own phaeton to take Miss Betsey and Miss +Jenny Ann home with her. A farm hand came with a wagon for the trunks. +But the young people decided to walk. The Preston house was only two +miles away from the houseboat landing. Sam, the colored boy, who had +been Lillian's and Eleanor's original guide to the farm, had been +engaged to show them the way.</p> + +<p>The houseboat party formed a gay procession. None of the four girls wore +hats. Lillian and Eleanor, who took some care of their complexions, +carried pink and blue parasols to match their linen gowns, but Madge and +Phil bared their heads to the sun, as did Harry Sears, Jack Bolling and +David.</p> + +<p>Sam lugged a lunch basket, which Mrs. Preston had sent down to the +party; and David, who kept in the rear, carried a dress suit case that +had accidentally been left behind.</p> + +<p>Most of the road ran past meadows and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> orchards, with few houses in +sight. The ripening fruits made the air heavy with their summer +sweetness. David was shy and silent, as usual, but the others were in +gay humor.</p> + +<p>Beyond a broken-down rail fence Phil espied a tree laden with luscious +peaches. Farther on, past the orchard, she could just catch the outline +of a house.</p> + +<p>"Let's get some fruit, Jack?" Phil suggested to Bolling, who was walking +with her. They both climbed over the fence.</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute, everybody," Phil called. "Wouldn't you like to go up to +the old house back there to ask for some water. I am nearly dead, I am +so thirsty."</p> + +<p>"Don't go in that thar place," Sam entreated, turning around suddenly, +his brown face ashen, "and don't eat them peaches. The house is a ha'nt +and them peaches is hoodooed."</p> + +<p>Eleanor and Madge burst into peals of laughter. The other young people, +who were not Southerners, smiled and stared.</p> + +<p>"What is a hoodoo, Sam?" Harry Sears, whose home was in Boston, inquired +teasingly.</p> + +<p>Sam scratched his head. "I can't splain it," he announced. "But you'll +know a hoodoo all right if it gets hold of you. That young lady and +man'll sure have bad luck if they eat them peaches. Nobody'll touch 'em +around here."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>"A hoodoo is a kind of wicked charm, like the evil eye, Harry," Madge +explained, her eyes twinkling. "All we Southerners believe in it, don't +we, Sam? Go and warn Miss Alden and Mr. Bolling, David. They must not +bring bad luck on themselves without knowing it." Madge had not meant to +order David Brewster to do what she wished; she merely requested him to +take her message, as she would any one of the other boys.</p> + +<p>David looked stolidly ahead and made Madge no answer. He was in a black +humor. He had reasons of his own for not wishing to stay near the place +where he had discovered Madge. He had hoped that Tom would take him down +the river in the motor launch, but Tom had believed that he was doing +David a favor by allowing him to remain with the others to enjoy the +holiday on the farm.</p> + +<p>"Don't you hear Miss Morton, Brewster?" shouted Harry Sears angrily. +"She told you to tell Miss Alden something." Harry Sears was always +particularly disagreeable with David. To-day his anger seemed justified.</p> + +<p>A wave of crimson swept over David's brown face. He looked as though he +would have liked to leap on Harry Sears and throw him into the dust. +Only the presence of the girls and Madge's quick action deterred him.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>"Never mind anybody telling Phil and Jack," she added quietly. "It's too +late to save them now. Besides, I want a peep at Sam's 'ha'nted house' +and a drink of water from the ghost's well. So follow me, good people, +if you are not afraid."</p> + +<p>Phyllis and Jack Bolling led the way to the haunted house, as the place +had been their discovery. The old house had been a beautiful one in its +day. It was built of shingles that had mellowed to the beautiful shade +of gray that only time can give. The front door hung loosely on its +hinges. Spider-webs obscured the windows, with their narrow diamond +panes of broken glass. Rank weeds grew everywhere and poison ivy hung in +long branches from the ancient trees. To the left, where the old garden +had once been, there was a glory of scarlet poppies and cornflowers +growing amid the weeds. Their triumphant beauty had repeated itself year +after year here in this neglected spot with no one to marvel at it. +Madge, Eleanor and Lillian gathered great bunches of the red and blue +flowers. Phyllis and Jack discovered the well, with its crystal cold +water. Harry Sears prowled about near the old house, with Sam at his +heels. The boy was frightened, but too faithful to desert his party. +David kept at some distance from the others.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>"Don't you think this a good place to eat the luncheon Mrs. Preston has +given us?" Harry called out, poised on the broken steps that led up to +the tumbled-down front porch. "The well is here to supply us with water +and I'm jolly hungry."</p> + +<p>The houseboat travelers formed a circle on the grass just in front of +the old house. Sam spread out the luncheon. It was a warm day, the +clouds hung low in the sky and the garden was humming with honey-full +bees.</p> + +<p>There was nothing mysterious about the place that Sam described as +"ha'nted," except that it was entirely deserted.</p> + +<p>Harry Sears reached out for a sandwich. "Tell us why this old house is +supposed to be inhabited by ghosts, Sam," he ordered.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span><a name="x" id="x"></a>CHAPTER X<br /> +<br /> +<small>A GHOST STORY</small></h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 8px;"> +<img src="images/quote.png" width="8" height="7" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="cap">IT all happened such a long time ago I can't zactly call to mind the +whole story," confessed Sam. "But they was two brothers that owned this +here old place. They was in the war and fought side by side. Then they +lived here together, peaceful, for a long time. One of them was married +and the other wasn't, but it didn't seem to make no difference. All of a +sudden they fell out, and after a while one of the brothers died, +mysterious like. The live man went away from here and he hasn't been +heard of since. But they do say," Sam shivered and looked fearfully at +the dilapidated mansion, "that the murdered man still walks around this +here place at night. People even claim to see him in the daytime. +Sometimes he is by himself, and then again he brings a lady-ghost with +him, but there ain't nobody ever lived in this here house since them two +brothers fell out," Sam concluded, mightily pleased with the gruesome +impression that his tale had made on his hearers.</p> + +<p>"I should think not," agreed Lillian Seldon hastily. "I don't like ghost +stories."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>"I am sorry, Lillian, because I know a perfectly stunning one that is as +true as history," declared Harry Sears. "If we had time, and Lillian +didn't mind, I was going to tell it to you while we rested."</p> + +<p>Madge put her arm around Lillian. "Do tell it, Harry," she begged. "I'll +protect Lillian from the 'ghosties.'"</p> + +<p>The other young people clamored for the ghost story.</p> + +<p>Harry looked serious. "My story isn't a joke," he announced. "It hasn't +a beginning or much of an end, like ordinary ghost stories, but it is +true. The people to whom the ghost appeared are great friends of my +mother and father. Somehow this deserted place here makes me think of +the one down on Cape Cod. That house was also uninhabited for years and +years, and no one knew exactly why, except that there were rumors that +the place was haunted. One day a Mr. Peabody, of Boston, an old friend +of ours, went down to Cape Cod to look for a home for the summer. The +ghost house was what he wanted, so he rented it and left orders for it +to be fixed up. He didn't know about the ghosts, though, and he wondered +why the real estate agent let him have the place so cheaply. Mr. Peabody +was a bachelor, so he asked two friends, Captain Smith and his wife,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> to +occupy the house with him for the summer."</p> + +<p>"Oh, trot out your ghosts, Harry. We are getting impatient," interposed +Jack Bolling.</p> + +<p>"The first day that Mrs. Smith was alone in the house," continued Harry, +"she was in the sitting room with the door open when a fragile old lady +passed right through the hall. She disappeared into space. That very +same night, just at midnight, when Mr. Peabody, Captain Smith and his +wife were in the library, they heard the fall of a heavy body upstairs +on the second floor. Captain Smith and Mr. Peabody rushed up the steps +just in time to see an old man, leading a young girl by the hand, enter +a room where the door was locked. When they got the door unfastened +there was no one in the room."</p> + +<p>"Harry, don't go on with that horrible tale," entreated Lillian, looking +timidly up at the dusty windows of the old house, under whose shadow +they had taken refuge. The sun was no longer shining brightly, but the +shade was grateful to the little circle of listeners on the grass.</p> + +<p>"Don't be such a goose, Lillian," protested Phil. "What have Harry's +Massachusetts ghosts to do with us way down here in 'ole Virginny'?"</p> + +<p>Lillian gave a shriek. The entire company sprang to their feet, +scattering sandwiches,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> cakes and pickles on the grass. Inside the empty +house there had been a distinct noise. Something had fallen heavily to +the floor.</p> + +<p>At the same instant David, who had been apart from the others, appeared +around the corner of the house.</p> + +<p>"Whew, I am glad it was you who made that racket, Brewster!" declared +Jack Bolling, grinning rather foolishly.</p> + +<p>The young people looked at one another with relieved expressions.</p> + +<p>"I'm so grateful it isn't night time," sighed Eleanor.</p> + +<p>"I didn't make any noise," declared David, seeming rather confused. No +one paid any attention to his reply. They were again clustered about +Harry Sears, begging him to go on with his ghost story.</p> + +<p>"Things went from bad to worse in the house I was telling you about," +continued Harry. "Every night, at the same hour, the same noise was +heard and the old man and the girl reappeared. Why, once Mr. Peabody was +sitting in his garden, just as we are doing here"—Harry glanced across +the old garden. Was it a branch that stirred behind the tangle of +evergreen bushes? The day was very still—"and he saw the same old man +walk by him and enter his house through a closed side door. After +awhile<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> Mrs. Smith became ill from the strain and she sent for a +physician who had been living in the neighborhood a long time. The +doctor did not wish to come to see Mrs. Smith just at first. When he did +he related his own experience in the same house years before. He had +just moved into the neighborhood, as a young physician, when one night, +at about midnight, he was aroused by some one ringing his bell. An old +man asked the doctor to come with him at once, as a young girl, his +grand-daughter, was dangerously ill. Dr. Block went with the old +gentleman. He found the young girl, dying with consumption, in a room on +the second floor of a house. An old lady was with her, but the doctor +saw no one else. He wrote a prescription, put it on the mantel-piece and +said he would come back in the morning."</p> + +<p>Harry stopped talking. A distant roll of thunder interrupted him.</p> + +<p>"Do hurry, Harry; we must be off!" exclaimed Jack Bolling.</p> + +<p>"The next morning the doctor went back to the same house. It was closed +and boarded up, and the caretaker told the physician that no one had +lived in the house for many years. The doctor was indignant, so the +caretaker opened the door and let Dr. Block into the house, so he could +see for himself that it was empty. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> hall was covered with dust, but +a single pair of footprints could be seen going from the hall door to +the bedroom on the second floor. The old man had left no tracks. The +physician entered the room, which was empty. There was no old man, no +old woman, no sick girl, not even a bed, but"—Harry made a dramatic +pause—"the doctor walked over to the mantel-piece and there lay the +prescription that he had written the night before!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my! Oh, my!" exclaimed Lillian. She was on her feet, pointing with +trembling fingers toward a window of the old house which was back of the +rest of the party. "I am sure I saw a face at that window," she cried. +"No one will believe me, but I did, I did! It was a girl's face, too, +very white and thin. Please take me away from here."</p> + +<p>Madge slipped her arms about the frightened Lillian. For an instant she +almost believed that she, too, had seen the specter that must have been +born of Lillian's overwrought imagination as a result of the ghost +stories she had just heard.</p> + +<p>Madge and Lillian led the way down the tangled path from the haunted +house. They were some distance from the others when the little captain +discovered that David was following them. She had not looked at him, not +spoken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> to him since he had so rudely refused her simple request.</p> + +<p>Now she walked on, with her head in the air. Lillian did not like David, +but now she was almost sorry for the boy: she knew the weight of Madge's +displeasure. "David Brewster wants to speak to you, Madge, dear," she +whispered in her friend's ear.</p> + +<p>Madge made no answer, nor glanced behind her.</p> + +<p>"Miss Morton!"—David's face was very white; he was bitterly ashamed—"I +am sorry, beastly sorry, I was so rude to you this morning. I was angry, +not with you, but about something else. I don't seem to know how to +control my temper. Perhaps it is because I am not a gentleman. I would +do anything I knew how to serve you." David was not looking at Madge, +but on the ground in front of him.</p> + +<p>Madge's expression cleared as though by magic. "Never mind, David," she +said impulsively. "Let's not think anything more about it. I lose my +temper quite as often as any one else. And don't say it is because you +are not a gentleman; you <em>are</em> a gentleman, if you wish to be."</p> + +<p>The other young people came hurrying on. The clouds were now heavy +overhead and the thunder seemed ominously near. The lightning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> began to +streak in forked flames across the summer sky.</p> + +<p>"I think everybody had better run for the farm," suggested Phyllis. "Sam +says it is only a short distance away."</p> + +<p>No one cared to linger any longer in the deserted grounds. The story of +the tragic old house, oddly mixed as it was with Harry Sears's ghostly +tale and Lillian's fancied apparition of a girl's white face at the +window, did not leave a pleasant recollection of the morning spent near +Sam's "ha'nted house."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span><a name="xi" id="xi"></a>CHAPTER XI<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE FEAST OF MONDAMIN</small></h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 8px;"> +<img src="images/quote.png" width="8" height="7" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="cap">MINNEHAHA, Laughing Water, otherwise known as Madge Morton, you are the +loveliest person I ever saw," announced Phyllis Alden, while Eleanor and +Lillian gazed at Madge in her Indian costume with equally admiring eyes.</p> + +<p>"See, here is the description of Minnehaha. Doesn't it sound like +Madge?" Phil went on, reading from a volume of Longfellow:</p> + +<div class="poemblock"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="io">"'Wayward as the Minnehaha,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With her moods of shade and sunshine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Eyes that smiled and frowned alternate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Feet as rapid as the river,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tresses flowing like the water,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And as musical a laughter.'"<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>Phyllis paused and Madge swept her a low curtsey. "Thank you, Phil," she +said, her blue eyes suddenly misty at her chum's compliment.</p> + +<p>It was the day of the great corn feast on the Preston estate, and Madge +had been selected<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> to appear in the costume of Minnehaha and to read to +the guests certain parts of Hiawatha that referred to the Indian legend +of the corn.</p> + +<p>All the young people were to appear in the guise of Indians. Phyllis, +with her olive skin, black eyes and hair, made a striking Pocahontas.</p> + +<p>Phil looked more like an Indian maiden than Madge, but Madge had more +dramatic skill. Lillian, with her hair as yellow as the corn, was the +paleface princess stolen by the Indians in her babyhood. Eleanor wore an +Indian costume, also, but she represented no especial character.</p> + +<p>Much against his will David Brewster impersonated Hiawatha. He hated it. +He did not wish to come to the entertainment at all, much less in the +conspicuous position of the hero of the evening. But Mr. Preston had +taken a deep fancy to David. He seemed not to mind the boy's queer, +moody ways, and he had a great respect for his practical judgment. Mr. +Preston had asked David to remain in his service when the houseboat +party disbanded, but David, for reasons that he would not tell, had +refused. The boy did not think he could decline to impersonate Hiawatha +when Mr. Preston considered that he had paid him a compliment in asking +him. In spite of his embarrassment David Brewster was a good +representation of a young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> Indian brave, with his swarthy skin, his dark +eyes that flashed fire when his anger was aroused, and his vigorous, +muscular body, made lean and hard by his work in the open fields.</p> + +<p>In the middle of the Preston estate, between the orchards and the +cornfields, a huge platform had been erected with a small stage at one +end. The place was decorated with sheaves of wheat, oats and barley, +with great stacks of green and yellowing corn standing in the four +corners. The platform was filled with chairs and hung with lanterns, +some of them made from hollowed-out gourds and pumpkins, to carry out +the harvest idea. After the reading of Hiawatha the platform was to be +cleared and the young people were to have a dance.</p> + +<p>The invitations to the feast read for six o'clock. At seven a dozen open +wood fires were roasting the green ears of corn for more than a hundred +guests. The long tables under the trees in the yard were laden with +every kind of delicious food.</p> + +<p>But Madge wished the feast was over and her poem read. Her knees were +knocking together when she rose to read before so many people.</p> + +<p>The August moon was in the full. It was a golden night. In a semi-circle +behind her crowded her friends from the houseboat party. They formed an +Indian tableau in the background,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> and David stood near her at the front +of the stage.</p> + +<div class="poemblock"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="io">"And in rapture Hiawatha<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cried aloud, 'It is Mondamin!'"<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p class="noi">read Madge, with a shy glance at the young Hiawatha standing beside her.</p> + +<p>At this moment there crept up on the platform an old woman, so old that +the audience stared at one another in amazement. They believed that the +strange visitor was a part of the performance. David and Madge knew +better. David's face turned white as chalk, but Madge's voice never +faltered as she went on with the reading:</p> + +<div class="poemblock"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="io">"'Yes, the friend of man, Mondamin!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then he called to old Nokomis'."<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>The old woman's presence was explained to at least those of the audience +who were familiar with the story of Hiawatha. The ancient gypsy woman +who had appeared on the stage among the young people so unexpectedly was +"old Nokomis," Hiawatha's grandmother, one of the principal characters +in Longfellow's poem.</p> + +<p>The moment that Madge finished her recitation David Brewster +disappeared. But the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> gypsy went about among the Prestons' guests, +keeping their attention engaged by telling their fortunes.</p> + +<p>The gypsy woman was not the only mysterious visitor at the famous corn +feast. Madge and Lillian were dancing with two young country boys when +two Indian braves unexpectedly appeared in the midst of the guests. They +had on extremely handsome Indian costumes and their faces were +completely covered with Indian masks. They spoke in strange, guttural +voices, so that no one could guess who they were.</p> + +<p>Madge and Lillian tried in vain to escape them. Wherever the girls went +the Indian chiefs followed them.</p> + +<p>As the evening progressed Madge grew very tired. The apparition of the +old woman, whom she had seen before on the day when she was held a +prisoner in the woods, had made her nervous. She longed to ask Phil if +she also recalled the face of the old woman.</p> + +<p>"Miss Jenny Ann," Madge kept a tight hold on Phil's hand, "Phyllis and I +are a little tired. We are going away by ourselves to rest. You and Miss +Betsey won't be frightened about us?" Madge gave her chaperon a +repentant hug and Miss Jenny Ann smiled at her. The little captain had +promised never to wander off again without saying where she was going.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span>The fires where the corn had been roasted were still burning dimly. The +girls made a circuit of the fires and went over into another nearby +field, where a haystack formed a good hiding place. There they dropped +down on the ground and Madge, who was more easily tired than Phil, laid +her head in her chum's lap.</p> + +<p>No matter how much Phyllis and Madge enjoyed parties and people, they +were never happier than when they could stroll off to have a quiet talk +with each other. The two girls were splendid associates. Phil had the +calm sweetness, poise and good sense that impetuous Madge often lacked, +while Madge had the fire and ardor that Phyllis needed to give her +enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>"I wish Tom and George Robinson were here at the farm to-night, Phil!" +exclaimed Madge, after a short pause, giving a little sigh.</p> + +<p>Phyllis looked at her chum closely. The moonlight shone full in Madge's +wistful blue eyes. Phil patted her hand by way of sympathy.</p> + +<p>"You see, Phil, it is like this," went on Madge. "I feel sorry about +Tom, because I was really responsible for making him break his engine +and spoiling a part of his holiday. If I had not run away by myself in +the moonlight, Tom might have been here with us. It seems to me that I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +am having a perfectly lovely time, while poor Tom is being punished for +my fault. It isn't fair."</p> + +<p>"Sh-sh!" Phyllis put her fingers gently over her friend's lips. Some one +was stealing quietly past them on the other side of the haystack. He +disappeared in the darkness, a little way off, and the girls supposed +that he was one of the Prestons' guests escaping from the crowd.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Phil exclaimed: "Madge, is that one of the fires +from the corn roast over there? I did not think that there was any corn +roasted so near to Mr. Preston's barn."</p> + +<p>Madge glanced idly across the field. The girls were at one side of the +group of buildings where Mr. Preston kept his live stock. She saw a tiny +jet of flame, apparently running along near the ground. Both watchers +stared at it silently. A larger flame crawled up the outside wall of the +barn, then smoke began to pour out through the cracks.</p> + +<p>The two girls sprang to their feet. "One of the barns has caught fire!" +cried Phil. "I'll find Mr. Preston. You give the alarm to the men about +the place." Phil ran toward the festival grounds.</p> + +<p>As Madge turned she heard a slight sound behind her. Some one was coming +toward her, moving cautiously over the grass. She slipped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> to one side +of the haystack so that she could see who it was. "Why, David Brewster!" +she cried, "what are you doing way off here? Quick! hurry! Phil and I +think Mr. Preston's barn is afire!"</p> + +<p>David set his teeth in rage as he sped across the field with Madge close +at his heels. He had taken off his Indian costume, but his face was +still stained and painted in Indian fashion, so that it gave him a wild, +unnatural appearance. Instead of stopping at the barn David, without a +word of explanation, ran on to the Preston house.</p> + +<p>Madge found a crowd of men already gathered about the burning barn. Mr. +Preston had formed a bucket brigade and a dozen men were passing buckets +from the well to the fire. Half a dozen of the more valorous men, three +of them farm-hands, were fighting their way into the barn, leading, +driving, or coaxing out the terrified horses and cattle.</p> + +<p>Mr. Preston stood at the barn door, giving commands to the workers.</p> + +<p>By this time the hay in the loft had caught and the whole barn was a +seething mass of fire. Mrs. Preston stood near the scene, with Madge and +Phil on either side of her. David Brewster suddenly joined them. No one +noticed his peculiar expression.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>"Let the barn go, men!" shouted Mr. Preston. "Quick, out of it! It will +fall in a minute. We have saved the other buildings, and we must let +this go."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my poor Fanny!" wailed Mrs. Preston, as though she were talking of +a human being. Fanny was a beloved old horse that had belonged to Mrs. +Preston for twelve years. She had driven her in her phaeton nearly every +day in all this time and loved the old horse almost as a member of the +family.</p> + +<p>Madge felt sure that Mr. Preston could not know that Fanny was still in +the burning barn. The little captain broke away from her friends and +made a rush toward the smoke and flames. Mr. Preston was within a few +feet of the partially consumed building. From the inside of the barn +came a groan of anguish and terror that was human in its appeal. Mr. +Preston covered his face with his hands. "Don't try it, men," he +commanded authoritatively; "the old mare can't be saved. It is useless +to try to go into the barn now."</p> + +<p>Madge could no longer endure the piteous sounds. She made a headlong +plunge toward the barn door. She could not see her way inside, but the +noise that the horse was making would guide her, she thought.</p> + +<p>Just at the threshold of the barn she felt herself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> shoved aside and +hurled several feet out of harm's way. She fell backward on the ground +and lay still. It was David who had flung her from the reach of the +fire's scorching heat and plunged into the barn in her stead.</p> + +<p>The crowd watched the brave young man in horrified silence. Seconds that +seemed ages passed. The front of the barn collapsed. Madge felt Mr. +Preston seize her and drag her away with him, but not before she and all +the watchers had caught sight of David. He stood in the far corner of +the barn with his coat thrown over the terrified horse's head. His face +was almost unrecognizable through the smoke, but the ringing tones of +his voice urging the old horse forward could be heard above the +crackling wood.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" shouted Mr. Preston hoarsely. He almost trampled over Madge, +who was sitting on the ground staring wildly at David. Then she saw Mr. +Preston and a half dozen other men pick David up on their shoulders and +bear him away from the crowd, while two of the farm-hands took charge of +old Fanny.</p> + +<p>David's burns, though not serious, were painful. His hands and arms were +severely blistered. But the excitement occasioned by the fire had hardly +passed when it was discovered that during the fire some one had entered +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> Preston house and had stolen a quantity of old family silver. Miss +Betsey Taylor's money bag, which she had carefully concealed under the +day pillow on her four-post mahogany bed, had also disappeared.</p> + +<p>There would probably never be any way to discover how or when the thief +entered the house. There had been more than a hundred visitors about the +place, and the house had been open for hours. During the fire every one +of the servants had rushed into the yard.</p> + +<p>There was also another disturbing fact to be considered. Either before +or after the fire the old gypsy woman, who had unexpectedly appeared to +take the character part of old Nokomis in the Hiawatha recitation, had +completely vanished; also, the two men disguised as Indian braves had +gone.</p> + +<p>The Prestons and their guests discussed all these pertinent features of +the affair until long after midnight. Miss Betsey wept and mourned over +the loss of her money bag, and dolefully repeated that she wished she +had never, never heard of a houseboat. The four girls and Miss Jenny Ann +became thoroughly disgusted with the disgruntled spinster's selfish +bewailing of her own loss, when the Prestons, who had met with a much +heavier loss, were heroically making light of their misfortune.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>Madge also had a private grievance, one that was quite her own. David +had behaved roughly, almost brutally, toward her when she had tried to +dash into the burning barn. She decided that she did not in the least +like David, and that she was not at all grateful to him for literally +hurling her out of harm's way.</p> + +<p>As for David himself, he had slipped away from the men who had borne him +in triumph on their shoulders and, in spite of the pain of his burns, +was striding across the fields in the direction of the woods with angry +eyes and sternly set mouth.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span><a name="xii" id="xii"></a>CHAPTER XII<br /> +<br /> +<small>A BOY'S TEMPTATION</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">IN the days that followed David kept more than ever to himself. He +occupied a small room alone, and for hours at a time he would stay +inside it, with his door locked against intruders. Few sounds ever came +forth to show what the lad was doing. His hands and arms were bandaged +almost to the elbows, but he had use of his fingers and his face was +uninjured.</p> + +<p>Madge had forced herself to thank David, both for his rescue of her and +of the old horse, which she had intended to save. But David had not had +the courtesy to apologize to her for having thrown her aside so roughly. +He wished to, but the poor fellow did not know what to say to her, nor +how to say it.</p> + +<p>The girls had all offered to read to David, or to entertain him in any +way he desired, while he was suffering from his burns. But the boy had +refused their offers so flatly that no one of them felt any wish to be +agreeable to him again.</p> + +<p>The young people spent a great part of their holiday on the Preston farm +in riding horseback by daylight and by moonlight, and in exploring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> the +old salt and sulphur springs and mines in the neighborhood. Word had +come from Tom Curtis and George Robinson that the accident to the engine +of the motor launch had been more serious than they had at first +supposed. The boys would be compelled to remain away some time longer. +Mrs. Curtis wished to see Tom on business, so he had gone on to New York +for a few days.</p> + +<p>Since the corn roast, the burning of his barn and the burglarizing of +his house Mr. Preston had been quietly endeavoring to discover the +evil-doers. He had notified the county sheriff and the latter had set +his men to work on the case, but so far there were no clues. Mr. Preston +believed that the same person who had set fire to the barn had committed +the robbery. The barn, must have been burned in order to keep the +attention of the family and guests centered on the outside disaster +while the thief was exploring the house.</p> + +<p>Madge did not like to mention to Mr. Preston that David Brewster might +be able to give him some information about the burglary; for Madge +remembered having seen David run toward the house at about the time the +fire was started. He did not come back for some minutes afterward. Yet, +as David did not speak of his presence in the house to Mr. Preston or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +to any one else, she did not feel that it was her place to speak of it. +David might have some reason for his silence which he would explain +later on.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey Taylor was now more than ever convinced that the same thief +who had robbed her of various small sums on the houseboat had but +completed his work. How the robber had pursued her to Mr. Preston's home +she did not explain. But she certainly cast aside with scorn Madge's +suggestion that no one had stolen from her while she was aboard the +"Merry Maid." She had only miscounted her money, as many a woman has +done before, Madge had contended. Miss Betsey had been fearful that the +little captain might be right before the final disappearance of her +money bag. But now she regretted, far more than her money, the loss of +the few family jewels that she had inherited from her thrifty New +England grandmothers.</p> + +<p>David Brewster stood at his little back window, watching Madge, Phyllis, +Lillian, Eleanor, Harry Sears and Jack Bolling mount their horses for a +long afternoon's ride over to some old sulphur springs a few miles from +the Preston estate. The party was to eat supper at the springs and to +ride home before bed time. Mrs. Preston, Miss Jenny Ann and Miss Betsey +Taylor were already driving out of the yard in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> Mrs. Preston's old +phaeton. They were to be the advance guard of the riding party, as no +one except their hostess knew the route they should take.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Preston had invited David to drive with her, as he was not able to +use his injured hands sufficiently to guide a riding horse, but David +had refused. The party were to be away for some time. Mr. Preston would +be out on the farm, looking after his harvesting. David Brewster had +other plans for the afternoon.</p> + +<p>Once the others were fairly out of the yard the boy found an old slouch +hat in his shabby suit case. He pulled it well down over his face. Then +he got into an old coat that he had been ashamed to wear before the new +friends, but it served his present purpose. Inside his coat pocket David +thrust a small, flat object that, in some form, always accompanied him +whenever there was a possible chance of his being alone for any length +of time.</p> + +<p>Then David left the farm. He said good-bye to no one. To one of the +maids who saw him leaving he merely explained that he was going for a +walk. He did not ask for food to take with him. His one idea was to be +off as soon as possible.</p> + +<p>The boy was not entirely certain of the route that he must travel. He +knew of but one way to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> go, and it stretched over many miles. It might +mean delay and difficulty. David was not as strong as he had been before +the shock and injury of the fire. Still, the thing must be done. It was +not the physical effort that worried David.</p> + +<p>The trip seemed interminable. The lad had to travel along the road that +led back to the houseboat, and from there to follow the line of the +river bank to a well-remembered spot. David swung along as rapidly as +possible. His greatest desire was to make his journey and to return to +the farm before the riding party got home. He might then have an +explanation to make. What could he say if anybody demanded to know where +he had been? His silence would create suspicion. But then, David had +kept his own counsel before to-day.</p> + +<p>It was well into the afternoon before the boy reached his destination. +Slowly and cautiously, making as little noise as possible, he climbed a +hill that rose before him. The crest of the hill was heavily wooded and +a high pile of sticks and branches formed a clever hiding place. But +there was no human being in sight, no old woman, no man, no sign of a +fire except a few ashes that had been carefully scattered over the +ground.</p> + +<p>When the youth reached the top he stood still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> and looked cautiously +about him. He could hear the rush of the river below the hill and the +rustle of the wind in the trees. He crouched low and put his ear to the +ground, like an Indian, then rose and, with a frown, went to the brush +heap and crawled under it. Presently he came out, holding in his hand a +small red handkerchief which was knotted and tied together. David's face +was very stern. It seemed that something which he had feared had come +true; yet the lad turned and went down the hill again, whistling and +kicking at the underbrush and shrubbery as he walked, as though he were +trying to make as much noise as possible. Ten minutes later David came +back up the hill by another route as quietly as some creature of the +woods in hiding from a foe. Behind a tree the boy lay down flat. He took +out of his pocket the small package that he had brought with him from +the farm and, holding it before him, seemed to lose himself completely +in earnest contemplation of it.</p> + +<p>After a while some one else drew near the same place, walking even more +stealthily than had the boy. David did not stir nor turn his head. He +was hidden by the trees. An old woman crept to the pile of underbrush. +She crawled under it and stayed for some time. When she came out she had +forgotten to be silent;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> she was mumbling and muttering to herself.</p> + +<p>"Granny," David touched the gypsy woman on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Is it you, boy?" she asked, riveting her small black eyes on him. "How +came you to Virginia? We thought that you were many hundreds of miles +away. It's a pity!" She shook her head. "Fate is too strong for us all," +she muttered to herself.</p> + +<p>"I am sure I am as sorry as you are that I am here," David interrupted +her passionately. "But perhaps you are right, and it is fate. I came to +Virginia because I had work to do here. Where is <em>he</em>?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. I ain't seen him but once since," answered the woman.</p> + +<p>David laughed rather drearily. "Don't try to fool me. You've got to tell +me the truth before I go away from here. You might as well do it first +as last."</p> + +<p>The old woman looked furtively and anxiously at the heap of dead +branches. "I <em>am</em> telling you the truth," she asserted.</p> + +<p>"Where is he, Granny?" continued David. "I've got to find him."</p> + +<p>"You <em>ain't</em> got to find him," protested the old woman. "You can't give +him away, and it won't do no good. Ain't you his——" She<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> stopped +short. "You can't make him change now; it is too late."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to talk; I've got to get back," returned David quietly. +"If you don't tell me where he is, I'll give the alarm and have the +country scoured for him."</p> + +<p>The old woman whispered something in David's ear. "I am not sure he is +there, but I think that's the place. I know we can trust you, boy, for +all your high and mighty ways."</p> + +<p>"You had better get away from here, Granny," answered David. "You are +too old for this sort of life, and some day you will get into trouble."</p> + +<p>The gypsy's hand moved patiently. "It's the only kind of life I have +been used to for many, many years. I don't mind, so long as he keeps on +getting off."</p> + +<p>David strode down the hill. It was just before sunset. He was beginning +to doubt his being able to make his way back to the Preston place before +the picnic party came home. He could not walk so fast as he had come, +for he was tired and disheartened.</p> + +<p>After a few miles' journey along the river bank he came to a bend where +he could see, farther ahead, the "Merry Maid," the poor little +houseboat, looking as deserted and lonely as David felt. Her decks were +cleared and her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> cabins locked until the return of the houseboat party. +She was being taken care of by a colored boy who lived not far away.</p> + +<p>David felt a sudden rush of longing. The houseboat was filled with happy +memories of the girls. He was tired out and exhausted. He must rest +somewhere. The boy climbed aboard the houseboat. But he did not rest. He +walked feverishly up and down the deck.</p> + +<p>An overwhelming impulse never to return to the Preston farm swept over +David. The love of wandering was in his blood. To-day he did not feel +fit to associate with the girls and boys who made up the two boat +parties. He ought never to have come with them. His lowly birth and lack +of training were against him. David knew that trouble, and perhaps +disgrace, might be in store for him if he went back to Mr. Preston's and +faced what was probably going to happen.</p> + +<p>The poor boy wrestled with temptation. Mr. and Mrs. Preston had been +good to him. Miss Betsey meant to be kind, in spite of her fussiness, +and she had evidently told his new acquaintances nothing to his +discredit. Tom Curtis and Madge Morton trusted him. Yet could he face +the suspicion which he felt sure would fall upon him?</p> + +<p>The sun was going down and the river was a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> flaming pathway of gold when +David turned his back on the houseboat and started for Mr. Preston's +home. His steps grew heavier and heavier as he walked. He was stiff, +sore and weary. The bandages were nearly off his hands and the flesh +smarted and burned from the exposure to the air. David was also +ravenously hungry. Against his heart the things wrapped in the old red +handkerchief cut like sharp tools.</p> + +<p>Night and the stars came. David was still far from home. He decided that +it might be best for him to struggle on no farther. It would be easier +to explain in the morning that he had gone out for a walk and lost his +way; than to face his friends to-night with any explanation of his trip.</p> + +<p>David remembered that the house that the colored boy, Sam, had described +as "ha'nted" lay midway between the houseboat and the farm. He could +sleep out on its old porch.</p> + +<p>David filled his hat with Sam's "hoodoo" peaches. He sat on the veranda +steps as he ate them, thinking idly of Sam's story of the old place and +getting it oddly mixed with what he had heard of Harry Sears's ghost +story. David was not superstitious. He did not believe that he could be +afraid of ghosts. He had other live troubles to worry him, which seemed +far worse. Still, he hoped that if ghosts did walk at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> midnight about +this forlorn old spot that they would choose any other night than this.</p> + +<p>It was a soft, warm summer evening with a waning moon. David rolled his +coat up under his head for a pillow and lay down in one corner of the +porch.</p> + +<p>He did not go to sleep at once; he was too tired and his bed was too +hard. How long he slept he did not know. He was awakened by a sound so +indescribably soft and vague that it might have been only a breath of +wind stirring. But David felt his hands grow icy cold and his breath +come in gasps. He was conscious of something uncanny near him. Something +warm touched him. He could have screamed with terror. But it was only a +thin, black cat, the color of the night shadows.</p> + +<p>The boy sat up. He was wide awake. He was not dreaming. Stealing up the +path to the house was a wraith; tall, thin, emaciated, with hair +absolutely white and thin, and skeleton-like hands; it was the semblance +of an old man. He was not human; he made no noise, he did not seem to +walk, he floated along. There was something dreadfully sad in the +ghost's appearance. Yet he was not alone. He led some one by the hand, a +young girl, who was more ghost-like than he was. Her hair was floating +out from her tiny, gnome-like face. She was thinner and more pathetic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +than the old man. She had no expression in her face and she, too, made +no sound.</p> + +<p>The awestruck boy did not stir. The midnight visitants to the empty +house did not notice him. They came up to the porch. They mounted the +steps and, without touching the fallen front door, passed silently into +the deserted mansion.</p> + +<p>David did not know how long he waited, spellbound, after this +apparition. But no sound came forth from the house; no one reappeared. +The black cat rubbed against him the second time. Even the cat must have +been dumb, for she made no noise, did not even purr.</p> + +<p>David Brewster was not a coward. If you had asked him in the broad +daylight if he were afraid of ghosts he would have been too disgusted at +the idea even to answer you. But to-night he could not reason, could not +think. As soon as he could get his breath he ran with all his speed down +through the yard of the "ha'nted house," over the fence and into the +road, and then for the rest of the distance to the Preston house. He +forgot his fatigue, forgot that he might have to answer difficult +questions once he got home. David wanted to be with real, live people +after his night of fears.</p> + +<p>The boy found no lights in the Preston house. The front door was closed +and the back one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> barred for the night. Evidently the excursionists had +come back late and, believing him to be in bed, had not wished to +disturb him.</p> + +<p>David prowled around the house. He hated to wake anybody up to let him +in. He knew that Miss Betsey would be frightened into hysterics by the +sudden ringing of a bell. The boy found a pantry window unlocked. +Opening it, he crawled into the house. He got up to his bedroom without +anybody coming out to see who it was that had entered the house at such +a mysterious hour. It was not until early the next morning that David +learned that he need not have been so careful, as there was no one in +the Preston house except himself and some of the servants.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span><a name="xiii" id="xiii"></a>CHAPTER XIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>ELEANOR GETS INTO <a name="mischief" id="mischief"></a><ins title="fullstop removed">MISCHIEF</ins></small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">MRS. PRESTON, Miss Jenny Ann and Miss Betsey, in the old phaeton, +plodded on ahead of the young people to show them the route to the old +sulphur springs. They passed by a number of beautiful Virginia farms and +old homesteads along the shady roads. Miss Betsey was deeply interested +in the history of the neighborhood, and in the old families that had +lived in this vicinity since the close of the Civil War. Mrs. Preston +liked nothing better than to relate that history to her New England +guest.</p> + +<p>To tell the truth, Miss Betsey Taylor was far more clever than any one +might have supposed. She remembered very well that the friend of her +youth, Mr. John Randolph, had come from somewhere near Culpepper, +Virginia. Nor was she by any means unwilling to know what had become of +him after he had disappeared from her horizon. But Miss Taylor did not +intend to ask her hostess any direct questions if she could be persuaded +to relate the story of this John Randolph in the natural course of her +conversation. It may be that Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> Betsey had even been influenced in +her desire to spend some time on the Preston estate by this same thirst +for information in regard to the friend who had certainly lived not far +from this very neighborhood.</p> + +<p>"Whose place is that over there?" inquired Miss Jenny Ann unexpectedly, +pointing to an old brick house overgrown with ivy.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Preston flicked her horse. "It belongs to the Grinsteads. They are +descendants of the Randolphs, who used to live in these parts."</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey's eyelids never quivered. "The Randolphs?" she inquired +casually. "What Randolphs?"</p> + +<p>"James and John were the heads of the family in my day, but they have +both—— Dear me! are the young people following us? We must hurry +along," returned Mrs. Preston absently.</p> + +<p>Miss Jenny Ann looked out of the phaeton. She reported that she could +see Madge and Phil, who were riding side by side, leading the horseback +cavalcade.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey's side curls bobbed impatiently, but she decided to ask no +more questions of her hostess just at present.</p> + +<p>Behind Madge and Phil, Lillian and Jack Bolling were riding companions, +and Eleanor and Harry Sears brought up the rear. The four front riders +kept close together, but every<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> now and then Harry and Eleanor would lag +behind until they were almost out of sight of the other riders.</p> + +<p>Madge did not like Harry Sears. He was not always straightforward, and +he was not kind to those who were less fortunate than himself. It may be +that the little captain's dislike was due to the fact that Harry was +always particularly rude to David and never failed to try to make the +boy feel his inferior position. She did not believe, as Harry did, that +because he was well off and well-born he had the privilege of being +impolite to poorer and less aristocratic people. So Madge could not +imagine how Eleanor could like Harry Sears. She did not know that Harry +showed only his best side to Eleanor.</p> + +<p>"I do wish Nellie would keep up with us, Phil!" she exclaimed a little +impatiently. "I am afraid she and Harry may get lost if they keep on +loitering; they don't know which roads to take." Phil looked back +anxiously over the road. At some distance down the lane Harry and +Eleanor were riding slowly, deep in conversation.</p> + +<p>"I think I will ride back and ask Nellie to hurry," proposed Madge, +turning her horse and cantering back to her cousin.</p> + +<p>"Hurry along, Eleanor," she said rather<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> crossly. "It is ever so much +nicer for us to keep together."</p> + +<p>Eleanor laughed. "Don't worry about me, Madge. I am not going to fall +off my horse and we can catch up with you at any time we wish. I don't +wish to ride fast. Harry and I are talking and I like to look at the +scenery along the road."</p> + +<p>Madge's face flushed. Eleanor was generally easy to influence, but once +she made up her mind to a thing she was quietly stubborn and unyielding.</p> + +<p>"All right, Nellie," Madge shrugged her shoulders eloquently, "but if +you and Harry are lost, don't expect us to come back to hunt for you. +Mrs. Preston particularly asked us to keep her in sight, as the roads +about here are confusing. I am sure I beg your pardon for intruding." +Madge touched her horse with the tip of her riding whip and cantered +back to Phil's side, her cheeks scarlet, her eyes snapping. Hereafter +Eleanor could go her own way. Madge had heard Harry Sears chuckle +derisively as she turned away and it made her very angry.</p> + +<p>Eleanor gazed after Madge's horse a little regretfully; not that she +intended doing what her cousin had asked of her, but she was sorry that +Madge had become so cross over nothing.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 387px;"> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +<img src="images/gs03.jpg" width="387" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"Hurry Along, Eleanor," Called Madge.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span>"I tell you, Miss Eleanor," Harry Sears continued when Madge was out of +hearing, "I don't trust that fellow Brewster. I know we are going to +have trouble with him before this holiday is over. I want to warn you, +because I know you don't like the fellow either. Tom Curtis won't hear a +word against him. But I know Brewster is up to some mischief when he +goes off for hours and stays by himself. I have pretty well made up my +mind to follow him some day to find out what he does."</p> + +<p>Eleanor shook her gentle, brown head. "I don't think I would spy on him, +Harry," she protested. "I don't like David, because he is so rough and +rude, but I don't think he is positively bad."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it wouldn't be spying," argued Harry. "If I think the fellow is +going to get us in trouble, I believe it is my duty to keep a close +watch on him."</p> + +<p>"He'll be awfully angry," sighed Eleanor.</p> + +<p>Harry made no answer, but merely smiled contemptuously.</p> + +<p>Eleanor's horse was ambling down a road that was cut along the foot of a +tall hill. On the other side there was a steep declivity that dropped +nearly twenty feet to the ground. A low rail fence separated the +embankment from the road, which was rough and narrow.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>All of a sudden Eleanor's horse began to shy off to one side of the +road. The more Eleanor pulled on her left rein, the more her horse moved +toward the right; and on the right side of the road was the precipice.</p> + +<p>One of her horse's forefeet went down beneath the level of the road. +Eleanor tried to rein in, but she felt herself sliding backward over the +right side of her horse.</p> + +<p>"Harry!" she cried desperately. Harry Sears turned in amazement. He was +not in time. Eleanor rolled off her horse. In falling she struck her +back on the rail fence. But the fence saved her life. She tumbled +forward toward the road, instead of rolling down the steep embankment.</p> + +<p>Harry was off his horse in a moment. Eleanor was huddled on the ground, +her face white with pain. She had fallen off her horse, though the +animal had not tried to run away. It had stumbled back into the road and +stood waiting to know what had happened.</p> + +<p>"Your saddle girth broke, Eleanor," explained Harry. "Are you much +hurt?"</p> + +<p>"No-o-o," replied Eleanor bravely, with her lips trembling. "I believe I +have bruised my shoulder, but it isn't very bad."</p> + +<p>Harry had Eleanor on her feet, but he could see that she was suffering +intensely. He did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> know what to do. The rest of the riding party was +well out of sight. He did not like to leave Eleanor alone while he +galloped after them; yet he did not believe that she would be able to +ride on.</p> + +<p>"Can you fix my saddle girth, Harry?" questioned Eleanor. "We shall be +left behind sure enough, and Miss Jenny Ann will be angry with me."</p> + +<p>It took Harry quite ten minutes to mend Eleanor's saddle girth. She sat +limply on the grass, hoping that the pain in her shoulder would pass. It +did not, but she managed, with Harry's help, to get back on her horse.</p> + +<p>Harry started off at a brisk canter, a little uneasy. He and Eleanor +were entirely unfamiliar with the country through which they were +traveling. There were roads that intersected each other every few miles. +These were not marked with sign-posts and Harry had no idea in what +direction lay the old sulphur springs.</p> + +<p>But Nellie was not following him. He reined up and rode back to her. +"What's the matter now?" he asked impatiently.</p> + +<p>"I am so sorry, Harry," apologized Eleanor. "I think I can ride, but I +can't go fast; it hurts my shoulder so dreadfully." Eleanor's soft brown +eyes were filled with tears, which she tried in vain to keep from +falling. Her pretty,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> light-brown hair, which she had braided and tied +up with a black velvet ribbon, hung in a long plait down her back.</p> + +<p>Slowly, keeping the horses in a walk, Harry and Eleanor continued their +journey. Harry hoped that some one would ride back to see what had +delayed them. Eleanor knew that no one would. Madge would think that +they had purposely tarried. She would say so to the others, and no one +would seriously miss them until after the arrival at the picnic grounds.</p> + +<p>But Eleanor and her companion conquered another mile of the way, when +they came to what Harry had feared, two roads that crossed their path +like two sides of a triangle, each leading in a totally different +direction.</p> + +<p>Both riders reined up. Harry found a spring and Eleanor felt refreshed +after drinking and bathing her face in the cold water. But which road +should they take? They had both given up all hope of rejoining the rest +of the party on their way to the springs; all the two now dreamed of was +ultimately to arrive there. After careful consideration Harry and +Eleanor chose the wrong road.</p> + +<p>The old sulphur springs had been a fashionable summer resort in Virginia +twenty-five years before. It still had its famous sulphur well and a +dozen or more brick cottages in various<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> stages of dilapidation. The big +hotel had been burned down and no one had attempted to rebuild it.</p> + +<p>It had been Miss Betsey Taylor's special desire to drink the waters of +the famous sulphur well. She had heard of it as a cure for all the ills +of the flesh.</p> + +<p>When the riding party dismounted from their horses Madge and Phil espied +Miss Betsey peering down the old well. Madge had visited sulphur wells +before. "Want a drink, Miss Betsey?" she inquired innocently, coming up +to the old lady. She decided to revenge herself on Miss Betsey for the +excellent daily advice that the maiden lady bestowed upon her.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey looked pleased. "Certainly. I intend to drink the sulphur +water all day, and to have some of it put up in bottles to take back +home with me. I can't say that I exactly like the odor." Miss Betsey's +aquiline nose was slightly tilted.</p> + +<p>"Here you are," interrupted Madge, passing Miss Betsey a glass of the +sulphur water.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey took one swallow and gave a hurried gasp. "Take it away, +child," she urged faintly. "It is the most horrible thing I ever tasted +in my life." The old maid's eyes almost twinkled. "I think, my dear, +that I will cure my nerves in a pleasanter way," she decided.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>Miss Jenny Ann hurried over to them. "What has become of Nellie, Madge?" +she questioned immediately.</p> + +<p>The little captain shook her head. "She will be along soon. She and +Harry Sears were loitering a little behind the rest of us."</p> + +<p>But Eleanor and Harry did not arrive. An hour passed, then Miss Jenny +Ann and the girls began to feel uneasy. It was growing late. The time +had long since come for supper. Finally Jack Bolling suggested that he +ride back to see what had become of the wanderers. In the meantime the +supper was spread out on the grass. No one ate much. The whole party +kept gazing up the road. It was nearly dark when Jack Bolling +returned—alone. He had galloped back over the way they had come for +three miles without seeing a sign of either Eleanor or Harry.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span><a name="xiv" id="xiv"></a>CHAPTER XIV<br /> +<br /> +<small>"CONFUSION WORSE CONFOUNDED"</small></h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 8px;"> +<img src="images/quote.png" width="8" height="7" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="cap">I CAN'T go any farther, Harry," said Eleanor despairingly.</p> + +<p>Harry Sears reached her just in time. Eleanor fell forward on her +horse's neck. She had fainted with the pain in her shoulder, which had +increased with every step her horse had taken.</p> + +<p>Harry laid Eleanor on the ground under a tree. Then he stood staring at +her pallid face. He had not the faintest idea what he should do. He knew +of no spring nearby where he could get water. Girls were an awful +nuisance, anyway; something was always happening to them. Harry was +sorry that he had ever ridden with Eleanor. It was stupid of him to have +let the rest of the party get so far ahead of them.</p> + +<p>Still, poor Nellie did not open her eyes. Harry hitched both of the +horses to a fence rail and then came back to gaze at Eleanor until she +came to herself.</p> + +<p>When Eleanor opened her eyes it was to see Harry's frown, partly of +impatience and partly from worry. She tried to sit up, but the pain made +her ill and she lay back on the ground.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> She realized that she must have +sprained her shoulder when she fell from her horse. She had been wrong +in believing it to be only bruised.</p> + +<p>"What shall we do, Eleanor?" asked Harry gloomily. "You can't ride any +more and I can't leave you here by yourself. This road seems to be cut +through a wilderness. We have not passed a house in miles!"</p> + +<p>"You can help me over into that woods, Harry," she said faintly. "I'll +lie down under the trees and wait—the sulphur springs can't be very far +from here—then you ride on and find the others. Madge will drive back +in Mrs. Preston's phaeton for me," smiled Eleanor, though her lips were +almost colorless with pain. "Please don't forget where you leave me, +Harry."</p> + +<p>Harry Sears's face cleared. Eleanor's idea was the only possible one, +and she was a brave girl to be willing to be left alone. "Don't you +fear," he comforted her, as he led her deeper into the thick grove of +trees. "I'll tie my handkerchief to the tree nearest the road. Besides, +your horse will be hitched near here. When you hear us driving along the +road, in about ten or fifteen minutes, just you sing out."</p> + +<p>Eleanor was grateful when Harry left her, and she could give way to her +real feelings. She<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> was on a bed of moss and Harry had rolled up his +coat for a pillow to put under her head. But the pain in her shoulder +was excruciating. She could not get into any position where it seemed to +hurt less. Each time she moved a twinge caught her and she would have +liked to scream aloud. But Eleanor did not scream; she waited patiently, +though now and then the tears would rise in her eyes of their own accord +and trickle down her white cheeks. Madge was such a long time in coming +to find her. However, Harry did not know his way to the sulphur well. It +might take him some time to find it. How late it was getting! The sun +was low in the west.</p> + +<p>After taking a last look at the spot where Eleanor lay, at her horse +hitched to a fence rail, at his own white handkerchief, which fluttered +from a low branch of a tree near the road, Harry rode furiously off. He +would surely find their friends in a few moments. But Harry continued to +ride in exactly the wrong direction. Every yard he covered took him +farther away from the sulphur springs. While he was galloping on his +wild-goose chase the party at the springs decided to return to the +Preston farm. They were too uneasy about Harry and Eleanor to have a +good time, and they concluded that they would either overtake the lost +couple on the way home or else find that the two young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> people had given +up and returned to the farm.</p> + +<p>The three girls gave their horses free rein and cantered home with all +speed. Yet it was dark when they arrived. No word had been heard of +Eleanor or Harry. It was a cloudy evening and the sun had disappeared +quickly. Without waiting, except to give the alarm to Mr. Preston, the +entire riding party set out again. Madge thought that she would have +liked to ask David to help them, but there was no time to spare. The +riders met Mrs. Preston, Miss Jenny Ann and Miss Betsey, who had set out +for home in the phaeton. The three older women also refused to go back +to Prestons, until Eleanor and her companion were discovered.</p> + +<p>In the meantime Harry Sears had finally reached the decision that he was +not on the right road to the sulphur well. At the end of a five-mile +gallop he turned his horse and cantered back. He passed Eleanor's horse, +tugging impatiently at the reins that bound her; he saw his own white +handkerchief tied on the tree; but he could not see or hear Eleanor. He +would have liked to stop to find out that all was well with her, but he +dreaded to let Eleanor know that he had spent all this time and was +still without assistance. At the crossroads, where the young man had +made his original mistake in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> the roads, he at last turned down the lane +that led to the sulphur springs. But by this time his friends were well +on their way home to the Preston farm.</p> + +<p>Eleanor's horse had grown weary of remaining standing. It was past her +supper time and she wished her measure of oats. The horse tossed her +head restlessly, walked forward a few steps and then backward, tugging +and straining at her bridle. In his excitement and hurry to be off, +Harry had not tied the horse very securely. He had no other hitching +rope than her bridle. The mare gave one final jerk and shake of her head +and was free. Quite innocent of the mischief her desertion would cause, +she trotted back to her own stable at the Prestons.</p> + +<p>At nine o'clock in the evening rain began to fall. The night was pitch +dark, except for an occasional jagged flash of lightning. When Madge, in +advance of all the others, passed along only a few rods from the very +spot where Harry had left Eleanor the latter must have heard nothing, +for she made not the faintest outcry.</p> + +<p>It was almost midnight before Eleanor's friends discovered that Harry +was not with her. Not finding any of the party at the sulphur springs, +Sears had lost his head completely. Instead of returning to poor Eleanor +he went on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> to the Preston farm, hoping stupidly that Nellie had in some +way been rescued and that he would find her there. The journey back home +was a long, weary one. His horse was completely fagged out and had gone +lame in one foot. Harry was terrified at the emptiness of the Preston +farm; only one or two servants were about; the others had gone with Mr. +Preston to look for Eleanor. There were no horses left on the place. So, +on foot, Harry set out again, only to have Eleanor's riderless horse +pass by him in the night. He hardly saw the animal in his excitement. He +did not dream that it was the horse he had hitched to mark Eleanor's +resting place, but plodded on, tired and dispirited.</p> + +<p>Harry finally ran across Madge, Phyllis and Jack. He told them his story +as best he could. Foot by foot the young people retraced their way over +the same road, looking for the fluttering signal of Harry's white +handkerchief and the waiting horse.</p> + +<p>The horse, of course, had run off, and at first it seemed impossible to +find the handkerchief. Madge was desperate. It was her fault that poor +Nellie was alone at midnight in the rain with her injured shoulder. If +only Madge had begged Eleanor to ride on faster, she knew that Eleanor +would have consented. It was only because<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> she had commanded it that her +cousin had been so obstinate.</p> + +<p>The other members of the Preston household were almost as miserable as +Madge. Even Miss Betsey Taylor could not be persuaded to return to her +bed. She forgot all about her health and her nerves, and was intent only +on finding Eleanor, who was her favorite of the four girls.</p> + +<p>The rain was still pouring in heavy, unrelenting streams, and everyone +was soaked to the skin.</p> + +<p>"My poor Nellie!" cried Madge. She and Phil were leading their tired +horses along the road. "I shall never forgive Harry Sears for leaving +her by herself and chasing all over the country for help. What an idiot +he is!"</p> + +<p>"Sh-sh!" Phil comforted her, although she herself was quietly crying. It +was so dark that no one could see the girls' tears. "Don't blame Harry. +He did what he thought was best at the time, although it seems silly to +us now."</p> + +<p>It was Harry, though, who at last found his rain-soaked handkerchief +tied to the branch of a tree. He had held a dark lantern up by every +bush or tree that he passed in the neighborhood where he believed he had +left poor Eleanor.</p> + +<p>"I've found the place, I've found the place!" he cried triumphantly. +"Just a minute, Eleanor, and we will come to you!" He ran toward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> the +spot where he remembered to have left Eleanor. Madge hurried after him, +Phyllis keeping tight hold of her hand.</p> + +<p>Harry's cry had thrilled all the searchers. Jack and Lillian came next +to hunt, with Mr. Preston close behind them. They stood together under +the tree where Eleanor had lain. The dark lanterns lit up their haggard +faces. Eleanor was not there!</p> + +<p>"You have made a mistake in the place, Sears," declared Jack.</p> + +<p>Harry reached down and picked up his own coat. "No, this is my coat," he +declared.</p> + +<p>Madge dropped to the ground, shaking with sobs. She had found Eleanor's +little, soft felt riding hat.</p> + +<p>"Children," urged Mr. Preston, "don't be so alarmed. It is very natural +that, when we took so long to find the poor child, she got up and +wandered off somewhere to get out of the rain. I will rouse the +neighborhood and we men will search the woods and fields. We will +inquire at all the farmhouses in the vicinity. Why, we are sure to find +Eleanor. You girls must run along home and wait until morning. I can't +have you all ill on my hands with pneumonia."</p> + +<p>Miss Jenny Ann, Mrs. Preston and Miss Betsey were crawling out of the +phaeton when Mr. Preston led three of the girls back to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> "I can't go +home, Jenny Ann," insisted Madge. "It was my fault that Nellie is lost. +Uncle and Aunt will never forgive me."</p> + +<p>It was in vain that Miss Jenny Ann pleaded, argued and commanded the +little captain to return with the other women to the Preston farm. She +simply would not go. So Phyllis stayed behind with her for company.</p> + +<p>Just before daylight one of the farmers who lived near the woods where +Eleanor was supposed to have been left took the two girls home with him. +Eleanor had not then been found.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span><a name="xv" id="xv"></a>CHAPTER XV<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE BLACK HOLE</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">HOURS and hours had gone by, and Eleanor had lain quite still. Sometimes +she was conscious, but oftener she was not. The pain in her shoulder, +the exhaustion from the long waiting, had made her delirious. When the +rain began it seemed at first to refresh her, she was so hot and +feverish. Later rheumatic twinges began to dart through her injured +shoulder; her whole body was racked with pain. She seemed to be in some +horrible nightmare. She forgot what had happened to her. She no longer +realized that she was waiting for her friends to come to her rescue; she +only believed that, if she could in some way get back to her own home, +"Forest House," the agony and terror would cease.</p> + +<p>In her delirium Eleanor managed to get up from the wet ground. She never +knew how or when, but she remembered groping her way cautiously through +the dark forest. The hundreds of trees seemed like a great army of +terrible men and women waving angry arms at the frightened girl. Now and +then she would bump into one of the trees. Eleanor would then step<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> back +and apologize; she thought that she had collided with a human being.</p> + +<p>At times Eleanor was dimly conscious that she could hear the sound of +her own voice. She was singing in high, sweet tones a song of her +babyhood:</p> + +<div class="poemblock"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="io">"When the long day's work is over,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When the light begins to fade,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Watching, waiting in the gloaming,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Weary, faint and half afraid,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then from out the deep'ning twilight,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Clear and sweet a voice shall come,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Softly through the silence falling—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Child, thy Father calls, 'Come home.'"<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p>There was something in the familiar words that comforted Eleanor. She +would soon find her mother and father and Madge. But step by step +Eleanor went farther away from civilization and deeper into the woods. +At last she came out of the woods altogether to a more forbidding part +of the country. A group of small hills rose up at the edge of the +woodlands. They seemed to poor Eleanor's distorted imagination to be a +collection of strange houses.</p> + +<p>A yawning hole gaped in the side of one of the hills. Years before a +company of promoters had believed that rich coal deposits could be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +found in these Virginia hills. A coal mine had been dug in the side of +this solitary hillock. But the coal yield had not been rich enough. +Later on the company had abandoned it and the old coal mine was disused +and almost forgotten. A strange freak of destiny led Eleanor to the +spot.</p> + +<p>She felt, rather than saw, the opening. The rain had ceased, but the +night was still dark. Eleanor believed that she had found the door of +her own home at "Forest House." Why was it so dark in the hall? Had no +one lighted the lamps? Surely, she heard some one cry out her name!</p> + +<p>"Mother! Father!" she called. "Madge!" She put out one hand—the other +was useless—and stepped into the black hole. It was all so dark and +horrible. Eleanor took a few steps forward; a suffocating odor of coal +gas greeted her; she stumbled and fell face downward. Eleanor was +literally buried alive. She had wandered into a place that the world had +forgotten, and she was too ill to make any effort to save herself.</p> + +<p>So it was that Eleanor Butler heard no sound and saw no sign of the +desperate search that was being made for her. But if Eleanor were +unconscious, there was some one else who knew that the woods and all the +nearby fields and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> countryside were being investigated, inch by inch, by +a party of determined seekers. The man believed that the search was +being made for him. For several days he had been in hiding on the edge +of the woods, not far from the old coal mine into which Eleanor had +stumbled. He had his own reasons for hiding, although he believed that +until to-night no crime had been fixed on him.</p> + +<p>While Eleanor was groping her way out of the woods this man was crouched +in the branches of a heavily wooded tree. He had spent all his life in +the open, and knew that a party of men searching through a forest on a +dark night would not spy him out so long as the darkness covered him. +But he knew that at dawn he must find a better hiding place.</p> + +<p>Just before daylight the woods were silent once more. The fugitive +understood that the searching parties had gone home to rest and to get +reinforcements in order to begin a more thorough hunt at dawn.</p> + +<p>The greater part of the night the man had spent in trying to decide +where he should conceal himself before the daylight. He knew of but one +possible hiding place that was safe. He had tracked through the country +for miles to hide his treasures in the old coal mine, although he had +believed that he was absolutely free from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> suspicion. Who had betrayed +him? Not the old gypsy woman. The man did not consider her. But there +was—<em>the boy</em>!</p> + +<p>As soon as the woods were free from the hunting parties the man slipped +down from his tree. It was a poor place of refuge, but he would crawl +into the disused coal mine, for the day at least, to guard his life and +his stolen property. He crept cautiously along. As soon as he could get +word to the gypsy woman they would both try to get away from the +neighborhood. Things were getting too hot for them both. And again, +there was <em>the boy</em>!</p> + +<p>There was some one else afoot in the woods. The man could hear a +cat-like tread. Nearer stole the other prowler. There was another sound, +a faint call, which the man answered. An instant later the old gypsy +woman appeared. "I have been searching for you, lad. The boy says he has +got to see you."</p> + +<p>It was hardly dawn, but a faint light had appeared in the sky that was +not daylight but its herald. A pause hung over the world that always +comes just before its awakening.</p> + +<p>The man and woman hesitated just a moment at the opening of the old +mine. It was dreadful to shut themselves away from the daylight. The man +went in first, the old woman close behind him. But a few feet from the +entrance he staggered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> back; he had struck his foot against something. +The man's first thought was that some one had crept into the mine to +steal his treasure. A few seconds later he became more accustomed to the +dim light and saw the still figure of Eleanor.</p> + +<p>The man and the woman stared at the girl as though they had seen an +apparition. She was so deathly pale it was not strange that they thought +at first that she was not alive.</p> + +<p>Both the man and the woman kept close to the ground, so as not to inhale +the odor of the coal gas. The old gypsy took Eleanor's limp, white hand. +"She is alive," she whispered to the man.</p> + +<p>The man nodded. He realized at once that the woods were being searched, +not for him, but for this lost girl. He could not imagine how the girl +had wandered into this dreadful place of concealment. But she was +certainly innocent of any wrong or suspicion of him. Yet, if she stayed +in the coal mine with them all day, she might die.</p> + +<p>There has hardly ever been born into this world any human creature who +is wholly wicked. The man in the mine with Eleanor was not a cruel +fellow. He had one strange, wicked theory, that the world owed him a +living and he would rather steal than work for it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>Unexpectedly Eleanor opened her eyes. She did not cry out with terror. +She was no longer delirious. She smiled at the man and at the old woman +in a puzzled, friendly fashion. "It is so dark and dreadful in here! +Won't you take, me out?" she pleaded.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Eleanor had fallen near enough to the entrance of the mine +to get the fresh air from the outside. She struggled to sit up, but the +pain in her shoulder again overcame her.</p> + +<p>"How did you get in here?" the man asked Eleanor suspiciously.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she answered, beginning to cry gently. "Please take me +out."</p> + +<p>The man realized that whatever was to be done for Eleanor must be done +at once. Every minute that passed made it the more dangerous for him to +return to the forest. Later on, when the woods were full of people, he +would not dare leave the mine. He knew that even now he was risking his +own freedom if he carried the girl out from the safe shelter that +concealed them.</p> + +<p>The man lifted Eleanor in his arms as gently as he could. She cried out +when he first touched her; then she set her teeth and bore stoically the +pain of being moved.</p> + +<p>"You can trust me," her rescuer said kindly. "I can't take you to your +friends, but I will take you to a place where they can find you. Now +you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> must promise me that you will never say that you have ever seen me +or the old woman, and that you will never mention the old coal mine."</p> + +<p>Eleanor promised and the fugitive seemed impressed with her sincerity.</p> + +<p>The man carried her about a quarter of a mile into the woods. Then he +laid her down in the grass and hurried away. Eleanor watched him with +grateful eyes. She did not wonder why the man and the old woman had come +to the mysterious hole in the earth, nor why they wished her to keep +their hiding place a secret; she was not troubled about it. She was +still in great pain, but her fever had gone and she was no longer +delirious. She remembered the events of the day before up to the time +when she started to wander in the woods. Now Eleanor waited, content and +full of faith. The day had come, with its wonderful promise. She knew +that she would soon be found. She would bear the pain as well as she +could until then.</p> + +<p>"Nellie! Nellie!" It was Madge's voice calling to her from afar off. The +tones sounded queer and strained, but Eleanor felt sure they were those +of her cousin. She could not be mistaken, as she had been last night. +She must have been dreaming when some one seemed to summon her from the +mouth of the cave. Eleanor did not realize that she had but caught an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +echo of some one crying to her through the heart of the forest.</p> + +<p>Eleanor was weak and faint, but she summoned her strength. "Madge! here +I am!" she cried. Her voice was too feeble to carry far.</p> + +<p>Neither Madge nor any of her companions caught the answering sound. +David Brewster, Jack Bolling, Phil and Lillian were with her. Harry +Sears had given out at daylight and had gone back to the Preston farm.</p> + +<p>Again they were wandering away from the spot where Nellie waited so +patiently.</p> + +<p>"Nellie! Nellie!" Madge called once more, her voice breaking.</p> + +<p>Poor Eleanor realized that Madge's voice was farther off than it had +been when she first called.</p> + +<p>Eleanor made an heroic effort. She raised herself to a sitting position. +"Madge! Phil! Oh, come to me!" she cried. Then Eleanor fainted.</p> + +<p>It was a limp, white figure that Madge, running ahead of all the others, +found stretched out on the grass. Her companions soon caught up with +her.</p> + +<p>"Nellie is dead!" cried Lillian, bursting into tears and sinking down +beside her friend on the grass.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," assured Phil, "Nellie has only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> fainted." She turned quietly +to David and Jack. "Go back, please, and tell Mr. Preston and some of +the other men to bring a cot on which to carry Eleanor. She is only worn +out and exhausted with exposure and pain. She will be all right soon. +Don't look so heartbroken Madge."</p> + +<p>Madge had not taken her eyes from her cousin's pale, haggard face. She +could not believe that she was really looking at Eleanor. Could this +poor, white, exhausted little creature be her Nellie? Why, it was only +the afternoon before when Madge had last seen Eleanor laughing and +talking to Harry Sears. And now——!</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the men came with the cot and Eleanor was carried to +the Preston home. Everybody, except David, followed her in triumph.</p> + +<p>For David Brewster did not go back home with the others; he wished to +find out about an old coal mine which he had been told was in this +vicinity. He did not, of course, dream of Eleanor's connection with the +place, but he had his own reasons for wishing to discover it.</p> + +<p>An hour later the man and the old gypsy woman were startled by another +visitor. David crept into the opening in the side of the hill. When he +left, the man and woman in the mine had promised the lad to leave the +countryside<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> as soon as possible. They had also agreed to return to +David the silver and the greater part of the money stolen from the +Preston house on the night of the corn roast. It remained for David to +see that the stolen goods were returned to the house without suspicion +falling on any one. David believed that he could save the evil-doers +from disgrace and detection. But how was he to save himself?</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span><a name="xvi" id="xvi"></a>CHAPTER XVI<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE BETTER MAN</small></h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 8px;"> +<img src="images/quote.png" width="8" height="7" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="cap">ELEANOR, dear, do you know who the two Indian Chiefs were who appeared +so mysteriously at our 'Feast of Mondamin'? They followed Lillian and me +about all evening and wouldn't take off their masks."</p> + +<p>Eleanor was propped up in a big, four-post mahogany bed with half a +dozen pillows under her lame shoulder. One arm and shoulder were tightly +bandaged. Eleanor had had a serious time since her accident. For +rheumatism, caused by her exposure to the rain, had set in in the +strained shoulder. She was now much better, though still feeling a good +deal used up, and she found it very difficult to move.</p> + +<p>Eleanor turned her head and smiled languidly at the excited Madge.</p> + +<p>"Of course I don't know who the Indians were. Dear me, I had forgotten +all about them. I suppose they must have been Mrs. Preston's and Miss +Betsey's burglars. Has any one caught them?" Eleanor was getting +interested.</p> + +<p>"I should say not," giggled Madge cheerfully. "Those Indian braves were +no other persons<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> than our highly respected friends, Mr. Tom Curtis and +Mr. George Robinson! The sillies came all the way here just to be +present at the corn roast, and then rushed off without telling us who +they were. Tom was awfully cross because I never mentioned their +appearance at the feast in any of my first letters. But I forgot all +about them, there has been so much else going on. Only in my last letter +I just happened to say that Mr. Preston had never been able to find out +anything about his burglars, and that the two men dressed as Indians, +whom Mr. Preston had always suspected, had disappeared."</p> + +<p>Eleanor laughed. "Of course Tom had to 'fess up' after that, didn't he? +Tom would so hate to do anything that might arouse suspicion. I think +Tom Curtis is the most honorable boy I ever knew. Don't you?" asked +Eleanor.</p> + +<p>"Of course I do," answered Madge emphatically. "By the way, Tom and +George will be back in a short time now with the motor launch. As soon +as you are well enough we shall probably start off again, though our +holiday time is almost over. You and I have distinguished ourselves by +getting lost on this houseboat trip, haven't we, Nellie, dear? Only it +is the old story. It was my fault that I got into trouble, while yours +was only an accident, you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> poor thing!" Madge patted Eleanor's hand +softly.</p> + +<p>The bedroom door now opened to admit Phyllis and Lillian. Phil carried a +large dish of ginger cookies, hot from the oven, and Lillian a platter +heaped with a pile of snowy popcorn. Both girls planted themselves on +the side of Eleanor's bed.</p> + +<p>"Phil, I thought you and Lillian promised to go walking with Harry Sears +and Jack Bolling," protested Madge. "I was to take care of Nellie this +afternoon while Miss Jenny Ann and Miss Betsey drove with Mrs. Preston +to look at the 'ha'nted house' we have talked so much about."</p> + +<p>Lillian shook her golden head calmly. "Did not want to go walking," she +remarked calmly. "Phil and I broke our engagements. We decided that we +would much rather stay with you and Nellie." She smiled and gave Eleanor +a hug. "Cook is going to send up a big pitcher of lemonade in a few +minutes. Who wouldn't rather stay at home than go walking with two +tiresome boys on an afternoon like this?"</p> + +<p>"You girls are terribly good and unselfish about me," exclaimed Eleanor. +"It's worth being ill, and having a sprained shoulder, and being rescued +by an old gypsy woman and a strange looking man to——" Eleanor stopped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +short. Her face flushed painfully and her eyes filled with tears. "Oh!" +she exclaimed, "I'm so sorry I have broken my word. I promised not to +tell. Please, please, don't anybody ask me any questions, for I can't +answer them even to please you girls."</p> + +<p>Lillian looked mystified and extremely curious. Phyllis and Madge gazed +at each other blankly. Neither of them spoke, but they were both +concerned with the same question. Could it be possible that Nellie had +also run across the old gypsy woman and the man who had held Madge a +prisoner until Phil and David had rescued her? But then, Eleanor had +been found several miles from the spot where the two old people were in +hiding when Madge ran across them.</p> + +<p>The little captain made up her mind to one thing; she would not trouble +Eleanor with questions. But she would ask David if he thought his +mysterious acquaintances were still in the neighborhood. Neither she nor +Phil had ever spoken of them, though they had never ceased to wonder at +David's knowing such peculiar people.</p> + +<p>"Is David Brewster going for a walk with Jack and Harry?" inquired Madge +casually.</p> + +<p>Lillian shook her head. "Of course not," she replied. "David is going +off on his usual secret<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> mission. He goes on one every single +afternoon!"</p> + +<p>"It doesn't concern any one but him, does it?"</p> + +<p>Lillian shrugged her shoulders. "I am certainly not in the least +interested," she answered disdainfully. "I think he is the rudest person +I ever met."</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, there were other members of the boat party who were much +concerned with David's peculiar behavior. Harry Sears and Jack Bolling +were rather bored with their stay on the Preston farm since Eleanor's +accident. The girls devoted all their time to nursing Eleanor; they +could rarely be persuaded to take a walk or a drive, or to stir up a +lark of any kind. Neither Harry nor Jack, who were from the city, felt +the least interest in the farm work. David spent every morning in the +fields with Mr. Preston. So Harry and Jack, having nothing else to think +about, began to worry and pry into David's actions. It was strange that +the boy went away every afternoon and never told any one where he was +going, nor spoke afterward of what he had done or where he had been!</p> + +<p>Jack Bolling did not really care a great deal about Brewster's affairs, +but Harry Sears was a regular "Paul Pry." He had made up his mind to +find out what Brewster was "after" on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> these afternoons when he +"sneaked" off and hid himself.</p> + +<p>Just before Jack and Harry started on their walk David Brewster came out +on the side porch of the Preston house with his coat pockets bulging +with flat, hard packages. He had his hat pulled down over his eyes, and +was hurrying off without looking either to the right or left, when Harry +Sears called out: "Where are you off to, Brewster? If you are going for +a walk, Bolling and I would like to go with you. We are looking for +something to do."</p> + +<p>David turned red. It was unexpected friendliness for Harry Sears to +suggest coming for a walk with him. Harry usually never noticed David at +all, except to order him about at every possible opportunity.</p> + +<p>But David was resolute. He particularly needed to be alone on this +afternoon. Besides his usual occupation, he must make up his mind how he +could go about restoring to the Prestons and Miss Taylor their stolen +property.</p> + +<p>"I'm off on personal business, Mr. Sears," he returned politely. "I +can't let any one else come along."</p> + +<p>"Well, you are a nice, sociable person, Brewster," sneered Harry. "Sorry +to have intruded. I might have known better."</p> + +<p>David swung out of the yard without answering.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> It never occurred to him +to glance back to see what Sears and Bolling were doing.</p> + +<p>"Let's go after the fellow, Bolling," proposed Harry. "We have nothing +else to do this afternoon. It would be rather good fun to find out what +knavery the chap is up to and to show him off before the girls. I +actually believe that Madge Morton and Phyllis Alden like the common +fellow. Maybe they think Brewster is a kind of hero; he is so silent, +dark and sullen, like the hero chap in a weepy sort of play."</p> + +<p>Jack Bolling hesitated. "I don't think it is square of us to spy on +Brewster, no matter what he is doing," he argued.</p> + +<p>"I <em>do</em>," returned Harry briefly. "If he isn't up to something he has no +business doing, what harm is there in our chancing to run across +him—quite by accident, of course? If he is up to some deviltry, it is +our business to find it out."</p> + +<p>David had turned a corner in the road and had jumped over a low stone +fence into a field when the other two young men started after him.</p> + +<p>Harry soon espied David, and he and Jack tramped after him cautiously, +always keeping at a safe distance.</p> + +<p>But David Brewster was wholly unaware that he was being followed. He +hurried from one field to another until he came to a meadow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> that had +been left uncultivated for a number of years. It was uneven, running +into little hills and valleys, with big rocks jutting out of the earth. +One of these rocks formed a complete screen. David walked straight +toward this spot as though he were accustomed to going to it. He lay +down on the grass under the rock. On his way to his retreat he had made +up his mind how he should try to return the stolen goods to the rightful +owners, so there was nothing to keep him from his regular occupation. +David pulled out of his pocket one of the small, flat objects that he +carried and almost completely concealed it with his body as he leaned +over it.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later Harry Sears crept up on tip-toe from the back of the +rock. Jack Bolling was considerably farther off. He meant to give David +some warning of his presence before he approached him.</p> + +<p>Harry Sears lay down flat on top of the rock. He made a sudden dive +toward David, grabbing at the object that David held in his hand.</p> + +<p>"What have you there?" he demanded. "Out with it! You've got to tell +what you do every afternoon, hiding off by yourself."</p> + +<p>David Brewster sprang to his feet, his face white with passion. He +thrust the object that Harry coveted back into his pocket.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>"Get up from there!" he shouted hoarsely. "What do you mean by spying on +me like this? What business is it of yours how I spend my time? I am +answerable to Tom Curtis, not to you. Here is your friend, Mr. Bolling, +sneaking behind you on the same errand; and I suppose you both think you +are gentlemen," he sneered.</p> + +<p>"Oh, come, Brewster," interrupted Jack Bolling apologetically, "I +suppose Harry and I were overdoing things a bit to come over here after +you. But there is no use getting so all-fired angry. If you are not up +to mischief, why do you care if we do happen to come up with you?"</p> + +<p>"Because I care to keep my own business to myself," answered David.</p> + +<p>"Look here, you fellow, don't be impertinent," broke in Harry Sears +coolly, as though David had scarcely the right to speak to him.</p> + +<p>David felt a blind, hot rage sweep over him. The boy was no longer +master of himself. Some day, when he learned to control this white heat +of passion, it was to make him a great power for good in the world. Now +his rage was the master.</p> + +<p>"Take care!" he called suddenly to Harry. He swung himself up on the +rock opposite Harry, forcing his opponent into an open place in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> the +field. Then David let loose a swinging blow with his closed fist.</p> + +<p>Harry and David were evenly matched fighters. Harry was taller and +older, and had been trained as a boxer in school and college gymnasiums; +but David was a firmly built fellow, of medium height, with muscles as +hard as iron from his work in the open. In addition, David was furiously +angry.</p> + +<p>Harry parried the first blow with his left arm, then made a lunge at +David.</p> + +<p>"Here, you fellows, cut that out!" commanded Jack Bolling. "You are +almost men. Don't scrap like a couple of schoolboys. You know the women +in our party will be disgusted with you."</p> + +<p>Neither Harry nor David paid the least attention to Jack's excellent +advice. Both fighters had their blood up. Harry's face was crimson and +David's white. Few blows were struck, because David made a headlong rush +at his opponent and the combatants wrestled back and forth, each boy +trying to force the other on the ground. It was by sheer force of +determination that David won. David got one hand loose and struck Harry +over the eye. Harry went down with a sudden crash. His head struck the +earth with a whack that temporarily put him out of the fight.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span>But David kept his knee on Harry's chest. He made no effort to get up. +His face was still working with anger.</p> + +<p>"Say, get off of Sears, Brewster, can't you?" growled Jack Bolling. "You +see he is down and out and you've won the fight. Don't you know that the +rules of the game won't let you hit a man when he is down?"</p> + +<p>David straightened up and stood upright. "Thank you, Bolling," he said +curtly. "I wasn't a sport and I am glad you reminded me of it. I was too +angry with Sears to want to quit the fight."</p> + +<p>Harry was sitting upon the ground, looking greatly chagrined. He had a +bruise over one eye and the place was rapidly swelling.</p> + +<p>"I expect I ought to apologize to you, Sears, for not having let you +alone when you were down," remarked David proudly. "But in the future +you will kindly leave my private affairs alone."</p> + +<p>David made off across the fields. He hoped to be able to get back to the +Preston house before Miss Betsey Taylor returned from her ride to the +haunted house. He was lucky enough to find Miss Betsey still out. As +David passed through the hall he was glad to find her bedroom door open. +He had just time enough to slip into her room and thrust a red cotton +handkerchief,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> which was tied up in a curious knot, under Miss Betsey's +pillow, when he thought he heard some one about to enter the room.</p> + +<p>David hurried out into the hall just as Madge and Phyllis passed by. +Both girls nodded to David in a friendly fashion, though Madge's +expressive face was alive with the question: "What is David Brewster +doing in Miss Betsey's room?"</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span><a name="xvii" id="xvii"></a>CHAPTER XVII<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE BIRTH OF SUSPICION</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">MISS BETSEY TAYLOR had a very successful drive to the "ha'nted house." +She returned home with the secret curiosity of years partly satisfied. +Not that Miss Betsey saw the "ghosts walk," or that anything in the +least unusual took place at the "ha'nted house"; it was simply that Mrs. +Preston at last unveiled to Miss Betsey Taylor all she knew of the +history of the particular "John Randolph" in whom Miss Betsey had once +been interested.</p> + +<p>It happened that Miss Jenny Ann, Miss Betsey and Mrs. Preston, in +driving up the road to the "ha'nted house," had met an old colored mammy +coming toward them, carrying a basket on her arm and talking to herself.</p> + +<p>She raised up one hand dramatically when she caught sight of the three +women. "Stay where you is. Don't come no farder," she warned. "The house +you is drawing nigher to is a house of 'ha'nts.' Ghosties walk here in +the day and sleep here in the night. It am mighty onlucky to bother a +ghostie."</p> + +<p>"Why, Mammy Ellen," protested Mrs. Preston, smiling kindly at the old +woman, "you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> don't tell me that you believe in ghosts? I thought you had +too much sense."</p> + +<p>"Child," argued the old woman, "they is some as <em>says</em> they is ghosts in +this here house of Cain and Abel; but they is one that <em>knows</em> they is +ghosts here." She shook her head. "I hev seen 'em. Jest you let sleepin' +ghosts lie."</p> + +<p>"We are not going to disturb them, Mammy Ellen," promised Mrs. Preston. +"We are just going to drive about the old place, so that my friends, who +are from the North, can see what this old, deserted estate looks like."</p> + +<p>"That old woman once belonged to the family of John Randolph, Miss +Betsey. Do you recall your speaking of him to me a few days ago?" +inquired Mrs. Preston as the old colored woman marched solemnly away.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember," answered Miss Betsey vaguely. "I believe I knew this +same John Randolph when I was a girl."</p> + +<p>"Then I am sorry to tell you his story, because it is a sad one," sighed +Mrs. Preston. "My husband and I often talk of him. We feel, somehow, +that we ought to have done something. John Randolph came back here +suddenly, after spending a year or so in New York, after the close of +the war. He married three or four years afterward a girl from the next +county. She wasn't much of a wife; the poor thing was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> ill and never +liked the country. She persuaded John to sell out his share in the +estate to his brother James. You remember, it was the Grinstead place I +showed to you on our drive to the sulphur well the other day. Well, John +and his wife settled in Richmond and John tried to practise law. He +wasn't much of a success. I reckon poor John did not know much but +farming. He and his wife had one child, a girl. She married and died, +leaving a baby for her father and mother to look after. A few years ago +John's wife died, too, and the old man came back here to the old place. +He didn't have any money, and I expect he didn't have any other home to +go to." Mrs. Preston paused. She had driven around the haunted house, +but her visitors were more interested in her story than they were in the +sight of the deserted mansion.</p> + +<p>"Then, I suppose, poor John died," added Miss Betsey sadly, her face +clouding with memories; the John Randolph she had known had been so full +of youth and enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Preston flapped her reins. "I reckon so," she sighed. "You see, +John Randolph did not have any real claim on the Grinsteads. They were +his brother James's wife's people, and I suppose they were not very good +to him; or it may be the old man was just sensitive. Anyway, John +Randolph went away from the Grinstead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> place about six months ago. No +word has been heard of him, so I suppose he is dead."</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey surreptitiously wiped away a few tears for her dead romance. +They were not very bitter tears. Of course, her old lover, John +Randolph, was only a memory. But it was sad to hear that he had had such +an unfortunate life; he might better have been less "touchy" and not +have left <em>her</em> so abruptly. Miss Betsey's tears passed unnoticed. Miss +Jenny Ann was also depressed by the story, and as for kind Mrs. Preston, +she sighed deeply every five or ten minutes during the ride home.</p> + +<p>But Miss Betsey was so quiet and unlike herself all the evening that +Madge, Phyllis and Lillian decided that she must feel ill. The girls +would never have believed, even if they had been told, that Miss Betsey, +who was on the shady side of sixty, could possibly have been sorrowing +over a lover whom she had not seen in nearly forty years. But girls do +not know that the minds of older people travel backward, and that an old +maid is a "girl" at heart to the longest day she lives.</p> + +<p>Miss Taylor went up to her own room early.</p> + +<p>Madge and Phyllis were undressing to jump into bed, when a knock on +their door startled them.</p> + +<p>"Girls!" a voice cried in trembling tones.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span>"It's poor Miss Betsey!" exclaimed Phil. "I'll wager she is ill or +something, she has been acting so queerly all evening." Phil ran to open +their door.</p> + +<p>"Take me in, children," whispered Miss Betsey, shaking her head. "Sh-sh! +Don't make a noise; something so strange has happened. I couldn't wait +until morning to tell you."</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey dropped into a chair by the window. She was minus her side +curls and she had her still jet-black hair screwed up into a tight knot +at the back of her head. But in honor of her present frivolous life as +one of the houseboat girls she wore a bright red flannelette dressing +gown.</p> + +<p>Madge looked at Miss Betsey, then choked and began to cough violently to +conceal her laughter.</p> + +<p>"Don't make that noise, Madge; laugh out-right if you think I am funny," +whispered Miss Betsey, instead of giving the little captain the lecture +she deserved. "I don't want any one to know I am in here with you. I've +got something so strange to show you."</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey slipped her hand into the capacious pocket of her dressing +gown. She drew out a bright red cotton handkerchief, knotted and tied +together into a dirty ball.</p> + +<p>"What on earth have you there, Miss Betsey?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> asked Phil. "I should be +afraid to touch such a dreadful looking handkerchief."</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey fingered it gingerly. She seemed to be trying to open it.</p> + +<p>Madge picked up a pair of curling tongs and caught the handkerchief by +one end. "Do let me throw it out of the window for you, Miss Betsey!" +she urged.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey gave a little shriek of protest. But Madge and Phil were +staring in Miss Betsey's lap, their eyes wide with amazement. Into the +old lady's lap had fallen, from the dirty cotton handkerchief, all her +stolen jewelry.</p> + +<p>"Where did it come from, Miss Betsey?" demanded Phil.</p> + +<p>"From under my pillow," answered Miss Betsey.</p> + +<p>"Then the thief must have put it back!" exclaimed Madge impetuously.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey nodded emphatically. "Yes, of course he did. But who and why +and how? My money has not been returned. Why should the burglar take +pity on me and return me my poor little jewelry? It is of some value. +And now Mr. Preston will have a much easier time in tracing the thief, +with this handkerchief as a clue to go on. I can't help suspecting one +of the servants, for, girls," Miss Betsey lowered her voice solemnly, "I +was in my own room all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> morning. I made my bed, as it has been my +custom to do every day of my life, and when I made my bed there was +certainly no red cotton pocket handkerchief with my jewelry in it under +my pillow. I have been out this afternoon, but you children have been up +on this floor with Eleanor. Now think. Did you hear anything or see any +one enter my room at any time?"</p> + +<p>Madge and Phyllis stood still, thinking deeply. Suddenly Madge's cheeks +flamed. "David!" exclaimed Phil Alden involuntarily at the same moment.</p> + +<p>"David?" Miss Betsey's face was a study. She turned almost as red as +Madge. "You don't mean that you girls saw David Brewster enter my room +this afternoon? No, no, children, it couldn't be! The boy has a bad +disposition, I know. He is surly and cross. But then the lad has had no +training of any kind. He has had everything against him. He seemed to be +quite honest when he lived with me. But, but——" Miss Betsey hesitated. +"Of course, David will tell me why he came into my room this afternoon. +He probably went there on an errand."</p> + +<p>Phyllis Alden shook her head regretfully. She said nothing.</p> + +<p>"You don't suspect David, do you, Phil?" questioned Madge.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>"I don't know what to think," remarked Phil judicially. "Of course, I +don't really suspect David. No one has the right to suspect him without +any real proof. But it does seem queer to me that Miss Betsey lost her +money first on the houseboat and then here. What is your honest +opinion?"</p> + +<p>To save her life, Madge could not but think of David's mysterious trip +to the Preston house while the barn was burning on the night of the +robbery. Still, she did not answer Phyllis.</p> + +<p>"Tell us what you think, Madge," insisted Miss Betsey. "Why, I was +beginning to feel proud of the boy, his manners have improved so much +since he came on this trip. And I have been saying to myself that if I +had believed in the boy and tried to help him, as you have done, perhaps +he might have been less surly years ago. Some day I may tell you +children more of the lad's history."</p> + +<p>"Miss Betsey," Madge's voice was very grave, "to tell you the truth, I +don't know what to think. I know that there are some things that point +toward David's being a thief. But, just the same, I don't believe he is +one. You know I have always been sorry for David, Miss Betsey, ever +since he pulled me out from under Dr. Alden's buggy, when I was trying +to spoil your lawn, as the donkeys did Miss Betsey Trotter's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> in 'David +Copperfield.' And somehow"—she paused reflectively—"I believe in him +still. I <em>know</em> that David Brewster wouldn't steal! It may be my +intuition that makes me say this; I have no real reason for thinking it. +I trust David, trust him fully. I am sure that he is absolutely honest."</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey patted Madge's auburn head almost affectionately. She felt +nearly fond of her for her loyalty toward David. "We won't, any of us, +speak of suspecting any one, children," she concluded. "You are not to +mention having seen David Brewster come out of my room. I would not have +suspicion rest on the boy wrongfully for a great deal; it might ruin his +whole future life. But we must be very careful; say nothing and watch! +There are sure to be other developments that will point toward the real +thief. If we do see or hear anything else that seems suspicious, then we +owe it to Mr. and Mrs. Preston to take them into our confidence. We must +remember that their property was stolen as well as mine, and that they +have taken us into their household and treated us as members of their +own family. Much as I may wish it," Miss Betsey lowered her voice +solemnly, "I feel that we have no right to shield David if he is at +fault. But"—Miss Taylor's voice was even more serious—"it would be a +far more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> wicked thing for us to accuse the boy if he is guiltless."</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey rose to go. In spite of her funny, old maid appearance and +her usually severe manner toward Madge, that young woman flung her arms +around the spinster's neck and hugged her warmly. "You are perfectly +splendid, Miss Betsey," she whispered. As Miss Betsey tip-toed +cautiously out of the room, Madge blew a kiss toward her retreating +back. "You can just lecture me, after this, as much as you like. And I +promise, I promise"—Madge hesitated—"I promise not to like it a bit +better than I do now," she ended truthfully.</p> + +<p>Then Madge turned to Phil, her rock of refuge. "Phyllis Alden, if David +Brewster stole from Miss Betsey or Mrs. Preston, I don't care what +excuse he has, I shall never forgive him, or myself for bringing him on +this boat trip. Oh, dear me! I wish dear old Tom were here! I would ask +Tom to ask David to clear things up. I suppose if I try to talk to David +Brewster, he will bite my head off."</p> + +<p>"Come to bed this minute, Madge, and don't talk to anybody about +anything until you know more," commanded Phil stolidly. And Madge +obeyed.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span><a name="xviii" id="xviii"></a>CHAPTER XVIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>DAVID'S MYSTERIOUS ERRAND</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">POOR David Brewster was facing a more difficult problem than he ever had +had to conquer in his life. He must manage to get over to the old coal +mine, bring back the Preston silver and as much of Miss Betsey's money +as he could force the thief to leave behind him, without being noticed +or suspected of any unusual design. The jewels that David had already +returned to Miss Betsey had been in charge of the old gypsy woman; David +had found them on his first visit to her. But to carry back a quantity +of old family silver, some of it in fairly large pieces, was not so +simple a task. Yet David had one thing in his favor: Harry Sears and +Jack Bolling had both left the Preston farm. After Harry's encounter +with David, and the latter's frank account of his own part in the fight, +Harry had not cared to linger at the farm. He knew that some day Madge +and Phyllis Alden would find out why David had been tempted to fight. +Harry Sears had no desire to recount his own unsuccessful attempt to act +the part of "Paul Pry," so Harry and Jack had gone on to join Tom Curtis +and George<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> Robinson, and the four boys were to come on to the houseboat +party in a few days.</p> + +<p>David Brewster knew that whatever he had to do must be done quickly. So +he borrowed a horse and cart from Mr. Preston a day or so after Miss +Betsey's midnight talk with Madge and Phyllis. He did not explain what +he wished with the horse. However, his host asked no questions, for Mr. +Preston had entire faith in the boy.</p> + +<p>Madge happened to be in the yard as David drove out from the stable. She +waved her hand to David in a friendly fashion, feeling secretly ashamed +of having even discussed the question of his possible guilt.</p> + +<p>David was too worried and unhappy to respond to Madge's greeting +pleasantly, but he acknowledged her salutation with a curt nod of his +head. He had lately been more silent and reserved than ever in his +manner, because, in his heart, he longed so deeply to know some one in +whom he could confide. Yet he was afraid to trust even Madge.</p> + +<p>"Going driving all alone, David?" questioned Madge.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered David harshly. Yet he was thinking at the same moment +that if he only could confide in her, Madge was just the kind of a girl +to help a fellow out of a scrape and to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> stand shoulder to shoulder with +him if he got into a difficulty.</p> + +<p>Madge hesitated. She wanted so much to be friendly with David. She +thought that perhaps if he talked with her alone, he might explain a +number of things about himself that she wanted to understand, not from +curiosity but in a real spirit of friendliness. Yet she could not make +up her mind to make this request of David. If he had been like Tom, or +any one of the other motor launch boys, she would not have hesitated for +an instant.</p> + +<p>"Stop a minute, please, David," she said, looking earnestly at the boy, +"I have a favor to ask of you." She knew that David had some mysterious +occupation that took him away from the farm every afternoon, and that he +would brook no interference. "If you are going to drive alone and I +won't be in the way, won't you take me with you?"</p> + +<p>David Brewster colored to the roots of his dark hair. Never in his whole +life had a nice girl approached him in the friendly way that Madge had +just done. Yet he knew he must refuse her request, though David would +have dearly loved to have Madge drive with him. He simply must return +the stolen goods to Mr. Preston's house to-day, or else run the risk of +never restoring them to their rightful owners.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> He would not dare to ask +Mr. Preston to lend him a horse again soon, and Tom might return any day +with his launch.</p> + +<p>Madge realized before David answered her that he meant to refuse to take +her with him. She felt furiously angry, more with herself than with the +boy.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry," muttered David, when he at last found his voice. "I've got +to attend to some business this afternoon and I've got to attend to it +alone, or I would like very much to have you come along with me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind, then," answered Madge coldly, turning away from David, +who took a step toward her retreating figure, then, with a muttered +exclamation, sprang into the cart and drove off.</p> + +<p>As for Madge, she decided never to speak to David again; he was +insufferable.</p> + +<p>About five o'clock on the same afternoon Madge, Phyllis, Lillian and +Miss Betsey were out on the lawn eating watermelon. Eleanor stood at her +front window gazing down wistfully at her friends. Miss Jenny Ann was +reading to amuse her, but it was really more fun to look down at the +girls. Nellie was getting dreadfully tired of being confined to one +room, and yet she did not feel well enough to go downstairs.</p> + +<p>David Brewster drove back into the yard.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> Inside his cart Madge noticed +a square, wooden box, which she had not seen when David left the farm. +Without saying a word to any one, the boy lifted the box and carried it +into the house. A little later he came out on the lawn to where Miss +Betsey and the girls were sitting and approached Madge rather +diffidently.</p> + +<p>"Miss Morton," David's voice was unusually gentle, "don't you think I +might carry your cousin, Miss Butler, downstairs? I saw her at the +window as I drove into the yard. She looks lonely. Perhaps she would +like to be down here."</p> + +<p>Madge blew a kiss up to Eleanor. She, too, had caught her cousin's +wistful expression. The little captain's heart melted toward David. "I +don't know," she answered doubtfully. "I'll go upstairs and ask Miss +Jenny Ann what she thinks."</p> + +<p>"I'd be awfully careful," urged David. "I know I could carry Miss Butler +without hurting her shoulder. We could bring a steamer chair out here on +the lawn for her when I get her down."</p> + +<p>Madge hurried away. A few seconds later David saw her at the open window +waving her hand and nodding her head energetically. "Yes; do come up," +she called. "Eleanor is <em>so</em> anxious to have you carry her down into the +yard,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> and Miss Jenny Ann is willing that you should try."</p> + +<p>The girls busied themselves with arranging Nellie's chair in the +shadiest spot on the lawn, under a great horse-chestnut tree, and piling +the chair with sofa cushions and a pale pink shawl, and in cutting the +"heart" out of the choicest watermelon to bestow on the invalid and her +cavalier.</p> + +<p>David bore Nellie as comfortably as though she were a baby. She had her +well arm about his neck and the other, the bandaged one, rested +comfortably in her lap. David's face had completely lost its sullen +look. He was actually smiling at Eleanor as she apologized for being "so +heavy."</p> + +<p>Then he sat down on the ground in the midst of the bevy of laughing +girls. Lillian passed him his piece of watermelon in her prettiest +fashion. David accepted it as gracefully as Tom Curtis might have done. +When the watermelon feast was over David helped the three girls to clear +away the dishes. When he came back he dropped down at Miss Betsey's side +and began to wind her ball of yarn.</p> + +<p>"I wish you would knit me some gloves this winter, Cousin Betsey," he +begged boyishly.</p> + +<p>The old lady patted him affectionately. When, before, had the boy ever +called her "Cousin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> Betsey"? He had seemed always to try to ignore their +relationship. "The lad isn't so bad-looking after all," Miss Taylor +thought to herself. "He is handsome when he is happy." David had on a +soft, faded, blue shirt, with a turned-down collar that showed the fine, +muscular lines of his throat. He had a strong, clear-cut face, and his +brown eyes were large and expressive. When he laughed his whole face +changed. He looked actually happy.</p> + +<p>Then Miss Betsey realized all of a sudden how seldom she had ever seen +the boy even smile before. Perhaps, after all, Dr. Alden's prescription +for Miss Betsey Taylor was precisely what she needed. Sunshine and the +company of young people had really given her something to think about +besides her own nerves.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Brewster," Eleanor's voice was still a little weak from her +illness, "where were you the night I was lost? Madge said you did not +join the searching party until early next morning. I believe if you had +been with the others, you might have found me sooner, you were so clever +about finding Madge."</p> + +<p>David's face changed suddenly. The old, sullen look crept over it. Then, +as he glanced straight into Eleanor's clear eyes, his expression +softened.</p> + +<p>"I was sorry I wasn't along with the others,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> he answered kindly. "But +I forgot to tell you something. I had an experience of my own that +night. I went for a long walk. On my way back I decided to take a nap on +the porch of the 'ha'nted house.' What do you think happened?" David +lowered his voice to a whisper.</p> + +<p>"You saw the ghosts?" shivered Lillian.</p> + +<p>David nodded his head solemnly. "I suppose you'll think I am quite mad," +he insisted. "I think I am myself when I recall the story in broad +daylight. But, as sure as I am sitting here, I saw two ghosts walk up +the path and pass into the empty house. They were those of an old man +and a young girl. They flitted along like shadows."</p> + +<p>"You were dreaming, boy," insisted Miss Betsey.</p> + +<p>David shook his head. "I don't think so," he argued. "I was as wide +awake as I am now. I got up and made a blind rush for home as soon as +the spooks went by me."</p> + +<p>"Girls! Miss Betsey!" called Mrs. Preston from the veranda, "it is time +to come into the house to get ready for tea."</p> + +<p>As the watermelon party scrambled to their feet Madge waved one hand +dramatically. "Pause, kind friends," she commanded. "Who among us has +the courage to find out whether David Brewster's 'spooks' are real? I +have always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> longed to spend a night in a haunted house. Now, here's our +chance!"</p> + +<p>"I'm with you," answered David. "I'll go."</p> + +<p>"So will I," announced Phil.</p> + +<p>Miss Jenny Ann, who was in for most larks, hesitated. "Of course, I +don't believe in ghosts, children; there are no such things," she +declared. "Still, I shouldn't like to meet them at night."</p> + +<p>Before the laughter at Miss Jenny Ann had ceased reinforcement for +Madge's ghost party arrived from an unexpected quarter. Miss Betsey +Taylor offered her services as chaperon, and suggested that the "spook +investigation" take place the very next night.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span><a name="xix" id="xix"></a>CHAPTER XIX<br /> +<br /> +<small>GHOSTS OF THE PAST</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">IT was nearly ten o'clock the following evening when four excited +adventurers set out from the Preston house. They carried dark lanterns, +while practical Phil had a package of lunch stored away out of sight. +She had an idea that sitting up all night in a forlorn, dirty old house +was not going to be half as much sport as enthusiastic Madge +anticipated.</p> + +<p>The little captain was not the only enthusiast in the ghost party, which +was composed of herself, Phil, David and Miss Betsey. Miss Betsey Taylor +had cast from her the sobriety of years. She was as eager and as +interested in their midnight excursion as any young girl could have +been. Not that the pursuit of ghosts had been a secret passion of Miss +Betsey's. It was only that, at the age of sixty, she was at last +beginning to understand how it felt to be young, and she was as ready +for adventure as any other one of the party of young folks.</p> + +<p>Indeed, she was far more eager than Lillian Seldon, who could not be +persuaded even to contemplate the thought of approaching the "ha'nted +house." Lillian insisted that it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> her duty to stay at home with +Eleanor and Miss Jenny Ann.</p> + +<p>No one had been told of the proposed trip except Mr. and Mrs. Preston. +The ghost party had no intention of allowing practical jokers in the +neighborhood to get up "fake spooks" for their entertainment. They were +seriously determined to find out why the ancient house was supposed to +be inhabited by spirits from another world, and whether David Brewster +had seen real ghosts during his visit to the house or only creatures of +his own imagination.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey clung tightly to David's arm as they made their way along +the dark road. The old lady wore a pale gray dress, with a soft real +lace collar around her neck. Recently the houseboat girls had persuaded +her to leave off her false side curls and to wave her hair a little over +her ears. No change of costume could make Miss Betsey a beauty, but she +was improved, and she did look a little less like an old maid. To-night +Miss Betsey had concealed her dress with a long, black macintosh cape, +which completely enveloped her. With her tall, spare form and her lean, +square shoulders Miss Betsey looked like a grenadier. On her head she +had tied, with a long gray veil, one of Jack Bolling's soft felt hats.</p> + +<p>"Madge, if you keep on prattling such gruesome<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> tales I shall turn back +and leave you to your fate," expostulated Phil, as she urged Madge along +behind David and their chaperon. "I know nothing will happen to-night, +except that we will all be dead tired and wish we were safe at home in +our little beds. Good gracious, what was that?" Phil gave Madge's arm a +sudden pinch. "That" was an old woman hobbling along the road in the +opposite direction from the four adventurers.</p> + +<p>"Scat!" cried Miss Betsey nervously as the woman came face to face with +her.</p> + +<p>David laughed and took off his hat in the dark. The old woman had picked +up her skirts and started to scurry off as fast as she could. But as she +caught sight of Miss Betsey's face in the light of the lantern that +David carried the old mammy paused. She was the "Mammy Ellen" to whom +Mrs. Preston had talked on the day of the drive to the "ha'nted house."</p> + +<p>"Land sakes alive, chillun, how you scairt me!" grumbled the old woman. +"When you done said 'Scat!' I thought certain you'd seen a black cat, +and it jest nacherally means bad luck. Ain't you the lady I seen with +Mrs. Preston?" inquired Mammy Ellen of Miss Betsey, with the marvelous +memory that colored people have for faces.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey nodded. "I wish you would come<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> to see me in the morning, +Mammy," suggested Miss Betsey. "Long years ago I used to know Mr. John +Randolph, and Mrs. Preston tells me you were a member of his family. We +can't stop to-night. We are going—on up the road," concluded Miss +Taylor vaguely.</p> + +<p>Even in the darkness Madge and Phyllis could see the whites of Mammy +Ellen's eyes grow larger. "You ain't a-goin' near the house of 'ha'nts,' +is you? If you do, you'll sure meet trouble, one of you, I ain't a +saying which. But ef you disturb a dead ghost, he am just as apt to put +his ice cold fingers on you, and you ain't no more good after that. You +am sure enough done for."</p> + +<p>"Why not, Auntie?" inquired Madge, her blue eyes dancing. Meeting this +aged colored woman with her mysterious tale of ghost signs and warnings +was the best possible beginning for their lark.</p> + +<p>"Child, ef a ghost's cold fingers teches you, your heart grows stone +cold. There ain't nobody that loves you and you don't love nobody ever +after. Don't you go near that old house, chilluns. It ain't no place for +the likes of you," pleaded Mammy Ellen. "I tell you there am more buried +there than youall knows. That old house am a grave for the young and the +old. Mind what I say. It sure am."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span>"Why do you think we are going to the 'ghost house,' Mammy?" queried +David, laughing.</p> + +<p>The old colored woman shook her head slowly. "It ain't caze I think +youall's going to the old place that I warn ye; it am only caze I's so +afeerd you might. I know there ain't nobody, in their right good senses +as would want their wits scairt clean out of 'em."</p> + +<p>"But we don't believe in ghosts, Mammy," argued Madge.</p> + +<p>Mammy Ellen peered into Madge's bright face. "Go 'long, child," she +said. "You don't believe in ghosts caze you ain't seen 'em, jest as ye +don't believe in most of the things you's got to find out."</p> + +<p>Mammy Ellen bowed courteously to Miss Betsey and the young people as she +walked away from them.</p> + +<p>"I do wish we hadn't met that old colored woman, Madge," whispered Phil. +"She makes me feel as though we were intruding on ghosts when we go +prying about their haunts at night."</p> + +<p>Every leaf of every tree, every rustling blade of grass, every stirring +breath of the night wind took on a more sinister character as the four +ghost-investigators slipped up the tangled, overgrown path to the house +of mystery.</p> + +<p>"We must put out all our lanterns but one," ordered David. "If any one +happens to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> walking along the road, we don't wish them to see us +prowling about this place. Besides, we don't want to frighten the +ghosts."</p> + +<p>The three women put out the light of their lanterns. David kept his +light, walking in front, with Miss Betsey next and Madge and Phyllis +bringing up the rear. The women clutched at one another's skirts as they +went around and around the dark old house, tumbling over crumbling +bricks and tangled vines. They thought it best to look thoroughly around +the outside of the house for loiterers, whether ghostly or real, before +exploring the inside.</p> + +<p>"'Chickamy, chickamy, crainey crow, went to the well to wash her toe! +When she came back her chickens were all gone.' What time is it, old +Witch?" murmured Madge, giving Phil's skirt a wicked pull. Phil fell +back, almost upsetting Miss Betsey, who clutched feverishly at David's +coatsleeve.</p> + +<p>"What on earth happened to you, child?" she asked tremulously.</p> + +<p>"It was that good-for-nothing Madge's fault," laughed Phyllis.</p> + +<p>No one of the party took the first part of their ghost hunt seriously, +but when David reported that the hour was growing late, and that it was +now time for them to enter the old house, a different feeling stole over +each one of them—a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> kind of curious foreboding of evil, or unhappiness, +or some unexplainable mystery.</p> + +<p>"Let's give up and go back, Madge," proposed Phyllis. "The old house is +so musty, dark and horrible that it is sure to have rats in it, if +nothing worse. I feel that it would be better for all of us not to go +in. Suppose we should see something queer? What could we do?"</p> + +<p>"Phyllis Alden, the very idea of your suggesting that we turn +'quitters'!" expostulated Madge. "Do you suppose we could face Miss +Jenny Ann and the girls if we retreat before we even know there is an +enemy? Come on, Miss Betsey; you and I will go on ahead. Let Phil come +with David if she likes."</p> + +<p>Madge danced up the old, tumbled-down veranda steps, guided by the rays +of her lantern. Each one of the women had relit her lantern to enter the +deserted house. Once inside they might put them out again. But who could +tell what they might stumble against in a house that was supposed never +to have been entered in nearly forty years?</p> + +<p>Madge pushed at the front door, which hung by a broken hinge, and drew +Miss Betsey in after her. "Oh, dear me, isn't it awful?" she whispered.</p> + +<p>Not one of the ghost party had spoken in an ordinary voice since the +start of their adventure.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> Somehow their errand, the darkness of the +night and their own feelings made whispered tones seem more appropriate.</p> + +<p>The four explorers gazed silently at the sight that Madge described as +"awful." They had expected to find the "ha'nted house" empty of +furniture. Yet in the broad hall there was an open fireplace. On either +side of it were great oak arm-chairs. Spider webs hung in beautiful +silver festoons from the mantel, with their many-legged spinners caught +in their mesh. Gray mice, lean and terrified, scuttled across the dusty +floor. A bat flapped blindly overhead.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey caught Madge by the hand. "I can almost see dead people +sitting in those dusty chairs," she murmured. "Let us go on upstairs. I +wish this thing were over."</p> + +<p>The railing had fallen away from the steps, that were covered not only +with dust but with a kind of slippery mould, as many winters' rain had +fallen down upon them from the holes in the roof. David crawled up +first, pulling Madge, Phyllis and Miss Betsey after him. They groped +their way to the front bedroom.</p> + +<p>"I won't go in there; I shall wait here in the hall," Phil said +pettishly. "I can't help thinking of Harry Sears's story about the sick +girl in that old house on Cape Cod."</p> + +<p>David shoved at the closed door. It was fastened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> tight. Had the room +been locked against intruders for nearly half a century? But ghosts do +not hesitate at closed doors. David pushed harder than he knew. The lock +on the old door gave way. It fell forward, striking the floor with a +terrific crash.</p> + +<p>Phyllis screamed with horror, then turned rigid. Not one of the others +made a single sound, except that Madge's lantern dropped to the floor at +her feet and her light went out.</p> + +<p>An old man rose slowly from the side of a tumbled bed. He was so thin, +so white, so ethereal that he could not be human. But the four pair of +frightened eyes strained past the ghostly old man to a thin wraith that +lay on the bed. It was a girl, frail, white and wasted, staring not at +the intruders before the fallen door, but at an object that she seemed +to see afar off.</p> + +<p>Madge's voice caught in her throat. Her knees trembled and she swayed +helplessly toward Phil. If only she and Phil could have run from the +sight before them! But they stood stupidly still, unable to move. There +was absolutely not a ray of light in the ghostly bedroom, save that +which came from the reflection of the dark lanterns in the hall. David +had jumped back when the door fell before him. But Miss Betsey's tall, +thin figure, in her queer, military coat, cast a long black shadow +across the old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> room. Why did not some one speak? Ghosts can not talk +and the onlookers were dumb with fear and amazement.</p> + +<p>Then the ghost laughed drearily. "You have found me out," it said +mournfully. "I have no place, even in this house of darkness. I can not +see your faces. But I wonder why you wish to disturb an old man's last +retreat?"</p> + +<p>For answer, Madge burst into tears. She was nervous and overwrought, and +to find that "the ghost" was a real person was more than she could bear.</p> + +<p>"We didn't know there was any one living in the house," she faltered. +"We are strangers in this neighborhood. The people about here told us +that this old place was haunted, and we came to-night to see if ghosts +were real."</p> + +<p>"Come in and bring your lights," invited the old gentleman. "There are +many kinds of ghosts, child. I will tell you who I am."</p> + +<p>The four visitors crowded into the musty room. Phyllis and Madge had +their eyes fixed on the girl's figure in the bed. She did not return +their look, although the muscles of her face were twitching +pathetically.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey Taylor was behaving very curiously. She held her dark +lantern up so that its light fell full on the white face of the old man +whom they had so rudely disturbed.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span>"Bless my soul!" she murmured out loud, "it <em>can't</em> be!"</p> + +<p>"My name is John Randolph," explained the old gentleman, with a fine +stateliness. "My grandchild and I have been living in this deserted +house because we had no other home in the world."</p> + +<p>"I knew it!" announced Miss Betsey. "Isn't it just like John Randolph! +Would rather bury himself alive than let his friends take care of him. +Southern pride!" sniffed Miss Betsey. "I call it Southern foolishness."</p> + +<p>"Madam," answered Mr. Randolph coldly, "I have no friends. I can not see +that I have done wrong to any one by hiding away in this old place, that +was once the property of my friends. If people have thought of me as a +ghost, and I have tried to encourage them in the idea, well, lives that +are finished and have no place in the world are but ghosts of the +unhappy past."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" said Miss Betsey vigorously, her black eyes snapping, though +she felt a curious lump in her throat. "You were always a +sentimentalist, John Randolph. But you can't live on memories. You still +are obliged to eat and to breathe God's fresh air. How do you do it?"</p> + +<p>If the broken old man wondered why Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> Betsey Taylor took such an +interest in his affairs, he was too courteous to show it.</p> + +<p>"An old colored woman, 'Mammy Ellen,' who was a girl in our family when +I was a young man, has not forgotten us. She brings us each day such +food as she can procure. As for air"—the old man hesitated—"we do not +go out in the daytime. I prefer that the people of the neighborhood +should think of me as dead. But at night my little grand-daughter and I +walk about over the old place."</p> + +<p>Madge, Phil and David gasped involuntarily. They had been silent and +amazed listeners to the dialogue between the two old people. Now the +thought of a girl younger than themselves being shut up all day in this +dreadful house, and only being allowed to go out-of-doors at night was +too dreadful to contemplate.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but surely you can't keep your little grand-daughter shut away from +the daylight!" exclaimed impetuous Madge, her face alive with sympathy +as she gazed at the thin little form on the bed.</p> + +<p>"Daylight and darkness are as one to my little girl," the old gentleman +answered quietly, "she is blind."</p> + +<p>Madge shivered. Phil went over to the bed and patted the girl's hand +softly. But they both longed, with all their hearts, to get away from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +this house of tragedy. It was strange that Miss Betsey did not offer to +go and leave the old man and child to their privacy.</p> + +<p>Miss Betsey's black eyes were no longer snapping; they were wet with +tears.</p> + +<p>"I am coming to take you both away from this place in the morning, John +Randolph. If you won't come for your own sake, you must come for the +child's. So like a man not to know that that poor baby needs to <em>feel</em> +all the more sunlight because she can't <em>see</em> it! And she may even be +able to see it some day with proper care." Miss Betsey bent over the +child so caressingly that she looked more like a funny old angel in her +strange, long cape and her ridiculous hat than a selfish, cross-grained +old maid.</p> + +<p>"I do not understand your kindness, Madam," returned the old gentleman +with courteous curiosity.</p> + +<p>"Because I am your friend," answered Miss Betsey curtly. "I'm Betsey +Taylor, whom you used to know a great many years ago. You have forgotten +me because you have had many interests in your life that have crowded me +out. But I—I have remembered," concluded Miss Betsey abruptly. "Good +night." She swung her dark lantern and, looking more than ever like a +grenadier, led the little procession out.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span><a name="xx" id="xx"></a>CHAPTER XX<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE FANCY DRESS PARTY</small></h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 8px;"> +<img src="images/quote.png" width="8" height="7" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="cap">MRS. PRESTON says we may have a dance before we go back to the +houseboat, Eleanor," announced Lillian. The two girls were out under the +big grape arbor filling a basket with great bunches of red and purple +grapes. "And Madge suggests that we have a surprise dance for the boys +the night they get back with the motor launch."</p> + +<p>Eleanor laughed happily. "What a perfectly delightful idea! Isn't Mrs. +Preston a dear? We must have been a lot of trouble to her."</p> + +<p>Lillian shook her head thoughtfully. "I don't think so," she answered. +"At least, I believe Mrs. Preston has liked the trouble. She says that +we have made her feel younger and jollier than she ever expected to feel +again in her life. She says that she is awfully fond of each one of us, +and that Mr. Preston has never cared as much for a boy since his own son +died, many years ago, as he does for David Brewster."</p> + +<p>"Lillian," Eleanor's tones were serious, "I think that we ought to +change our opinions of David. Somehow, he seems so much nicer recently, +since the other boys went away. He is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> awfully quiet and sad, but I +don't believe he is hateful and sullen, as we thought him at first. Poor +David!"</p> + +<p>Lillian did not reply at once. A sympathetic expression crossed her +delicate, high-bred face. "I suppose, Nellie, dear, it must be hard for +David to be with fellows who have everything in the world, like the +motor launch boys—money and family and friends—when David has +nothing."</p> + +<p>"Madge declares that David will some day be a great man," rejoined +Eleanor. "There he is now over there under the trees with Madge, Phil +and little blind Alice. Isn't she a quaint child? She says she loves +Madge best of all of us, because she can feel the color in Madge's red +hair and cheeks. Miss Betsey is almost jealous of our little captain."</p> + +<p>Lillian finished eating a bunch of catawba grapes. "Miss Betsey wants to +take that blind child back to Hartford with her. She says that if Alice +sees specialists in New York her sight may be restored. And her +grandfather has consented to let her go, though I don't see how the old +man can bear to give her up. Mr. and Mrs. Preston have asked him to live +here with them, but he says he will go into a Confederate home for old +Southern soldiers as soon as Alice leaves. Let's go over under the trees +with Madge and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> Phil. We can eat our grapes and talk about the party."</p> + +<p>Madge waved a yellow telegram frantically as Nellie and Lillian came +toward them. "Tom and the boys will be back with the motor launch the +day after to-morrow," she announced. "And that darling, Mrs. Preston, +says we can have our dance on that very night, and it's to be a fancy +dress party if we like, because she has stores and stores of lovely +old-fashioned clothes up in her attic and she won't mind our dressing up +in them. So we must drive round the neighborhood this afternoon and +deliver our invitations and decide what characters we are to represent +and——" Madge gasped for breath, while Phil fanned her violently with a +large palm-leaf fan.</p> + +<p>"Come right on upstairs to the attic with me," ordered Madge, as soon as +she could speak again. "We have no time to waste. We can look at the +dresses and then see what characters we wish to represent. David, you +can come, too," invited Madge graciously. "You can carry Alice up the +steps."</p> + +<p>David lifted the blind girl to his shoulder and trotted obediently after +the girls. He no longer minded Madge's occasionally imperious manner, +for he knew she was unconscious of it.</p> + +<p>On top of all the other clothes in Mrs. Preston'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span>s cedar chest was a +black velvet gown, made with a long train and a V-shaped neck. Phyllis +laid it regretfully aside. "This is perfectly elegant," she sighed, "but +it isn't appropriate for any of us to wear."</p> + +<p>Lillian Seldon received the rejected costume with outstretched arms. For +some time she had cherished the belief that she bore a faint resemblance +to the beautiful but ill-fated "Mary, Queen of Scots." Lillian had come +across a picture of the lovely Mary Stuart in an illustrated "Book of +Queens" in Miss Tolliver's school, and had borne the book to her bedroom +and carefully locked her door. There she had gazed thoughtfully at the +picture and then at her own reflection in the glass. Of course, it would +never do for her to mention it, not even to one of the beloved houseboat +girls, but it did appear to Lillian that her own blonde hair grew in a +low point on her forehead in much the same fashion as Mary Stuart's. +Also, she had a similar line to her aristocratic, aquiline nose, and her +chin was almost as delicately pointed. Assuredly Lillian was not vain. +She did not think for a moment that she was beautiful, like Mary Queen +of Scots, still she thought that she bore a faint resemblance to the +ill-fated Queen.</p> + +<p>In the velvet gown lay Lillian's opportunity to impersonate the lovely +Mary, but she blushed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> as she smoothed it softly. "I wonder if I might +not wear this dress to the party?" she suggested meekly.</p> + +<p>Madge shook her head critically. "It is much too old for you, dear," she +argued.</p> + +<p>"But I have always wanted to wear a black velvet gown so much, Madge, I +mean to buy one as soon as I am really grown-up," she pleaded, "and I +could come to our dance as 'Mary, Queen of Scots.'"</p> + +<p>The three girls surveyed pretty, blonde Lillian thoughtfully. Then three +heads nodded approvingly.</p> + +<p>"Here is a costume for Nellie. It looks like her, doesn't it, girls?" +exclaimed Phyllis, picking up a soft, white silk gown with a Greek +border of silver braid a little tarnished by time. "Isn't it just too +sweet for anything?"</p> + +<p>"It is a love of a frock," sighed Eleanor rapturously, "but I don't +think it suggests any special character."</p> + +<p>Madge frowned thoughtfully. "Oh, it doesn't make so much difference +about representing a particular character, Nellie. You can go as a lady +of King Arthur's time. I imagine the women wore just such gowns in the +days of beauty and chivalry."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Eleanor obediently. "There is a 'King Arthur's +Knights' in the library. I'll<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> get it and read up on the doings of the +King and his subjects. Perhaps I'll find a character that will just suit +me. I'm too dark to ever think of impersonating Elaine."</p> + +<p>"I can't represent a great historical character," declared Madge, +peering into the trunk—"who ever heard of a heroine with red hair and a +turned-up nose?—but I am going to wear this dress." Madge held up a +flowered silk of softest, palest blue, with great pale-pink roses +trailing over it. It was made with a long, pointed blouse, and had +little paniers over the hips. Madge slipped the gown on over her frock. +The dress had a little bag of the same silk hanging at its side and in +it a dainty lace handkerchief, sweet with a far-off fragrance of +lavender.</p> + +<p>David and the three girls gazed admiringly at Madge.</p> + +<p>"Miss Dolly Varden!" exclaimed Phil. "It is just the kind of costume +that Dickens makes Dolly Varden wear in 'Barnaby Rudge.' Only Miss Jenny +Ann must make you a poke bonnet. But what about poor me? I am such a +dreadfully unromantic-looking person. I am not a tall, stately maiden +like our rare, pale Lillian, nor a witch like Madge, nor a dainty little +maid like Nellie. I am just plain Phil!" Phyllis sighed, half in jest +and half in earnest.</p> + +<p>"I know what character I want you to represent,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> Phyllis, darling," +cried Madge. "There is no costume here that is very appropriate for it, +but I know how to make a helmet and shield out of silver paper and +cardboard. And I am sure we could get up the rest of the costume."</p> + +<p>"Whom do you mean, Madge?" inquired Phil.</p> + +<p>"Guess. My character is a wonderfully brave girl, who sacrificed her +life to save her King and her country. Just lately she has been declared +a saint by her church."</p> + +<p>David glanced up from the floor, where he was amusing little Alice. +"Joan of Arc, you mean, don't you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Of course I do, David. How did you guess it? I don't say that Phil +looks just like the pictures of Joan of Arc, but she is like her. She +would do anything in the world that she thought was right, even if she +lost her life in doing it," declared her friend admiringly. "Now, Mr. +David Brewster, having arranged the costumes of four important members +of the Preston household, what character will you represent?"</p> + +<p>"My own humble self," announced David firmly. "Please don't ask me to +'dress up.' I felt like a perfect chump the night I had to rig myself up +as 'Hiawatha.' I rushed up to the house and got the crazy clothes off, +even before I—before I——" David stopped, then continued<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> nervously: +"Remember, the other fellows won't have time to get themselves into +fancy costumes, so please let me off. I'll clear out, now, and let you +girls fix up your costumes."</p> + +<p>To save her life, Madge could not help looking curiously at David. It +was the usual hour in the afternoon when the young man disappeared. +When, late that afternoon, the lad came home he had lost his cheerful +mood of the morning. He was sullen and downcast. David had made up his +mind that his best chance to restore the stolen property to Miss Betsey +Taylor and Mrs. Preston was on the night of the fancy dress ball. The +upstairs part of the house would then probably be empty, and no one +would think of him or notice him. At any rate, he dared not wait longer. +As soon as Tom and the other boys returned, the houseboat party would +start off up the river again in tow of the "Sea Gull," and his +opportunity would be lost.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span><a name="xxi" id="xxi"></a>CHAPTER XXI<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE INTERRUPTION</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">ALL afternoon, just before the night of the fancy dress ball, the four +girls took turns watching at the front windows of the Preston house for +the belated boys. In spite of Tom's telegram, plainly stating the day of +their arrival, the motor launch boys had not put in an appearance. Soon +after luncheon David went down to the river bank to watch for them. At +six o'clock he came back to say that he had waited as long as possible +and had seen no sign of the "Sea Gull." It looked as though the boys had +been delayed.</p> + +<p>The girls were in despair. Here they had planned a wonderful surprise +party for the boys, and their guests of honor were not going to be +present. The young people from the nearby country houses had been +invited to the dance, to begin at eight o'clock that evening, so it was +quite impossible to put it off.</p> + +<p>At half-past eight the old Virginia homestead, where belles and beaux +had made merry many long years before, was gay with the voices of the +invited guests. But the dancing had not yet begun. Each time the old +door-bell rang the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> four girls hoped it meant the return of the four +boys.</p> + +<p>Under the great curved stairway the orchestra of colored musicians was +tuning up. Sam, the colored boy, who had first introduced two of the +houseboat girls to Mrs. Preston, was the leader of the band of six +instruments. If you have never heard old-time colored people play dance +music, you can hardly imagine how delightful it is. To-night Sam's +orchestra was composed of six instruments, a bass violin, which he +played himself, two banjos, two guitars and a tambourine.</p> + +<p>In the long parlors that were to be used for the dancing Mr. and Mrs. +Preston stood, shaking hands with their guests. Just back of them sat +Miss Betsey in her best black silk dress, and dear Miss Jenny Ann in a +white silk gown, looking as young as any one of her girls. Between them +was little Alice. On the other side of Miss Betsey a stately old +gentleman smiled indulgently on the young people. Mr. John Randolph +could no longer have been mistaken for a ghost. A few days of cheerful +conversation with his old friends, good food and sunshine had revived +him wonderfully. Mrs. Preston explained to her friends that Mr. Randolph +had been living alone and, accompanied by his grand-daughter, had lately +come to make them a visit.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>The four girls walked about the great room, receiving their visitors, +talking to them, trying to entertain them, doing everything in their +power to delay the dancing, in the vain hope that their friends would +still appear.</p> + +<p>In answer to a nod from Mrs. Preston, Madge and Phil hurried to her +side. "It is time to begin the dance, dears," reminded Mrs. Preston. "I +am sorry that your friends have not arrived, but we can't disappoint our +other guests on their account. Tell Sam to begin with an old-fashioned +Virginia reel. It is the way we begin our dances down here in the +country."</p> + +<p>Madge slipped out in the back hall. She noticed David standing alone +near the front door. He seemed shy and ill at ease. He did not know how +to dance, and it was hard to pretend to be cheerful when he had such a +load on his mind.</p> + +<p>A loud ring at the front-door bell and a knock on the door startled +David. He went forward to open it, but a witch of a girl in a pale blue +flowered silk, her blue eyes dancing under her poke bonnet, flitted by +him. "Please let me open the door, David," she entreated. "I feel just +sure Tom and the other boys have come at last."</p> + +<p>Tom Curtis stared blankly. Who was this lovely apparition that had +opened the old farmhouse door for him? Was he dreaming, or had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> he and +his friends strayed into the wrong house? There were the sounds of music +and strange boys and girls were about everywhere. Tom took off his hat. +With a familiar gesture he ran his fingers through his curly light hair, +making it stand on end. "Who is it, and where am I?" he asked feebly, +pretending to be overcome with emotion, like the hero in a romantic +play.</p> + +<p>"Come into the house, Tom Curtis, this minute, and don't be a goose! You +know perfectly well I am Madge. Only to-night I am appearing in the +character of Miss Dolly Varden. We were giving you boys a surprise +party, but we were afraid you would not get here in time for it. Hello, +everybody!" Madge shook hands first with Tom, and then with the other +three boys. She then took Tom by one hand and her cousin, Jack Bolling, +by the other. With Harry Sears and George Robinson following her, she +escorted them proudly across the room to Mr. and Mrs. Preston. Lillian, +Phil and Eleanor hurried to join them, tendering the belated guests an +enthusiastic welcome.</p> + +<p>"Here the young men are, at the last minute, Mrs. Preston," exclaimed +Madge triumphantly. "Now our dance can really begin."</p> + +<p>Tom leaned over to whisper in Miss Dolly Varden's ear, "You'll dance +with me, won't you, Madge, for old time's sake?"</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>Madge nodded happily. "I have waited for you," she answered. "I felt +perfectly sure you wouldn't disappoint us."</p> + +<p>Jack Bolling asked Phyllis to dance with him, Harry Sears and Lillian +were partners and Eleanor and George Robinson.</p> + +<p>"Get your places for the Virginia reel!" Sam shouted.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Preston stood, each one of them at the head of a long line. +Miss Jenny Ann came next, with her partner, a man from the next farm. +The four girls were hurrying off with the motor launch boys when Madge +stopped suddenly. Old Mr. John Randolph smiled at her. It was hard not +to smile at Madge when she was happy.</p> + +<p>The little captain whispered something in the old man's ear. "Do, +please," she urged, "it will be such fun."</p> + +<p>Mr. Randolph rose and bowed low to Miss Betsey Taylor, with his right +hand over his heart in the manner of half a century ago. "Miss Betsey, +will you do me the honor to dance this reel with me?" he asked, almost +with a twinkle in his eye.</p> + +<p>"My gracious, sakes alive!" exclaimed Miss Betsey nervously. "I haven't +danced in half a lifetime. I am sure my bones are much too stiff." +Nevertheless, frivolous Miss Betsey allowed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> her old admirer to lead her +to her place in the line.</p> + +<div class="poemblock2"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="io">"The Camels are coming, Ho, ho, ho, ho!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Camels are coming from Baltimo',"<br /></span> +</div></div></div> + +<p class="noi">piped up Sam's orchestra, and jolly Mr. and Mrs. Preston swept down the +long line of the dancers with the energy of boy and girl.</p> + +<p>David Brewster watched the scene for a minute from the open doorway. He +tried to still the feeling of jealousy that swept over him; but he could +not help but have a sore feeling in his heart. The girls, who had been +so friendly with him in the last few days, had forgotten his very +existence, now that the other boys had returned. Also, not one of the +motor boys had stopped to speak to him as they passed him in the hall. +Poor David!</p> + +<p>Well, it was just as well that he had been forgotten for to-night, at +least, for he had work to do. Now was the appointed time for the return +of Miss Betsey's money and Mrs. Preston's silver. The servants were busy +downstairs; the guests were dancing. He would try to accomplish his +purpose.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 386px;"> +<img src="images/gs04.jpg" width="386" height="600" alt="" title="" /> +<span class="caption">David was Kneeling Before the Open Box.</span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span>David slipped quietly up the steps and went into his own small room. The +Preston house was divided by a long hall, with four large bedrooms on +either side. David's room was on the same floor, but at the back of the +house. He dragged a big wooden box out from under his bed and silently +went to work to open it. He had already got together the tools that were +necessary for the purpose. The box lid came off and on top of a pile of +silver was Miss Betsey's money bag. It contained all the money that +David had been able to persuade the thief to leave behind him.</p> + +<p>David emptied his own pockets of every cent he had earned from Tom +Curtis during the summer, and postponed the dearest ambition of his life +as he did it. Then he crept out into the hall—like a thief, he thought +bitterly. The hall was deserted—not even a servant in sight. It was the +work of a moment for David to slip into Miss Betsey's bedroom and place +her money bag under her pillow.</p> + +<p>But to return the silver to the Prestons was a far more difficult +matter. The burglar, on the night of the fire, had swept the old +mahogany sideboard clean. He had taken away dozens of solid silver +knives, forks, spoons and some large, old-fashioned goblets. It was +impossible for David to return the silver to its rightful place in the +dining room. He gathered up a load in his arms and ran to the front +bedroom, where Mr. and Mrs. Preston slept. His cheeks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> were flaming from +shame and nervousness. He hated, with all the hatred of a passionate, +honest nature, the task he was engaged in, but he knew of no other way +to do what he believed to be right.</p> + +<p>David made his first trip with the silver in safety. But there were +still a few pieces remaining in the box. He could hear the music and the +merry laughter downstairs. In a few seconds his task would be +accomplished. He would bear in silence whatever came afterward.</p> + +<p>The lad was kneeling on the floor before the open box. He had just +reached down to gather the last handful of silver. His door was partly +open; in his hurry David neglected to close it.</p> + +<p>"Hello, old chap! How are you?" a cheerful voice called out. Tom +Curtis's frank, friendly face appeared at the now open door. "I did not +have a chance to speak to you downstairs when I first came in, but Madge +sent me up here for her fan, and I thought I'd take a peep in here to +see if you could be found. What have you got there?" Tom stared with +open curiosity at David's box of silver; then he looked puzzled and +unhappy.</p> + +<p>David had sprung to his feet with a muttered exclamation of anger.</p> + +<p>Neither boy spoke for a moment. Some one was coming up the steps. +"Couldn't you find<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> my fan, Tom? It is almost time for our dance," +called Madge. "Why, here you are gossiping with David." Madge was now at +the open door. She, too, stared at the open box of silver. Then her face +turned white. "O David! what does it mean?" she pleaded. "I simply can't +believe my own eyes."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span><a name="xxii" id="xxii"></a>CHAPTER XXII<br /> +<br /> +<small>MADGE MORTON'S TRUST</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">DAVID would make no reply to either Madge's or Tom's questionings. He +was sullen, angry and silent. After a while his two friends gave up in +despair. But Madge and Tom decided that it would be better not to tell +their dreadful secret to any one until the party was over. They did not +wish to spoil the evening for the others.</p> + +<p>The two friends went back among the dancers and Madge danced the rest of +the evening as though nothing had happened. Yet all the time she felt +sick at heart. She had trusted David and looked on him as her friend, +while he had done her many kindnesses and she was grateful for them. In +spite of the evidence of her own eyes she told herself that she still +trusted him.</p> + +<p>For the rest of the long evening David Brewster never left his own +chamber, where Tom had found him. He did not even trouble to take the +rest of the silver in to Mrs. Preston. He just sat, staring miserably in +front of him, looking old and haggard. The worst had happened. He had +been found with the stolen goods in his possession<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> and he had +absolutely no explanation to make to his friends.</p> + +<p>It was after one o'clock in the morning when the last guest had departed +from the Preston home.</p> + +<p>"Dolly Varden looks tired," said Mrs. Preston kindly to Madge, who was +lingering near her. "You had better run upstairs to bed, my dear."</p> + +<p>"O Mrs. Preston!" cried Madge brokenly, "something +strange—has—happened. Won't—you—make—David explain—it to—you?" +Then she threw her arms about the good woman's neck and began sobbing +disconsolately.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, little girl?" asked Mr. Preston in alarm. He had +come upon the scene just in time to witness Madge's outburst of grief.</p> + +<p>But all Madge would say was: "Ask David. Make him explain. He isn't +guilty; I know he isn't. He didn't steal the silver and Miss Betsey's +money; I am sure he didn't."</p> + +<p>While Madge was sobbing forth her defense of David, Ned, the old butler, +came hurrying in with an excited, "Won't you please come into your bed +room, sah; de silver am all back again."</p> + +<p>Mr. Preston hurried after Ned. Sure enough, there was the silver, spread +out on the sidetable.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> David was nowhere to be seen, however, and Mr. +Preston decided not to ask the boy any questions that night concerning +the mysterious fashion in which the lost silver had suddenly been +returned. Neither would he discuss the situation with any member of the +household, and for this Madge was secretly very thankful.</p> + +<p>David did not come down to breakfast with the family. Soon after Mr. +Preston went upstairs to his room. The household was strangely divided +in its feeling. Jack Bolling, Harry Sears and George Robinson were all +against David. Tom was silent and depressed. Miss Betsey Taylor had not +closed her eyes all night, and was extremely cross. She hated to admit +it, but her own judgment told her that David was a thief. Though Phil +was bitterly sorry and would have done anything in the world she could +to help David out of the scrape, she was forced to agree with Miss +Betsey.</p> + +<p>The young people openly discussed the question of David's guilt. Only +Madge was absolutely silent. She would give no opinion one way or the +other. But poor David found an unexpected <a name="champion" id="champion"></a><ins title="original had champon">champion</ins> in +Eleanor. She did not believe that David had taken the money and silver. +If he had, he must have meant it for a joke, or he had had some other +good reason. Nellie felt perfectly sure he would explain later on.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span>The entire party was out on the veranda that led from the dining room +when Mr. Preston came back from his interview with David. Mr. Preston's +face was very grave, and sterner than any one of his young guests had +ever seen it. "The boy refuses to give me any explanation of his strange +behavior," announced Mr. Preston to his wife in a voice that they could +all hear. "He begs only that I let him leave the house at once. He says +that the silver is all safe, and that he will pay Miss Betsey back the +rest of her money as soon as he is able to earn it."</p> + +<p>"What answer did you make to him, William?" asked Mrs. Preston +nervously. Her kind face was clouded with sympathy and regret.</p> + +<p>"I told David that he most certainly should not leave us," returned Mr. +Preston severely. "I insisted that he come among us, as he has before, +and remain here until Mr. Curtis wishes to take his friends away. He +will then do what he thinks wisest with the boy. But David shall <em>not</em> +escape the penalty of his own act. I have no desire to punish him by +law. He has returned the stolen property, so I presume that he has had a +change of heart; but his refusal to explain why he committed the theft, +or to say that he is sorry for his deed, makes it hard for me to have +patience with him. He is very trying."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span>The gloomy morning went by slowly. The motor launch boys took Phil, +Lillian and Eleanor down the river bank. Madge would not go. The young +people wished to see that the houseboat was set in order for sailing, +and Tom suggested that they eat their luncheon aboard the "Sea Gull." +Only Madge guessed that generous-hearted Tom Curtis wished to spare +David the embarrassment of meeting his former friends so soon after his +disgrace.</p> + +<p>David came down to Mrs. Preston's luncheon table. His face looked as +though it were cut from marble; only his black eyes burned brilliantly, +and his mouth was drawn in a fine, hard line. He bowed quietly as he +entered the room, but spoke to no one during the meal. Miss Betsey +talked to him kindly, and asked him to come to her room some time during +the afternoon.</p> + +<p>David shook his head firmly. "It wouldn't do any good, Miss Taylor," he +said in a firm tone. "I am willing to let you do anything to me that you +like, but I have absolutely nothing to say."</p> + +<p>After leaving the dining room, David hurried toward his retreat in the +woods. Madge had gone upstairs and was watching the lad from her open +window. As she saw him disappear down the road she ran quietly after +him.</p> + +<p>David had the start of her and he strode on so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> rapidly that it was +difficult to catch up with him. Then, too, Madge did not wish David to +see her until they were both well away from the Preston house.</p> + +<p>But once the boy had vaulted the fence into the field, Madge called +after him softly: "David, please stop a minute, won't you? I only wish +to speak to you."</p> + +<p>David marched straight on. If he heard Madge, he did not turn his head. +She climbed the fence into the field after him and ran on. "David, don't +you hear me?" she panted, for David was walking faster than ever.</p> + +<p>She was now so near to David that she knew there was no possibility of +his not knowing that she had called to him. When he did not turn his +head or show any sign of answering her, she stopped still in the center +of the field, with an involuntary exclamation of hurt surprise. Then she +turned her back on the boy and began to slowly retrace her steps toward +home.</p> + +<p>David had heard every sound that Madge made, even to her last little +admission of defeat. As she moved away from him he stopped still. He +then swung himself around and gazed wistfully after her retreating form. +"If she asked me the truth, I think I would have to tell it to her," he +murmured to himself. "I don't dare trust myself. It is better that she +should think<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> me the rude boor that I am. But I am not a thief; I wish I +could tell her that, at least."</p> + +<p>Madge's eyes were full of tears as she stumbled back across the fields. +She was hurt, angry and disappointed. Somehow, in spite of everything, +she had believed that David could explain his mysterious possession of +the stolen property. She would not try again to tell him that she still +had faith in him, she thought resentfully.</p> + +<p>The field was full of loose rocks and stones, but Madge was apparently +oblivious to this. Suddenly a stone rolled under her foot, giving her +ankle an unexpected wrench. With a little cry of pain she sank down on +the ground to get her breath. In an instant David Brewster was at her +side.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you have hurt yourself," he said humbly.</p> + +<p>"No," she returned coldly. "I wrenched my ankle for a second; it is all +right now."</p> + +<p>"Do let me help you home," offered David miserably.</p> + +<p>Madge shook her head. "No, thank you; I wouldn't trouble you for +worlds," she protested icily.</p> + +<p>"But you wouldn't trouble me; I should dearly love to do it," replied +David so honestly that the little captain's heart softened though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> her +severe manner never changed. "See here, Miss Morton," David burst out +impetuously, "if you won't let me take you home, do let me help you to +that old tree over there. You can't stay here in the broiling sun; it +will give you a dreadful headache. I know you don't want to speak to me, +and I will go right away again."</p> + +<p>"I <em>did</em> want to speak to you very much, David," returned Madge gently; +"only you would not let me."</p> + +<p>"I know," answered David. "I did hear you call to me. I am not going to +lie to you, too. I didn't answer because I didn't dare."</p> + +<p>Madge put her hand on David's arm and let him assist her across the +field to the tree. Her ankle was really well enough by this time for her +to have walked alone, but Madge was not quite ready to walk alone.</p> + +<p>David sat down abruptly beside his companion under the shadow of a +mammoth tulip tree, staring moodily in front of him.</p> + +<p>Madge said nothing. A minute, two minutes of silence passed.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe you stole the things, David," she avowed simply.</p> + +<p>David's eyes dropped and his face twitched. "How can you fail to believe +that I stole them?" he questioned doggedly. "I had them in my +possession. You know that."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span>Madge turned her sweet, honest face full on the boy. "I don't know why I +think so, David, but I do. I trust you, and I <em>know</em> you are honest. Do +you dare to look me squarely in the face and say: 'Madge Morton, you are +mistaken. I <em>did</em> steal Miss Betsey's money and Mr. Preston's silver'? +If you will say this, I promise never to betray you and I will never +trouble you with questions again. But if you don't, David Brewster, I am +going to work until I come to the bottom of this mystery."</p> + +<p>David Brewster covered his face with his hands. "I can't say it, Madge," +he faltered; "it is too much to ask of me."</p> + +<p>The little captain's face broke into happy smiles. "Never mind, David," +she comforted him, "I believe I understand."</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span><a name="xxiii" id="xxiii"></a>CHAPTER XXIII<br /> +<br /> +<small>THE LITTLE CAPTAIN'S STORY</small></h2> + + +<p class="cap2">DAVID Brewster rose to his feet.</p> + +<p>"If your ankle is all right now," he suggested hurriedly, "I had better +go."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked Madge innocently.</p> + +<p>"I have some work to do," returned David.</p> + +<p>"The same work that you do every afternoon?"</p> + +<p>David bowed his head. "Yes," he replied. "See here, Miss Morton, there +isn't any reason why I shouldn't tell you what I do when off by myself +every afternoon. I don't want you to think that I am always up to some +dishonest kind of business." David flushed hotly. "I am only studying +when I hide off here in the woods. You see, I have always had to work +awfully hard; I never have had much time for schooling. But I don't want +the other fellows to get too far ahead of me, for I am going to college +some day, even if I am a grown man, when my chance comes."</p> + +<p>"Good for <em>you</em>, David!" cried Madge, clapping her hands softly. "Of +course you will go to college if you have set your mind upon going. I +don't believe you are the kind of boy that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> gives up. You'll do most +anything you want to do some day."</p> + +<p>David's face flushed under Madge's enthusiasm. "Oh, no, I won't," he +answered miserably. "There are some things a fellow can't live down."</p> + +<p>"You mean this theft?" inquired Madge.</p> + +<p>"Yes," nodded the boy. "Everyone believes me to be a common thief."</p> + +<p>"But you didn't steal the things. I believe I know who took them," +hazarded Madge; "that man and the old woman who were hiding in the +woods."</p> + +<p>Madge saw at a glance that her guess was true. David gazed at her +helplessly. Then he shook his head. "Those people must have been far +away from this neighborhood when the things were taken," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, they weren't," retorted Madge. "The old woman was at the farm +the night of the fire, dressed up as 'Old Nokomis.' I wondered, at the +time, if she was not up to some kind of mischief. Then, later on, when +Nellie was lost, she saw the same man and woman. I believe they changed +their hiding place for fear they might be suspected of the theft, and +that we would send the sheriff to look for them."</p> + +<p>"But why should I try to shield <em>them</em>, Miss Morton?" asked David +obstinately, "and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> how could I have the stolen goods if other people +took them?"</p> + +<p>It was Madge's turn to flush and be silent. "Don't make me tell you why +I think you are trying to shield them, David, by taking the shame on +yourself," she pleaded. "You see, I believe I have guessed what those +people are to you."</p> + +<p>"You can't have guessed," protested David hoarsely. "You don't know +anything of me or my people."</p> + +<p>"Girls are good at guessing," explained Madge apologetically. "You see, +Miss Betsey told us that your father wasn't a very good kind of man, and +that he sometimes went away from home and wandered around the country +for a long time. And, and——" Madge hesitated. "At first when you spoke +to the man and old woman, I was just surprised at your knowing such +curious people. Then I began to think. The man looked something like +you, David. So I have just worked it out in my own mind that the man +took the things, and that you made him let you return them to Miss +Betsey and Mrs. Preston, and that you are willing to take the blame on +yourself because—because——" Madge hesitated again and looked down. +"Because the man is your father!" she said gently. "Am I right, David? +Please tell me."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span>David's face turned red, then white, then red again. "You think that +thief is my father, because I look like him, and because I am willing to +bear the burden of his guilt?" David was not conscious that he had at +last confessed to Madge that the man she suspected was the actual +robber!</p> + +<p>"He is not my father," continued David passionately. "My father is good +for nothing; he comes of bad people, and he has dragged my mother down +with him. But he is not a thief! The man who stole the money from Miss +Betsey and the silver from the Prestons is my first cousin. He is a +great deal older than I am. His father was my father's eldest brother. +Hal used to live with us when I was a little boy, and I was fond of him +then. But he got too bad, even for us to stand, and he has since been +tramping around the country, stealing, or living any way that he could. +He would not give me back the things until I promised to take the blame +if anybody was suspected. He threatened to implicate me in the robbery +if I told any one, so I thought the best thing to do was to return the +things and let him go."</p> + +<p>Madge's face was burning and her hands quite cold. "I am sure I beg your +pardon, David, with all my heart," she said humbly. "I know that you +never can forgive me for insulting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> your father. I ought not to have +tried to find out your secret. Once, long ago, a girl told my friends a +story about my father. She said that he had been disgraced when he was a +captain in the Navy, and had been dismissed from the service. It wasn't +true," faltered Madge, "but most people believed it. I had to try +awfully hard to forgive that girl when, later on, she asked me to pardon +her. So I don't even ask you to forgive me, David," she insisted +mournfully; "only you will believe me when I say that I am awfully sorry +for my mistake."</p> + +<p>David was staring at her intently. "Forgive you," he replied. "Of course +I won't—because there is nothing to forgive. You have been the best +friend I ever had. To think that, even when you thought my father was a +thief and a tramp, you were still willing to believe in me and to be my +friend! You are simply great! Some day I am going to do something +splendid that will make you feel glad to know David Brewster." David +shook Madge's hand warmly, his eyes clear and untroubled for the first +time in their acquaintance. This girl had thought the worst of his +family and still had trusted him. No one with a faithful friend need +ever be discouraged.</p> + +<p>Madge and David walked slowly back to the Preston house, across the +August fields. It was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> late afternoon. The boy and girl had talked +together for a long time under the old tree. They had confided to each +other many of their hopes and ambitions. They were not to see each other +alone again for a long time. But neither one of them was to forget that +summer afternoon.</p> + +<p>At the front gate Madge turned and faced David squarely. Her charming +face wore an expression of stubborn determination.</p> + +<p>"David Brewster, I have not promised your cousin to keep his secret, or +to let you be suspected of his crime. I am going to tell Mr. and Mrs. +Preston and Miss Betsey that you did not steal their property, and that +just as soon as I get inside the house."</p> + +<p>David shook his head resolutely. "I thought I could trust you, Madge."</p> + +<p>"You can," urged Madge. "Only, please, don't be so stubborn. It can't +hurt your cousin for me to tell what he has done. Mr. Preston and Miss +Betsey have never seen him and they will both promise never to try to +punish him for the theft. They have their things back, so they are not +hurt, except by——"</p> + +<p>"By what?" asked David unsuspiciously.</p> + +<p>"By their lack of faith in you, David," answered Madge convincingly. "It +hurts awfully to be deceived in people. Miss Betsey cried all night, and +Mr. Preston ate hardly any breakfast<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> or luncheon, they have been so +unhappy over you."</p> + +<p>The little captain thought she saw signs of relenting in David's face. +"Do let me tell," she pleaded. "I really can't bear it, if you don't," +she ended in characteristic Madge-fashion.</p> + +<p>David smiled and nodded.</p> + +<p>Without waiting to give him a chance to change his mind she ran into the +house and up the front steps. The three girls and the motor launch boys +had returned and were wondering what had become of her. Madge swept them +all before her into the Preston library. Then, summoning her host and +hostess, Miss Betsey and Miss Jenny Ann, Madge told David's story. +Perhaps she made him a hero in explaining how he was willing to take his +cousin's crime on his own shoulders, rather than have Miss Betsey and +Mrs. Preston lose their property, but at least, after she had finished, +there was no one present who did not have a feeling of admiration for +David, who had tried to do his duty even at the expense of his good +name.</p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span><a name="xxiv" id="xxiv"></a>CHAPTER XXIV<br /> +<br /> +<small>"GOOD LUCK TO THE BRIDE"</small></h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 8px;"> +<img src="images/quote.png" width="8" height="7" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="cap">DO you think it is very funny, Tom?" inquired Phil. She and Madge, +Lillian, Eleanor and the four motor launch boys were on the deck of the +"Sea Gull." They were gliding down the Rappahannock toward the great +Chesapeake Bay. Moving gracefully behind the motor boat was the familiar +form of the "Merry Maid." A group of older people sat out on her deck, +gazing along the sun-lit shores of the river. The cruise of the +houseboat was almost over.</p> + +<p>Tom Curtis hesitated at Phil's question. "I ought not to say it is +funny," he returned, "but I really think it is."</p> + +<p>"Don't any of you dare to let Miss Betsey know you think so," warned +Madge.</p> + +<p>Eleanor looked aggrieved. "I am sure I don't know what there is funny +about it," she protested. "I think it is lovely. Only it wasn't nice in +Miss Betsey not to let us be her bridesmaids." Eleanor gazed across the +little space of water to where Mr. and Mrs. John Randolph sat together +on the deck of the "Merry Maid" with the blind child, Alice.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span>Madge laughed softly. "Miss Betsey said she felt enough like a fool, +being married at her age, without having a lot of young girls standing +around to laugh at her. But John Randolph wouldn't let her take care of +him unless she did marry him, and she had no idea of separating him from +his grandchild," concluded Madge.</p> + +<p>"What a lot of things have happened this summer," remarked Lillian. "Who +would have thought that we should leave David Brewster in Virginia! Mr. +Preston says that if David will work for him he will help him go to +college."</p> + +<p>"David is a bully fellow!" declared Tom. "I don't think we understood +him just at first."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and Tom Curtis is another," teased Madge; "only he won't blow his +own horn, unless it is his fog-horn. Tom offered to pay David's expenses +at college if he would come home with us, but David said he thought it +would be better for him to earn his own way."</p> + +<p>Miss Jenny Ann waved frantically from the deck of the houseboat.</p> + +<p>"Tie up along shore, Tom; it is growing late. Remember, this is our last +supper party together this summer," she called out.</p> + +<p>It was the first week in September. The evening had grown unexpectedly +cool when Tom ran the two boats up by the river bank. In the morning +they were to put into shore at a nearby<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> town, and the little company of +friends would disband to travel to their homes in various parts of the +country. So for to-night they had planned to have a wonderful feast on +land, and to make it their good-bye memory of their summer cruise.</p> + +<p>Tom had selected a line of open shore, with a grove of chestnut trees +just back of it.</p> + +<p>Each member of the party went on land, bearing boxes, lunch-hampers and +baskets of fruit. Tom staggered under a particularly large box that was +very tall and round, as though it contained a new Easter bonnet with +feathers standing straight up on it.</p> + +<p>Madge and Phil marched behind him, urging him to be careful every foot +of the way.</p> + +<p>"Girls!" cried Miss Betsey excitedly, coming up beside them with her +bonnet over one ear and her long cape flying out behind her, "I have a +confession to make to you; I had better out with it before I forget it. +You remember those small sums of money that I vowed I had lost when we +were first aboard the houseboat?"</p> + +<p>Both girls nodded, though their faces clouded at the recollection.</p> + +<p>"Well, they were not stolen at all," announced Miss Betsey shamefacedly. +"I am an old woman, children, in spite of my present performances. I had +tucked that money away in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> the little table drawer in my cabin on the +houseboat; I suppose I meant to use it for something, and then forgot +it. I have a short memory for some things and a long one for others," +Miss Betsey's eyes twinkled as her husband came up to join her.</p> + +<p>Harry Sears and George Robinson made a huge campfire near the spot where +the voyagers had chosen to have their supper. Miss Jenny Ann got out the +big coffee pot. The rest of the party started in to spread the feast on +a big damask table cloth that Miss Betsey had arranged on the grass.</p> + +<p>"Madge, you and Tom Curtis go off to some place to find water for the +lemonade," ordered Miss Betsey. Madge and Tom each seized a large tin +bucket. Not far off they could see a funny little log house that must +belong to one of the river men, it was set so close to the river. They +would find water there.</p> + +<p>"I have something important to tell you, Madge," said Tom. He began +searching diligently in his coat pocket for something, pulled out half a +dozen letters, his knife and pocket-book, then with a blank look he +exclaimed, "Jiminy! I hope I haven't lost it. Mother will never forgive +me if I have."</p> + +<p>"Lost what?" demanded Madge.</p> + +<p>"Why, Mother sent you a present, and I have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> forgotten to give it to +you. Now I am afraid I have lost it somewhere."</p> + +<p>"Tom Curtis, put down that wretched bucket and hunt for it until you +find it," insisted Madge. "What's that sticking out on the front pocket +of your coat?"</p> + +<p>Tom smiled in a relieved fashion as he handed Madge a box about four +inches square. "It's Mother and it's a beauty," he announced.</p> + +<p>Madge opened the box to find an exquisite miniature of her friend, Mrs. +Curtis. It was painted on ivory and was about the size of a locket. +Around it were exquisite pearls, and it hung on a slender gold chain.</p> + +<p>The little captain's eyes filled with tears as she looked at it. "I +would rather have it than anything in the world," she murmured. In the +lining of the box Madge found a note, written on a card: "For my Madge," +it read, "whom I shall never cease to wish to have for my daughter."</p> + +<p>"I have something to tell you, too," added Tom. "My sister, Madeleine, +is going to be married."</p> + +<p>Madge nearly dropped her gift in her excitement. "Married! Madeleine! +What do you mean? Whom is she going to marry? Why didn't you tell me +before?" she demanded, all in one breath. "Do hurry and tell me."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span>Tom laughed. "You'll never guess. She is going to marry the Judge +Hilliard who rescued you and Phil the night that that wretched Mike +Muldoon put you out of his sailboat. Judge Hilliard has always been a +friend of ours, you know. At first Madeleine was just grateful to him +for what he did for her. Afterward"—Tom colored—"I suppose she fell in +love with him. I am not quite sure as to what it means to 'fall in +love.' But Madeleine isn't going to be married for a year. Then she +wants the four houseboat girls to be her bridesmaids."</p> + +<p>Madge clasped her hands in rapture. "Won't it be fun!" she exclaimed. +"But do hurry on, Tom, or we shall never get the water for the +lemonade."</p> + +<p>They were almost back with their other friends when Tom had finished his +mother's message: "When Madeleine is married, Mother means to ask you +again to be her adopted daughter, Madge," continued Tom; "and you know +how much I want you."</p> + +<p>Madge shook her auburn head, her face pale with emotion. "It is too soon +to talk about it, Tom," she answered. "You see, when I finish school I +am going first to hunt for my father."</p> + +<p>"Madge and Tom, do hurry here this minute!" scolded Phil from her seat +on the grass. "The lemonade is all ready, except pouring on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> the water, +and we are waiting supper for you."</p> + +<p>The two boat parties were in a great circle about the big table cloth, +with Mr. and Mrs. John Randolph at the head as the guests of honor of +the feast.</p> + +<p>It was growing dark, but the bushes and trees nearby were strung with +lanterns borrowed from the two boats. The feast was almost over when +Madge whispered something in Tom's ear and Phil nodded emphatically.</p> + +<p>Tom slipped away, to return bearing the big box which he had carried so +tenderly up from the houseboat.</p> + +<p>Between them Madge and Phil lifted out a mammoth wedding cake and placed +it, with a flourish, in the center of the feast. "You wouldn't have a +wedding supper at Mrs. Preston's, Miss Betsey—Mrs. Randolph, I mean," +announced Madge, "so we have made you have it here." Madge handed her a +knife, saying, "You must cut your own wedding cake."</p> + +<p>"I can't cut it," protested Mrs. Randolph; "it is too lovely." On top of +the cake was an exquisite frosted ship, made to represent the houseboat. +Six tiny dolls danced about it, Phil, Lillian, Eleanor, Madge, Miss +Jenny Ann and Miss Betsey! On it was written in icing: "Good luck to the +Bride."</p> + +<p>It was too dark to see the bride's radiant old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> face as she cut into her +wedding cake, but her hand trembled.</p> + +<p>A minute later Eleanor gave a little cry of surprise. In biting her cake +she had come across a small gold ring.</p> + +<p>"Eleanor will be married first, but I shall be the richest," announced +Lillian, as she held up a bright silver dime. "Who will be the old +maid?"</p> + +<p>Nobody spoke, but Madge produced a small, bent thimble. "I am going to +be the old maid, of course. Haven't I always said so?" she inquired.</p> + +<p>"<em>Not</em> if I know it!" whispered Tom into Madge's unheeding ears.</p> + +<p>"Come on, children, to the boats," ordered Miss Jenny Ann, a little +later. "Night has come on. We must say good-bye. We won't have any +farewells, even in the morning. They are too dismal. But pleasant dreams +on the houseboat and the motor launch. And may we meet again!"</p> + +<p>Miss Jennie Ann's wish was prophetic. There were other happy times in +store for the four girls and their teacher on board their beloved "Ship +of Dreams," the "Merry Maid." What happened to them during a summer at +Cape May and how Madge kept her vow to find her father are fully set +forth in "<span class="smcap">Madge Morton's Victory</span>,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> the record of another summer +vacation spent at the seashore which no friend of the little captain and +her chums Lillian, Phyllis and Eleanor, not to mention Miss Jenny Ann +Jones, can afford to miss reading.</p> + + + +<hr class="white" /> + +<h2><span class="smcap">The End.</span></h2> + +<div class="prblock"> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + + +<h2>HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY'S<br /> +<br /> +<small>CATALOGUE OF</small><br /> +<br /> +The Best and Least Expensive Books for Real Boys and Girls</h2> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<p>Really good and new stories for boys and girls are not plentiful. Many +stories, too, are so highly improbable as to bring a grin of derision to +the young reader's face before he has gone far. The name of ALTEMUS is a +distinctive brand on the cover of a book, always ensuring the buyer of +having a book that is up-to-date and fine throughout. No buyer of an +ALTEMUS book is ever disappointed.</p> + +<p>Many are the claims made as to the inexpensiveness of books. Go into any +bookstore and ask for an Altemus book. Compare the price charged you for +Altemus books with the price demanded for other juvenile books. You will +at once discover that a given outlay of money will buy more of the +ALTEMUS books than of those published by other houses.</p> + +<p>Every dealer in books carries the ALTEMUS books.</p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<p class="center">Sold by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price</p> + +<h2 class="ls2"><big>Henry Altemus Company</big></h2> + +<h3 class="ws">1326-1336 Vine Street, Philadelphia</h3> + + + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>The Motor Boat Club Series<br/> +<br /> +<small>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</small></h2> + +<p>The keynote of these books is manliness. The stories are wonderfully +entertaining, and they are at the same time sound and wholesome. No boy +will willingly lay down an unfinished book in this series.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OF THE KENNEBEC; Or, The Secret of Smugglers' +Island.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT NANTUCKET; Or, The Mystery of the Dunstan Heir.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OFF LONG ISLAND; Or, A Daring Marine Game at +Racing Speed.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AND THE WIRELESS; Or, The Dot, Dash and Dare +Cruise.</p> + +<p class="hang">5 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB IN FLORIDA; Or, Laying the Ghost of Alligator +Swamp.</p> + +<p class="hang">6 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT THE GOLDEN GATE; Or, A Thrilling Capture in the +Great Fog.</p> + +<p class="hang">7 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB ON THE GREAT LAKES; Or, The Flying Dutchman of the +Big Fresh Water.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>The Range and Grange Hustlers<br /> +<br /> +<small>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</small></h2> + +<p>Have you any idea of the excitements, the glories of life on great +ranches in the West? Any bright boy will "devour" the books of this +series, once he has made a start with the first volume.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH; Or, The Boy Shepherds of +the Great Divide.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS' GREATEST ROUND-UP; Or, Pitting Their +Wits Against a Packers' Combine.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE PLAINS; Or, Following the Steam +Plows Across the Prairie.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS AT CHICAGO; Or, The Conspiracy of the +Wheat Pit.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>Submarine Boys Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By VICTOR G. DURHAM</small></h2> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON DUTY; Or, Life on a Diving Torpedo Boat.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' TRIAL TRIP; Or, "Making Good" as Young Experts.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE MIDDIES; Or, The Prize Detail at Annapolis.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SPIES; Or, Dodging the Sharks of the Deep.</p> + +<p class="hang">5 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' LIGHTNING CRUISE; Or, The Young Kings of the Deep.</p> + +<p class="hang">6 THE SUBMARINE BOYS FOR THE FLAG; Or, Deeding Their Lives to Uncle Sam.</p> + +<p class="hang">7 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SMUGGLERS; Or, Breaking Up the New Jersey +Customs Frauds.</p> +</blockquote> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<h2>The Square Dollar Boys Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</small></h2> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS WAKE UP; Or, Fighting the Trolley Franchise +Steal.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS SMASH THE RING; Or, In the Lists Against the +Crooked Land Deal.</p></blockquote> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<h2>The College Girls Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A.M.</small></h2> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 GRACE HARLOWE'S FIRST YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SECOND YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 GRACE HARLOWE'S THIRD YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 GRACE HARLOWE'S FOURTH YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE.</p> + +<p class="hang">5 GRACE HARLOWE'S RETURN TO OVERTON CAMPUS.</p> +</blockquote> + +<hr class="hr2" /> + +<h2>Dave Darrin Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</small></h2> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 DAVE DARRIN AT VERA CRUZ; Or, Fighting With the U. S. Navy in Mexico.</p></blockquote> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<p class="center"><big>All these books are bound in Cloth and will be sent postpaid on receipt +of only 50 cents each.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>Pony Rider Boys Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</small></h2> + +<p>These tales may be aptly described the best books for boys and girls.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES; Or, The Secret of the Lost +Claim.—2 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN TEXAS; Or, The Veiled Riddle of the +Plains.—3 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN MONTANA; Or, The Mystery of the Old +Custer Trail.—4 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE OZARKS; Or, The Secret of +Ruby Mountain.—5 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ALKALI; Or, Finding a Key +to the Desert Maze.—6 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN NEW MEXICO; Or, The End of +the Silver Trail.—7 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON; Or, The +Mystery of Bright Angel Gulch.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>The Boys of Steel Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By JAMES R. MEARS</small></h2> + +<p>Each book presents vivid picture of this great industry. Each story is +full of adventure and fascination.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE IRON BOYS IN THE MINES; Or, Starting at the Bottom of the +Shaft.—2 THE IRON BOYS AS FOREMEN; Or, Heading the Diamond Drill +Shift.—3 THE IRON BOYS ON THE ORE BOATS; Or, Roughing It on the Great +Lakes.—4 THE IRON BOYS IN THE STEEL MILLS; Or, Beginning Anew in the +Cinder Pits.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>The Madge Morton Books<br /> +<br /> +<small>By AMY D. V. CHALMERS</small></h2> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 MADGE MORTON—CAPTAIN OF THE MERRY MAID.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 MADGE MORTON'S SECRET.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 MADGE MORTON'S TRUST.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 MADGE MORTON'S VICTORY.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>West Point Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</small></h2> + +<p>The principal characters in these narratives are manly, young Americans +whose doings will inspire all boy readers.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 DICK PRESCOTT'S FIRST YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Two Chums in the Cadet +Gray.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 DICK PRESCOTT'S SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Finding the Glory of +the Soldier's Life.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 DICK PRESCOTT'S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Standing Firm for Flag +and Honor.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Ready to Drop the Gray +for Shoulder Straps.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>Annapolis Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</small></h2> + +<p>The Spirit of the new Navy is delightfully and truthfully depicted in +these volumes.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Plebe Midshipmen at the +U. S. Naval Academy.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Midshipmen as Naval +Academy "Youngsters."</p> + +<p class="hang">3 DAVE DARRIN'S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Leaders of the Second Class +Midshipmen.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 DAVE DARRIN'S FOURTH YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Headed for Graduation and +the Big Cruise.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>The Young Engineers Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</small></h2> + +<p>The heroes of these stories are known to readers of the High School Boys +Series. In this new series Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton prove worthy of +all the traditions of Dick & Co.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN COLORADO; Or, At Railroad Building in Earnest.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA; Or, Laying Tracks on the "Man-Killer" +Quicksand.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN NEVADA; Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn of a +Pick.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN MEXICO; Or, Fighting the Mine Swindlers.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>Boys of the Army Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</small></h2> + +<p>These books breathe the life and spirit of the United States Army of +to-day, and the life, just as it is, is described by a master pen.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE RANKS; Or, Two Recruits in the United States +Army.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS ON FIELD DUTY; Or, Winning Corporal's Chevrons.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SERGEANTS; Or, Handling Their First Real Commands.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES; Or, Following the Flag Against +the Moros.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center">(<em>Other volumes to follow rapidly.</em>)</p> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>Battleship Boys Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By FRANK GEE PATCHIN</small></h2> + +<p>These stories throb with the life of young Americans on to-day's huge +drab Dreadnaughts.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS AT SEA; Or, Two Apprentices in Uncle Sam's Navy.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS' FIRST STEP UPWARD; Or, Winning Their Grades as +Petty Officers.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN FOREIGN SERVICE; Or, Earning New Ratings in +European Seas.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN THE TROPICS; Or, Upholding the American Flag in +a Honduras Revolution.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center">(<em>Other volumes to follow rapidly.</em>)</p> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>The Meadow-Brook Girls Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By JANET ALDRIDGE</small></h2> + +<p>Real live stories pulsing with the vibrant atmosphere of outdoor life.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UNDER CANVAS.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS AFLOAT.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS IN THE HILLS.</p> + +<p class="hang">5 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS BY THE SEA.</p> + +<p class="hang">6 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ON THE TENNIS COURTS.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>High School Boys Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</small></h2> + +<p>In this series of bright, crisp books a new note has been struck.</p> + +<p>Boys of every age under sixty will be interested in these fascinating +volumes.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN; Or, Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks and +Sports.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER; Or, Dick & Co. on the Gridley Diamond.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END; Or, Dick & Co. Grilling on the Football +Gridiron.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM; Or, Dick & Co. Leading the +Athletic Vanguard.</p> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + + + +<hr /> + +<h2>Grammar School Boys Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</small></h2> + +<p>This series of stories, based on the actual doings of grammar school +boys, comes near to the heart of the average American boy.</p> + +<p class="hang">1 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY; Or, Dick & Co. Start Things +Moving.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND; Or, Dick & Co. at Winter Sports.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE WOODS; Or, Dick & Co. Trail Fun and +Knowledge.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER ATHLETICS; Or, Dick & Co. Make Their +Fame Secure.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>High School Boys' Vacation Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By H. IRVING HANCOCK</small></h2> + +<p>"Give us more Dick Prescott books!"</p> + +<p>This has been the burden of the cry from young readers of the country +over. Almost numberless letters have been received by the publishers, +making this eager demand; for Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, Tom Reade, and +the other members of Dick & Co. are the most popular high school boys in +the land. Boys will alternately thrill and chuckle when reading these +splendid narratives.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' CANOE CLUB; Or, Dick & Co.'s Rivals on Lake +Pleasant.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER CAMP; Or, The Dick Prescott Six +Training for the Gridley Eleven.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' FISHING TRIP; Or, Dick & Co. in the Wilderness.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' TRAINING HIKE; Or, Dick & Co. Making Themselves +"Hard as Nails."</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>The Circus Boys Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON</small></h2> + +<p>Mr. Darlington's books breathe forth every phase of an intensely +interesting and exciting life.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS; Or, Making the Start in the +Sawdust Life.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; Or, Winning New Laurels on the +Tanbark.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; Or, Winning the Plaudits of the Sunny +South.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI; Or, Afloat with the Big Show on +the Big River.</p> +</blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>The High School Girls Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M.</small></h2> + +<p>These breezy stories of the American High School Girl take the reader +fairly by storm.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Merry Doings of the +Oakdale Freshman Girls.</p> + +<p class="hang">2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SOPHOMORE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Record of the +Girl Chums in Work and Athletics.</p> + +<p class="hang">3 GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, Fast Friends in the +Sororities.</p> + +<p class="hang">4 GRACE HARLOWE'S SENIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Parting of the +Ways.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + +<h2>The Automobile Girls Series<br /> +<br /> +<small>By LAURA DENT CRANE</small></h2> + +<p>No girl's library—no family book-case can be considered at all complete +unless it contains these sparkling twentieth-century books.</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hang">1 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT NEWPORT; Or, Watching the Summer Parade.—2 +THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE BERKSHIRES; Or, The Ghost of Lost Man's +Trail.—3 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE HUDSON; Or, Fighting Fire In +Sleepy Hollow—4 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT CHICAGO; Or, Winning Out +Against Heavy Odds.—5 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT PALM BEACH; Or, Proving +Their Mettle Under Southern Skies.—6 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT +WASHINGTON; Or, Checkmating the Plots of Foreign Spies.</p></blockquote> + +<p class="center"><big>Cloth, <span class="ws2">Illustrated Price</span>, per Volume, 50c.</big></p> + +<hr class="hr4" /> + + +<div class="tn"> +<p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> + +<p class="hang">Page 14 "is" changed to "it"—Yet <a href="#it">it</a> was impossible to</p> + +<p class="hang">Page 26 "Phillis" changed to "Phyllis"—<a href="#Phyllis">Phyllis</a> was a little girl</p> + +<p class="hang">Page 63 hyphen removed from "reappeared"—as she <a href="#reappeared">reappeared</a> on deck</p> + +<p class="hang">Page 137 fullstop removed after chapter heading ELEANOR GETS INTO <a href="#mischief">MISCHIEF</a></p> + +<p class="hang">Page 234 "champon" changed to "champion"—David found an unexpected <a href="#champion">champion</a></p> +</div></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Madge Morton's Trust, by Amy D. V. Chalmers + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADGE MORTON'S TRUST *** + +***** This file should be named 31719-h.htm or 31719-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/1/31719/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/31719-h/images/cover.jpg b/31719-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..94597b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/31719-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/31719-h/images/gs01.jpg b/31719-h/images/gs01.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..908260c --- /dev/null +++ b/31719-h/images/gs01.jpg diff --git a/31719-h/images/gs02.jpg b/31719-h/images/gs02.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..03d3830 --- /dev/null +++ b/31719-h/images/gs02.jpg diff --git a/31719-h/images/gs03.jpg b/31719-h/images/gs03.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..eca9b8f --- /dev/null +++ b/31719-h/images/gs03.jpg diff --git a/31719-h/images/gs04.jpg b/31719-h/images/gs04.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a878758 --- /dev/null +++ b/31719-h/images/gs04.jpg diff --git a/31719-h/images/quote.png b/31719-h/images/quote.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f0a7ac --- /dev/null +++ b/31719-h/images/quote.png diff --git a/31719.txt b/31719.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e54daad --- /dev/null +++ b/31719.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6659 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Madge Morton's Trust, by Amy D. V. Chalmers + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Madge Morton's Trust + +Author: Amy D. V. Chalmers + +Release Date: March 21, 2010 [EBook #31719] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADGE MORTON'S TRUST *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: The "Sea Gull" and the "Merry Maid" Began their Voyage. +_Frontispiece._] + + + + +Madge Morton's Trust + + By + AMY D. V. CHALMERS + + Author of Madge Morton, Captain of the Merry Maid; Madge + Morton's Secret, Madge Morton's Victory. + + PHILADELPHIA + HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY + + +COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY HOWARD E. ALTEMUS + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER. PAGE. + + I. A LATE ARRIVAL 7 + + II. THE DOCTOR'S SUGGESTION 17 + + III. DAVID FINDS A FRIEND 27 + + IV. THE SEARCH 40 + + V. PULLING UP ANCHOR FOR NEW SCENES 52 + + VI. WANDERLUST 60 + + VII. THE RESCUE 72 + + VIII. THE MOTOR BOAT DISASTER 84 + + IX. LEAVING THE HOUSEBOAT TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF 96 + + X. A GHOST STORY 104 + + XI. THE FEAST OF MONDAMIN 112 + + XII. A BOY'S TEMPTATION 124 + + XIII. ELEANOR GETS INTO MISCHIEF 137 + + XIV. "CONFUSION WORSE CONFOUNDED" 149 + + XV. THE BLACK HOLE 158 + + XVI. THE BETTER MAN 169 + + XVII. THE BIRTH OF SUSPICION 181 + + XVIII. DAVID'S MYSTERIOUS ERRAND 191 + + XIX. GHOSTS OF THE PAST 200 + + XX. THE FANCY DRESS PARTY 213 + + XXI. THE INTERRUPTION 221 + + XXII. MADGE MORTON'S TRUST 232 + + XXIII. THE LITTLE CAPTAIN'S STORY 241 + + XXIV. "GOOD LUCK TO THE BRIDE" 248 + + + + +Madge Morton's Trust + +CHAPTER I + +A LATE ARRIVAL + + +It was a particularly hot day in early July. A girl came out on the back +porch of an old-fashioned New England house and dropped into a hammock. +She looked tired, but her big black eyes were eager with interest. + +She held a fat letter in her hand which contained many pages. At the top +of the letter was a pen-and-ink drawing of a miniature houseboat with +five girls running about on the deck, their hair blowing, their skirts +awry. One of them held a broom in her hand; she was the domestic +Eleanor! Another waved a frying pan; Miss Jenny Ann Jones, Chief Cook +and Chaperon! The third girl was drying her long, blonde hair in the +sun; Miss Lillian Seldon, the beauty of the houseboat party! + +The girl in the hammock recognized herself: she was feeding a +weird-looking animal on four legs with a spoon. And standing among the +others, apparently talking as fast as she possibly could, and doing no +work of any kind, was a young woman whom the artist had carefully +labeled "Madge." + +Phyllis Alden laughed until the tears rolled down her cheeks. She could +not recall having laughed in two months, and she was sure she would keep +on giggling as long as she read her letter. + +"Miss Alden"--a woman in the uniform of a professional nurse appeared at +the door--"your mother says do you know where the twins are? She is +restless about them. I promised her I would come to you. I am sorry to +disturb you; I know you are tired." + +"Not a bit of it, Miss Brazier," insisted Phil stoutly. "Those dreadful +babies! I had forgotten I had not seen them in the last half hour. Of +course, they are in mischief. I will look for them right away." + +Phil thrust her precious letter into her blouse. It was four o'clock in +the afternoon and her letter from her chum had arrived in the morning +post. These were busy days for Phyllis Alden. Early in May she had been +called home from school by the illness of her mother. Since that time +the care of her father's house and looking after the irrepressible twins +had been Phyllis's work. Her mother was better now, on the sure road to +convalescence, and Phil had begun to confess to herself that she was +tired. + +At one side of the house there was a rain-barrel. It was strictly +forbidden territory, so Phil knew at once where to look for the twins. +Hanging over the edge of the barrel were two fat little girls with tight +black curls. They were bent double and were fishing for queer, bobbing +things that floated on the surface of the rainwater. A firm hand caught +Daisy by one leg. Dot, terrified by her big sister's sudden appearance, +tumbled into the barrel with a gasp and a splash. + +Phil felt half-vexed; still, she was obliged to laugh at the little +ones, they looked so utterly roguish. + +"Frog in the middle, can't get out," she teased the small girl in the +center of the barrel. Then she fished Dot out and started with both +little maids for the house to make them presentable before dinner. +Phyllis knew that they must both be washed and dressed before she would +have another chance to peep at her precious letter. Still, it comforted +her to think how amused her Madge would be by her funny little +four-year-old twin sisters and their mischievous ways. + +It was just before dinner time when Phyllis firmly locked her bedroom +door and took her precious letter from her blouse. She would read it +now, or die in the effort. It began: + + "DEAR OLD PHIL: + + "I am not writing you from 'Forest House,' but from no other + place than the famous old city of Boston, Massachusetts. I came + here the other day because I believed I would find news of my + father, but I was disappointed and am going back home in a few + days. + + "But I don't want to write about myself; I want to write about + you, dear old Phil! I am so glad your mother is better. When she + is quite well, can't you come to visit Nellie and me at 'Forest + House'? We have missed you so. The Commencement exercises at + Miss Tolliver's were no fun at all this year. When Miss Matilda + got up and announced that Miss Phyllis Alden had been called + home before the final spring examination because of the illness + of her mother, and would, therefore, be passed on to the senior + class of her preparatory school on account of her high standing + in her classes, I cheered for all I was worth, and so did every + one else. + + "Ah, Phil, dear, it has been ages since last I saw you! I would + give all my curls, and my hair really makes a long braid + nowadays, if I could only see you. How I wish we could spend the + rest of this summer on our beautiful houseboat! The poor little + 'Merry Maid'! How lonely she must be without us. Tom Curtis and + Jack Bolling wrote and asked me to let them tow us up the + Rappahannock River this summer. They are going on a motor trip. + But, alas and alack! we haven't any money to pay our expenses, + so I fear there will be no houseboat party this summer. It's + dreadfully sad, but, more than anything else, I regret not + seeing you, Phil. With my dearest love. Write soon. Your devoted + + "MADGE." + +Phyllis finished her letter with a warm feeling around her heart but a +sigh on her lips. No "Merry Maid" this summer! Well, Phyllis had not +expected it, yet it seemed cruel to think of the four girls and Miss +Jones being separated for another year from their "Ship of Dreams," +where they had spent two wonderful holidays. + +The story of how Madge Morton, Phyllis Alden, Lillian Seldon and Eleanor +Butler came into possession of a houseboat is fully set forth in the +first volume of this series, entitled "MADGE MORTON, CAPTAIN OF THE +'MERRY MAID.'" The happy summer spent by the four young women on board +the "Merry Maid," chaperoned by Miss Jenny Ann Jones, one of the +teachers in the boarding school which they attended, was one long to be +remembered. + +While anchored in a quiet bit of water, a part of the great Chesapeake +Bay, they made many friends, chief among whom were Mrs. Curtis, a +wealthy widow, and her son Tom. Mrs. Curtis's instant liking for Madge, +her subsequent offer to adopt her, and the remarkable manner in which +Madge and Phyllis were instrumental in discovering their friend's own +daughter, who had been lost at sea years before, in a poor fisher girl +whom they rescued from her cruel foster father, formed a lively +narrative. + +"MADGE MORTON'S SECRET" told of the girls' second sojourn on their +houseboat, which was anchored near Old Point Comfort. There the girls +saw much of the social life of the Army and Navy, and it was while there +that Madge incurred the enmity of a young woman named Flora Harris, who +made the little captain's life very unpleasant for a time. + +The mysterious cutting of the "Merry Maid's" cable on a stormy night, +the voyaging of the little boat out into the bay, and the island shore +to which she drifted in the gray dawn, and how, after living the life of +young Crusoes for many weeks, they were rescued and returned to their +sorrowing friends, made absorbing reading for those interested in +following the fortunes of Madge Morton. + +But to go back to the subject of Phyllis Alden: She and her father, Dr. +Alden, were firm friends. Every evening since her mother's illness they +had taken a walk together after the twins were safely tucked in bed. It +was a pleasure to which they both looked forward all day. To-night they +were late in getting away from the house, and, as they strolled along +through the quiet streets, Phyllis was unusually silent. She had told +her father of Madge's letter, but she had not mentioned her invitation +to visit Madge and Nellie at their home in Virginia. Phil did not think +she could be spared from home and did not wish to worry her father. Yet +all the time that Phil was so silent Dr. Alden was wondering where he +could send Phyllis to spend a well-earned holiday. He did not have much +money to spare, but his beloved daughter must somehow be given a rest. + +Phyllis and her father were almost home again when the girl thought she +heard some one running behind them. She turned with apprehensive +suddenness. The night was dark and the streets were narrow; only at the +corners the electric lamps made bright, open spaces. Under one of these +lights Phyllis looked back fearfully. She could barely discern a figure. +It was walking close to the fence and seemed to be carrying something. +Phil could not discover what it was, and Dr. Alden, who was slightly +deaf, heard nothing. + +Suddenly a watchdog set up a furious barking and rushed out into the +street. Phil felt more secure. If any one were lurking in the shadow +with the thought of attacking her father, the dog would surely come to +their rescue. Yet now she could hear six feet pattering after them +instead of two. The dog must have been won over by their enemy. + +"Father"--Phil put her hand nervously on her father's arm; she was not +herself to-night; she was tired and full of unexpressed longings for her +friends--"wait!" Phil ended her sentence abruptly. Some one distinctly +called her name, "Phil!" it echoed down the empty street. + +Dr. Alden and his daughter both turned. Yet it was impossible to see any +great distance beyond them. They were in the light, while the shadows +down the sidewalk were densely black. Some one was coming toward them, +though it was difficult to know if it were a man or a woman. + +Straight into Phil's arms whirled a breathless girl, her hat on one +side, her curly hair tumbling down and her eyes as bright as the +fireflies that flickered through the dark streets. The girl carried a +heavy suit case, and a large dog walked protectingly at her side. + +It was Madge Morton. She had arrived alone and unannounced in the city +of Hartford at a perfectly incredible hour of the night! + +Dr. Alden was overcome with surprise. He had heard Phil give a cry of +rapture, saw a suit case drop to the ground, then two girls meet in a +joyful embrace. + +"I might have known you would come when I needed you most, Madge," cried +Phil rapturously. Phil was not really surprised by her chum's +appearance. She knew that the most astonishing things in the world were +just the things that Madge Morton would do as though they were the most +natural. + +"Is your mother better?" whispered Madge. "For goodness' sake, Phil, +dear girl, let me tell your father who I am and how I happened to appear +at this unearthly hour." Madge put her hand into the doctor's. "Please +forgive me, Dr. Alden," she began. "I wrote Phil I was in Boston and +about to start for home. I was on the way to the depot to buy my ticket +when suddenly I remembered that I wasn't so far from dear Phil. I have +been wanting to see her so dreadfully. So I just telegraphed Uncle and +Aunt that I was going to stop over in Hartford a few hours. + +"Of course, we had a wreck on the train, so here I am, only six hours +late. When I came in at the station to-night I just inquired what car I +should take to bring me to your address. And wasn't it funny? I saw you +and Phil cross the street at the corner, so I jumped off the car and +ran after you. I thought this old dog was going to eat me up, but the +dear old fellow has adopted me instead." + +Madge patted the strange dog affectionately with her left hand. Phil had +never let go of her right one. + +"I hope you will forgive my dropping in on you like this. I am ashamed +of myself, but I just had to have a look at Phil." + +"You've dropped from heaven! You are an angel unawares, Madge Morton," +vowed practical Phil Alden in devout tones. "I was never so glad to see +anybody in my life. Now, if you leave me to-morrow, I shall surely die." + +Madge laughed happily. How good it seemed to be with dear old Phil once +more. Dr. Alden picked up her suit case and looked at her with earnest, +kindly eyes. + +"Daughter," he said kindly, "I am almost as pleased to see you as Phil +is. Come home with us. You must be worn out from your journey." + +For the first time Madge realized that she was a little tired and that +she had been a little frightened at arriving alone in a strange city at +night. But then she was with Phil. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE DOCTOR'S SUGGESTION + + +Madge fitted marvelously into Dr. Alden's troubled household. She read +to Mrs. Alden when the nurse was away, cheered her with funny stories +and really helped her to grow well and strong. + +As for the twins, Dot and Daisy, they were never absent from the little +captain's side, except when Phil positively commanded it. Madge used to +take long walks with one of them clinging to either side of her skirt. +Where she found her patience when they tumbled down, lagged behind and +begged for more fairy tales every minute was a marvel. But Madge had +been shocked at her beloved Phil's careworn appearance and came +gallantly to her rescue. She might have little consideration for +strangers, she could do wonders for the people she loved and one long +look into her friend's tired face made her resolve to do her best for +Phil. + +The next morning after Madge's unceremonious arrival Dr. Alden wrote a +letter to Mr. and Mrs. Butler, asking them to allow Madge to make +Phyllis a visit. Madge also wrote a note, but it was not in the nature +of a request. Instead, she dashed off the following letter to her +Virginia relatives: + + "DEAREST AUNT AND UNCLE: + + "Don't worry about me. I am at Phil's and having the best kind + of a time. I am going to stay with her for a few days, as she + needs me. Do I hear any dissenting voices? I hope not! Tell + Nellie we miss her terribly. With lots of love to all of you. + Don't bother to write. I'll take the will for the deed. + + "Lovingly, + "MADGE." + +"There," declared Madge as she skipped up the steps after handing her +letter to the postman, "that will stifle all Virginia objections. Now, I +am going to enjoy myself while I am with dear Phil." + +In the days that followed Madge's declaration she helped Phil keep house +with a will. Dr. Alden used to call her "The Second Daughter," and Madge +derived untold pleasure from the drives she took with him over the +country roads to see his patients. + +One afternoon, however, as they jogged along toward the home of a +patient who lived several miles from town, Madge was unusually silent. +Though the air was sweet with the perfume of honeysuckle, and their road +ran through a particularly beautiful bit of country, she was dreamy and +abstracted. + +From time to time Dr. Alden gazed at her humorously. His +fellow-passenger was in a deep reverie and had forgotten his presence. + +"Thinking of your houseboat, eh, Madge?" he inquired. + +"Yes, Doctor Man," answered Madge quickly, "of the houseboat and Phil." +She sat very straight in the buggy, and, drawing her level brows into a +frown, said slowly: "I was saying over to myself that when five nice, +capable young women wish a very special thing very much they ought to be +able to obtain it. You see, we wish to spend the beginning of the summer +on the houseboat. It would be splendid for Phil. But we haven't the +money, so I am trying to find out how to get it." + +The physician's eyes twinkled. "That is not a new occupation, Madge. +Most of us spend our time in trying to get hold of that same mighty +dollar. But we have to work for it as well as to think about it. I +wonder if you girls wish the holiday on your boat badly enough to work +for it? If only I could give you the money!" + +Madge looked earnestly at the doctor, then said slowly: "That's just it. +Of course, we are willing to work for the money. But I must find out +what we can do in a hurry. You see, we need the money at once." + +After they reached their destination, the doctor stayed a long while at +his call on his country patient, and Madge, left alone in the buggy, had +plenty of time to devise a thousand schemes for acquiring riches and to +dismiss them all as impracticable. The physician had driven his old +horse inside the trim yard of his patient, and the road lay near the big +front porch door. The little garden was as pretty and tidy as the +pictures in Kate Greenaway books. It grew tall hollyhocks, neatly cut +hedges, and a riot of old rose bushes. Madge might well have spent her +time in gazing at it, as it was a typical New England garden on a small +scale. But it seemed too tiny and conventional to the little captain, +whose inner vision conjured up the sight of the great, oak-shaded lawn +at "Forest House." Just then she had more practical problems to occupy +her attention. She let the reins fall loosely on the horse's neck, for +he was in the habit of standing without being hitched. To-day old Prince +grew tired with waiting and began to nibble at the short grass. Madge, +lost in her daydreams, paid no heed to him. The horse moved on. Ahead +there was a particularly delicious bunch of tall, feathery grass, which +had been allowed to grow unaccountably high. It was a rare shrub, but +the old horse was not aware of it. The wheel of the buggy that held the +heedless driver passed over the high porch step. The girl inside felt +herself let gently down on the ground and a high, black canopy covered +her. Then, at last, Madge became alive to the situation. + +But it was too late! Old Prince was frightened. The noise of the +overturned buggy had upset his nerves. He began to run--not very fast, +but fast enough so that Madge found herself being dragged along the +ground over the smooth grass lawn. She couldn't crawl out from under the +buggy and she certainly did not wish to remain under it. She raised her +voice in one long cry of terror. + +A boy had been working back of the house. He was in his shirt sleeves +and had an old, torn, straw hat pulled down over his eyes. An ugly scowl +was the only attention he had paid to the doctor and Madge as they drove +into the yard. His face was flushed, not so much from the sun as from +the anger that was raging within him. It was hard enough to work like a +slave for a cranky old maid, without being constantly "pecked at." David +believed that he hated every one in the world. Yet at Madge's shrill cry +for help he dropped his rake and ran toward the front lawn. He saw the +overturned buggy, heard the noise that came from underneath it, but he +could see no sign of Madge. Dr. Alden had also dashed from the house +onto the front porch. He was followed by a woman of about sixty years. +Her hair was parted in the middle and she wore little bunches of +corkscrew curls over each ear, in the fashion of half a century ago. +"Oh, my! Oh, my!" she cried, wringing her hands. "How can I bear it? how +can I bear it?" One might have supposed that she were frightened over +Madge. + +Dr. Alden started in pursuit of the horse. But at his approach old +Prince quickened his pace. "Stand still!" a peremptory voice called to +him sharply. "Stop crying out!" the same voice ordered Madge. + +Dr. Alden gazed in bewilderment at the speaker. Madge at the same +instant realized that she must be frightening the horse with the noise +she was making. + +The boy with the torn hat advanced quietly toward the horse, showing no +special interest in him. He called gently to the animal, holding out a +bunch of grass. Prince was only frightened at the strange turn his +affairs had taken. He now stopped for a minute. Immediately a firm hand +seized his head. + +Dr. Alden made a move toward his buggy. "Unhitch the horse," commanded +the boy. + +Once the horse was free from the buggy Dr. Alden and the young man +lifted it on one side. Out crawled Madge, a most inglorious figure. She +was covered with dust, her face grimy. Her hair had tumbled down and +hung in a loose bunch of curls over her shoulders. + +"I am not a bit hurt, Doctor," she announced bravely, as soon as she got +her breath. "It was all my fault. I let old Prince get away from me. I +am so afraid I have broken the buggy." + +"What a nice girl!" thought David. "She isn't a bit fussy. I wonder how +she will take the old lady?" + +While the physician assured Madge that his vehicle was not injured in +the least, and that he would not have minded its being smashed into bits +so long as she was unhurt, a woman walked across the yard and glared +angrily at Madge. + +"Young woman," she said in a thin, high voice, "look--look at what you +and that wretched horse have done." + +Madge blinked some of the dirt from her eyes, then tried to twist her +hair back into some kind of order. "I am sorry," she answered in +bewilderment. "But what have we done?" + +David swallowed a malicious grin of satisfaction. + +The woman fairly gasped at Madge's question. "You've torn up my lawn, +trampled down my prize rose-bush, and--and--please take the young woman +away, doctor. My nerves won't endure anything more after the night I +have spent. I am sure I would never dare trust my life to any one who +goes about turning over buggies and ruining people's gardens." + +Trust her life? Of what was the woman talking? Madge thought she could +not have heard aright. + +"Never mind your lawn, Miss Betsey," answered Dr. Alden severely. "Be +grateful that the child isn't hurt. Thank you, David." The doctor began +fumbling in his pocket for his money. + +Madge saw her rescuer's face turn scarlet. He was a manly looking fellow +of perhaps eighteen. + +With a muttered, "I'm not a beggar," he turned and walked away from +them. + +After exchanging a little further conversation with Miss Betsey, the +doctor and Madge drove away. Outside the yard Madge began to laugh. She +could still see the old maid wringing her hands and gazing in anguish at +her cherished garden. + +"Scat!" grumbled Madge. + +The doctor smiled. "Miss Betsey is a bit of an old cat, child. But I +don't wish you to be prejudiced against her, poor old soul." + +"Oh, I wasn't thinking of her being like a cat, Doctor Man," apologized +Madge. "I am very fond of cats. I was thinking of Miss Betsey in 'David +Copperfield.' Don't you remember how she used to rush out and cry +'Scat!' all the time at the donkeys that she feared were going to ruin +her lawn? Old Prince and I were the 'donkeys' this afternoon. Who is +that boy named David? He is very good looking, isn't he?" + +"David? Oh, he is a poor boy who works around Miss Taylor's place--a +distant cousin of hers, I believe. His mother was a gentlewoman, but she +married a man who turned out badly and her family disowned her. This +youngster has a bad disposition and Miss Betsey says he is not faithful +to his work. He steals off every now and then and hides for hours up in +a loft. No one knows what he is doing up there." + +"Well, I don't think I would like to work for Miss Betsey," returned +Madge thoughtfully. "Somehow I feel sorry for this David." She +remembered the boy's quick flush of resentment at the doctor's offer of +money. She wished that she had been able to thank him herself for his +share in her rescue. + +"I am sorry you think you would not like to work for Miss Betsey," +returned the doctor unexpectedly, "because I had a suggestion to make +to you and Phil. But after to-day I am afraid it will be of no use. Miss +Taylor is a rich old maid patient of mine. I have looked after her since +Phyllis was a little girl. She has no relatives and no interest in life +except in her little estate, which has been in her family for several +generations. She makes herself ill by imagining that she has a variety +of diseases. All she needs is fresh air and young companionship. I +wonder if there is any way that she can manage to get it?" + +Madge felt a shiver creep up and down her spine. She had a premonition +of what Dr. Alden was going to propose to her and to Phil. Surely they +could not be expected to Jonah their pretty houseboat by taking aboard +such a fellow-passenger as this dreadful old maid! How could they ever +have any fun with her on board? Instead of calling their pretty craft +the "Merry Maid," she would have to be re-christened "Old Maid," Madge +thought resentfully. + +Dr. Alden did not return to the subject of Miss Betsey during the long +ride home. He was too wise for that. Nevertheless, he had given Madge +something to think about. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +DAVID FINDS A FRIEND + + +"It's all right, Phyllis! Tom Curtis is a dear. David is to go with us." +Madge breathed a sigh of satisfaction over the success of her scheme. + +Phyllis Alden laughed. She was buttoning the twins into clean pinafores. +"I am not surprised. I knew Tom would find a place for David if you +asked him to do so. Tom Curtis is quite likely to do Madge Morton's +will." + +Madge flushed. "Don't be a goose, please, Phil," she begged. "You know +that as long as we are to take Miss Betsey Taylor on board our +houseboat, in order to be able to pay the expenses of our trip this +summer," Madge made a wry face, "that we ought not to leave poor David +high and dry without any work to do. I was awfully sorry for the boy +when he came here the other day and heard what Miss Betsey thought of +doing. He turned quite white, and when I asked him if he was sorry to be +thrown out of work, he said 'Yes,' and then he wouldn't talk any more." + +Phyllis looked serious. "I hope it will turn out for the best, but it is +asking a good deal of Tom to take this strange boy way down to Virginia +with him. David hasn't a good reputation. Miss Taylor employs him only +because he is a distant cousin of hers. No one else will have anything +to do with him, he is so surly and unfriendly. He was turned out of the +district school, and----" + +Madge pretended to put her fingers in her ears. "Don't tell me any more +mean things about that poor fellow, please, dear," she pleaded. "I +suppose it is because I have never heard a good word about him that I, +being an obstinate person, don't think he can be as bad as he is +painted. I am a black sheep myself, sometimes, when my horrid temper +gets the better of me, and I know how dreadful it is not to be trusted." + +"You a black sheep! O Madge! how absurd you are," protested Phil. + +But Madge was in earnest and would not be interrupted. "Tom really did +need some one on his motor boat, Phil. He wrote me that he meant to hire +some one to come along with him. Tom wishes to run his own engine, but +he doesn't yearn for the task of cleaning it or to do the very hard +work. Of course, that is all right. He has plenty of money and can do as +he chooses. But it's different with David." + +"How many boys will Tom have on his motor boat while he has us in tow?" +inquired Phil. She realized that Madge had been seized with one of her +sudden fits of enthusiasm over Miss Betsey Taylor's "hired boy" and that +there was no sense in opposing her. The little captain would find out +later whether her enthusiasm had been right or wrong. + +"Four or five," answered Madge absently. "Do stand still, Daisy Alden, +while I tie your sunbonnet, or I'll eat you alive!" she scolded kissing +one of the twin babies on her fat pink cheek. "Come on, Phil. Hold tight +to Dot. If we are going to drive out to Miss Betsey Taylor's to see +whether she still desires to pay us sixty dollars a month for food, +lodging and the pleasure of our delightful society aboard our precious +houseboat, we had better start at once." + +Phil, Madge and the twins waved good-bye to Mrs. Alden, who was well +enough now to be about her house, as they piled themselves into the +physician's old buggy, which he had left for their use during the day. + +The doctor's suggestion looked as though it were going to come true. At +first Madge and Phil protested that they simply couldn't bear to take a +fussy old maid on their houseboat excursion. But then, if they did not +take Miss Betsey, there wouldn't be any excursion. The girls were +between Scylla and Charybdis, like the ill-fated Ulysses on his journey +back from Troy. Scylla, Miss Betsey, went with them, or Charybdis, the +houseboat party, would have to decline Tom Curtis's offer to tow them up +the Rappahannock River. So the girls decided to choose "Miss Scylla," as +they nicknamed poor Miss Betsey. + +As for Miss Betsey Taylor, she had been even more horrified than the two +houseboat girls when the doctor made the proposal to her. How was she to +cure her nerves by trusting herself to a party of gay young people with +a twenty-six-year-old chaperon as the only balance to the party. Absurd! +Miss Betsey wrung her hands at the very idea. But after a while the +allurement of the plan began to stir even her conventional old soul. The +thought of being borne gently along a beautiful river dividing the +Virginia shores wrought enchantment. There was something else that +influenced Miss Betsey. Years before she had had a "near romance." A +young Virginia officer had come to New York and had met Miss Betsey at +the home of a friend. During one winter he saw her many times, and +although he was too poor to speak of marriage, Miss Betsey was entitled +to believe that he had cared for her. One day Miss Betsey had an +argument with her admirer. It was a foolish argument, but the Virginia +officer believed that Miss Betsey had insulted him. He went away and +never saw her again. Afterward she learned that he had returned to his +ruined estate in Virginia. + +It was a poor shadow of a romance, but Miss Betsey had never had +another. In late years she had begun to think of her past. It _did_ add +a flavor of romance to her trip in the houseboat to imagine that she +might have been a happy matron, living on one of the old places that she +would see in Virginia, instead of being Miss Betsey Taylor of Hartford, +who had never ventured farther than New York City in the sixty years of +her maiden life. To tell the truth, Miss Betsey was as enthusiastic over +the prospect of a trip in a houseboat as were the members of the "Merry +Maid's" crew. + +When the two girls and the children drove into Miss Betsey's yard David +helped Madge, Phil and the twins out of the doctor's buggy, looking more +surly and impossible than ever. A secret bitterness was surging in him. +Miss Betsey had promised to give him steady work at "Chestnut Cottage" +all summer. Now she was going away on a trip with a lot of silly girls. +Once again he was to be balked in the cherished desire of his life. In +his bitterness of heart he pretended he had never seen Madge before. + +"I would like to talk to you, David, after we have seen Miss Taylor," +said Madge in a friendly fashion to the scowling youth. "I won't take up +much of your time." + +David walked away without making any reply, which angered the girl, and +as she walked into the house she began to feel rather sorry that she had +tried to play Good Samaritan to such a churlish fellow. + +To-day Miss Betsey really wished to make a good impression on Madge and +Phil. She was as anxious that they should like her as the girls were to +please the queer old lady. Miss Betsey was waiting for her guests in her +prim, old-fashioned parlor. The dim light from the closed green blinds +was grateful after the brilliant sunshine of the warm July day. On a +little, spindle-legged mahogany table were tall glasses of fruit +lemonade and a plate of assorted cakes. + +Miss Betsey surveyed Madge Morton with keen, curious eyes. She already +knew Phil. But before she trusted her life to these girls she wished to +take their measure. Madge's appearance as she emerged from under the +overturned buggy had not been prepossessing. To-day Miss Betsey would be +able to judge her better. As she scrutinized the little captain she was +not altogether pleased with Madge's looks. She preferred Phil's dark, +serious face. There was too much ardor, too much warm, bright color +about Madge in her deep-toned auburn hair and the healthy scarlet of her +lips. Madge breathed a kind of radiant impulse toward a fullness of life +that was opposed to Miss Betsey Taylor's theory of existence. Still, she +could find no objection to the young girl's manner. Madge was so shy and +deprecating that Phil could hardly help laughing at her. What would Miss +Betsey think later on, when the little captain had one of her attacks of +high spirits? + +Miss Taylor asked so many questions about the houseboat that Phil was +kept busy answering her. Madge spoke only in monosyllables, her +attention being devoted to the twins. The cake and lemonade having been +disposed of, these two tiny persons kept wriggling about the drawing +room in momentary peril of upsetting the tables and chairs. + +"Miss Taylor," broke in Madge suddenly, in her usual, unexpected +fashion, "if you don't mind, I think I will take the little girls out +into your back garden. I wish to speak to your boy, David. I have asked +our friend, Tom Curtis, to take David to help him with his motor boat +during our trip. I hope you don't mind?" + +Miss Betsey caught her breath. She was startled by the suddenness of +Madge's suggestion, as she was to be many times during her acquaintance +with that young woman. Then Miss Betsey looked dubious. "Take David +with us?" she faltered. "I don't advise it. It was good of you, child, +to think of it, and it would be a wonderful opportunity for the boy. But +I am obliged to tell you that David is not trustworthy. He spends too +many hours alone, and refuses to tell anybody what he is doing. Make him +confide in you, or else do not take him away with us. I'll try to find +something for the boy to do nearer home." + +Madge thought she caught a gleam in Miss Betsey's eyes that revealed a +goodly amount of curiosity about David's secret occupations, as much as +it did interest in his welfare. She made up her mind that she would not +pry into poor David's secrets simply because she had a chance to offer +him the opportunity to make his living during the summer. + +Holding Dot by one hand and Daisy by the other, Madge appeared at the +half-open barn-door, her eyes shining with friendliness. + +David was working fiercely. He hated the cleaning of the barn, so he +chose to-day to do it as an outlet for his foolish feeling of injury. + +"David," exclaimed Madge, "I must call you that, as I don't know your +other name, I would like to speak to you." There was no hint of +patronage in Madge's manner. She was too well-bred a young woman either +to feel or to show it. She really felt no difference between herself +and David, except that the boy had never had the opportunities that had +been hers. + +But David never turned around to answer her. "Speak ahead," he answered +roughly. "I'm not deaf. I can hear what you've got to say to me in here +all right." + +Madge colored angrily. A sound temper had never been her strong point. +She had almost forgotten how angry she could be in the two peaceful +weeks she had spent with Phil. The hot blood surged to her cheeks at +David's rude behavior. The boy had gone on raking the hay into one +corner of the barn. + +"I certainly shall not speak to you if you can't treat me courteously," +she answered coldly. She took the little girls by the hands and walked +quietly away from the barn. The babies protested. Their black eyes were +wide with interest at the sight of "the big boy." They wished to stay +and talk to him. + +David put his hand to his throat when Madge was out of sight. He felt as +though he were choking, and he knew it was from shame at his own uncivil +behavior to the girl who had treated him in such a friendly, gentle +fashion. David Brewster was a queer combination. He was enough of a +gentleman to know he had treated Madge discourteously, but he did not +know how to apologize to her. He glanced around the yard. + +Madge had taken the twins and was seated with them under a big apple +tree in the back yard. She was making them daisy and clover chains, and +she seemed completely to have forgotten the rude boy. + +David walked up behind the tree. If Madge saw or heard him, she gave no +sign. She was putting a tiny wreath of daisies on Daisy Alden's head and +crowning Dot with a wreath of clover. + +"Miss," said a boy's embarrassed voice, "I know I was rude to you out in +the barn. I am sorry. I was worried about something and it put me in a +bad temper. Do you feel that you would be willing to speak to me now?" +he asked humbly. + +Madge's face cleared. Yet she hesitated. She was beginning to fear that +she would be unwise to mention Tom's proposition to David. She knew that +Tom Curtis, with his frank, open nature, would have little use for an +ugly-tempered, surly youth on board his motor boat. Had she any right to +burden Tom with a disagreeable helper? + +But David seemed so miserable, so shy and awkward, that Madge's heart +softened. Again she felt sorry for the boy, as she had done at her +first meeting with him. Whether for good or evil, she made up her mind +that David should accompany them on their houseboat excursion. + +"Sit down, won't you, David?" she asked gently. + +David sat down shyly, with his torn hat between the knees of his patched +trousers while Madge explained the situation to him. She told him that +she and Phil felt sorry that they were making him lose his place by +taking Miss Betsey away. She said that Tom Curtis needed some one to +help him with his motor boat, and that he was willing to take David with +him if he would be faithful and do the work that Tom required of him. +"Mr. Curtis will give you five dollars a week and your expenses if you +would care to make the trip with us," concluded Madge. + +She was silent for a second. Her eyes were on the pretty twin babies, +who were chasing golden-brown butterflies on the grass just in front of +them, and screaming joyously at their own lack of success. + +"Didn't you hear me, David?" inquired Madge a trifle impatiently. + +The boy's face was working. His eyes were brimming with tears. He was +bitterly ashamed of them and tried to rub them off with his rough +coatsleeve. Then he said in a low voice: + +"You mean that you got your friend to consent to take a fellow he knew +nothing about on a motor boat trip way down in Virginia, and just for +the little work that I can do on his boat? I can't understand it. You +see, I've never been twenty miles out of Hartford, and nobody thinks I +am much good around here. I know you have done this for me just because +you didn't want me to lose my job with Miss Betsey. I could see you were +sorry for me the other night, when I couldn't help showing that I cared. +Gee-whiz! I wonder how I will ever be able to pay you back?" + +Madge laughed. She could see that David had forgotten her and was +thinking and talking aloud. + +"You've paid me back already," she declared, smiling. "Didn't you help +pull me out from under the buggy the other day? You may have saved my +life. If old Prince had really tried to run away I might have been +killed. Please don't be grateful to me. You aren't obliged to be +grateful to any one, though, if you must, why, you can thank Tom Curtis. +It is his motor boat that is to tow our houseboat and take us on our new +adventures. He is a splendid fellow and I know you will like him. I am +sure you will get along nicely with him." + +"I'll do the best I can to be worth my keep. You won't be sorry you +told your friend Mr. Curtis to take me along," he said huskily. + +"It may not be easy for you all the time," added Madge, feeling that she +ought to give David some good advice. "There will be four or five young +men on board the motor boat, and they may all ask you to wait on them. +But I must not preach. I am dreadfully afraid I shall never be able to +get on with your cousin, Miss Taylor. You must tell me how to manage +her; because, if she and I were to quarrel, it would spoil the whole +houseboat trip. I have a very bad temper. I must go back to the house +now. Phil and Miss Betsey will wonder what has become of me. But where +are those children?" Madge sprang to her feet. The twins had been before +her eyes only a few seconds before. Now they had completely disappeared! + +David ran toward the barn. Madge searched the yard frantically. The +children had not returned to the house. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE SEARCH + + +"Where can they be, David?" asked Madge anxiously. "Do you suppose they +have run away?" + +"Nothing can possibly have happened to the children in such a few +moments. We will find them. They are probably hiding somewhere to tease +you." + +But though he made a systematic hunt about the yard, he did not find +them. + +"Dot! Daisy!" called Madge, "it's time to go home. If you'll only come +here, I will tell you the nicest fairy story you ever heard." + +Madge did not go into the house at once to tell Phil and Miss Betsey of +the disappearance of the children. She would surely discover them and it +was not worth while to worry Phil. But although she argued within +herself that nothing serious could have happened to the babies, she had +a premonition of disaster. Only a moment before they had been chasing +butterflies. It would seem as though a wicked hobgoblin had come up out +of the ground and carried them off. + +Next to Miss Taylor's back yard there was another field enclosed by a +low stone wall. It would have been easy work for Dot and Daisy to crawl +over it, and Madge knew their propensity for getting into mischief. +David and Madge clambered hastily over the wall into the field. It was +an open one, covered with low, waving grass, where the presence of even +little four-year-old girls could be seen at a glance. + +The conviction that the children had been mysteriously kidnapped began +to grow upon Madge. Yet Miss Betsey Taylor's home was a quarter of a +mile distant from any other house, and neither David nor Madge had seen +any sign of a tramp. The little captain made up her mind that she _must_ +tell Phil. It was no longer fair to keep her chum in the dark. Phil must +assist in the search for her sisters. + +"Don't be frightened," consoled David, interpreting the look of fear in +Madge's eyes. "I promise to find the children for you." + +Madge went into the house with slow, dragging steps. She tried to hide +her fright, but her face betrayed her. She was utterly wretched. She had +come, uninvited, to visit her best friend, and Phil's father and mother +had treated her as though she were another grown-up daughter. Now, as a +reward, she had lost their beloved babies. For, if Madge had not been +talking with David, Dot and Daisy would never have run away from her and +disappeared. + +Phyllis sprang to her feet when she caught sight of Madge. She had been +wondering why her chum had not come in. One look at Madge's white face +was enough to convince her that something serious had happened. + +"Don't worry so, Madge," comforted Phil, when the girl had stammered out +her story, "I'll find those children. Nobody has run off with them. +Don't you know that getting themselves lost and frightening people +nearly out of their wits is the thing that Dot and Daisy love best in +the world?" + +Phyllis and Madge ran out of the parlor together, followed more slowly +by Miss Betsey, who was not at all sure that she relished so much +excitement. Phyllis Alden did not realize how thoroughly Madge and David +had looked for the lost babies before her friend had brought the news to +her. If she had, Phil would have been more alarmed. + +David determined to discover the missing children before Madge returned +to the yard. But where else should he seek for them? With a swift +feeling of horror, the boy thought of one more possible place. If his +surmise should prove true! Poor Madge! David thought of her with a +sudden flood of sympathy. Instinctively he realized, after his short +acquaintance with her, that she was the type of person who would never +recover from such a sorrow as the loss of these children would be. + +While David thought he ran. He hoped to make his investigation before +Madge and Phil could come into the yard. + +Several rods back of the barn in Miss Taylor's back garden there was a +disused well which had been closed for several years. A few days before +Miss Betsey had sent for a man to have this well reopened. The man had +not finished his work. He had gone away, leaving the well open with only +a plank across it. + +But David was not allowed to inspect the place undiscovered. Madge and +Phyllis were not long in finding him. "Look in the barn, won't you?" +David called back to the girls. "The children may be hiding under the +hay." + +Phyllis slipped inside the barn door. But Madge had ransacked the barn +too thoroughly to believe that there was a chance of finding the babies +there. Besides, she had seen David Brewster's face. He was pale through +his sunburn, so she left the barn to Phil and followed at his heels. + +"You've an idea what has happened to the children. Please tell me what +you think," she pleaded. + +The boy shook his head resolutely. "Don't ask questions, I've no time to +talk," he answered rudely. Yet David did not mean to be unkind. He only +knew that he could not face the look in Madge's eyes should his +suspicion prove true. Besides, there was no time to waste. Already they +must have waited too long to save the children if the little ones had +fallen down the old well. + +Instantly David knew. The plank that had lain across the well had fallen +over on one side. The children must have stepped on this plank and gone +down. David dropped flat on his stomach and peered over into the hole. +"Look out!" he cried sharply to Madge, she was so near him. + +Madge felt herself reel. The air turned black about her and the earth +seemed slanting at her feet, miles and miles away. A feeling of deathly +nausea crept over her. Then she pulled herself together. There might yet +be hope, and there was surely work to be done. She dropped on the ground +beside David. + +As they knelt side by side on the edge of the well they heard a little, +weak, moaning cry, and straining their eyes distinguished faintly the +tops of two curly heads. Madge uttered a cry of relief. As nearly as she +could judge, the babies were standing upright in the well with their +arms about each other. They were nearly dead with fright and +suffocation, but the wonderful instinct of self-preservation had made +them continue to keep on their feet. There was not more than a foot of +water in the bottom of the well, and Madge believed that the fall had +not seriously hurt them. + +"Dot! Daisy!" called Madge, trying to speak in natural tones. + +Daisy turned a pair of big black eyes to the little light that shone +above her. Hanging over the edge of the well she spied her Madge and +stretched both tiny arms upward. + +"You tumbled into a big hole, didn't you, dears?" soothed Madge +cheerfully, although she was trembling. "Stand up just a moment longer, +won't you, darlings? Madge is right here and she will not go away. We +will have you out of that dark place in a minute." + +David had disappeared after his first glance at the children. Madge felt +absolutely sure that he would be able to get the babies out of the well +within the next few moments. She did not know how and she didn't think. +It was her part to keep up the children's courage. Somehow she knew that +this strange boy, of whom everybody spoke ill, would justify the curious +confidence she had placed in him from their first meeting. + +When David returned he brought with him Phil, Miss Betsey, and Jane, the +cook. He carried a small clothes basket in his hand with handles at +either end and a great coil of heavy rope. + +Turning to Madge he said, "One of us must go down in the well. Shall I +go, or will it be better for me to draw up the basket? I am the +strongest." + +For answer Madge took hold of the rope. "Let me go," she begged. + +"It is my place," demurred Phyllis, with a white face. + +"Phil!" Madge's eyes said all she could not speak. It was her fault that +Dot and Daisy had fallen into the well. Could she not be allowed to risk +herself to save them? + +Phyllis stepped back. During this brief exchange of words David had not +been idle. He had knotted his rope securely about Madge's waist. + +Over the side of the old well he had seen many loose bricks and open +places. With him above to steady her, a plucky girl could manage to +climb down the side of the well with small danger to herself. + +Madge slipped the rope around one arm. If she fell, she might, with +David's assistance, be able to drop down sailor fashion. + +She dared not glance down as she began the descent, finding open spaces +for her feet and hands along the brick wall. "Steady, steady!" she +could hear David's voice cheering her, as foot by foot he let out more +of his rope. + +David had not trusted to his own strength alone. The rope he guided was +in Phil's hands and also those of Jane, the cook. + +When Madge was within two feet of the bottom of the well she jumped and +gathered little Dot, who had toppled over, in her arms. Daisy was still +standing, although she tottered and clung to her rescuer's skirts. + +"Let down the basket quickly!" cried Madge. Like a flash the basket +swung down. The little captain made haste to lift poor Dot into it. The +basket had a rope tied on the handle at each end. Madge could see that +David had replaced a heavy plank across the mouth of the well, and that +he sat astride it, so as to be able to draw up the basket without +striking it against the sides of the well. + +Madge took little Daisy in her arms and cuddled her head on her +shoulder, so she should not see what was taking place. "Shut your eyes, +baby," she pleaded. "We'll soon be out of this dark old place." + +Daisy did not answer. The wreath of daisies with which Madge had crowned +her little head still hung loosely down among her black curls. + +It seemed ages before Dot was safely landed on the ground and gathered +in Phil's arms. During that time Madge had never ceased comforting +Daisy. But when the basket descended for the second time Daisy refused +to get into it. She was too frightened. She clung desperately to Madge +and would not unloosen her fat arms from about the girl's neck. + +What was to be done? The little captain was afraid to put Daisy in the +basket while the little girl fought and struggled. She would probably +fling herself out in her fright and be badly hurt. It was almost a +miracle the way in which the two babies managed to fall straight down in +the well without striking against the sides. + +"Can't you coax her, Phil?" asked Madge in desperation. "She is +determined not to go into the basket." + +But all Phyllis's efforts to persuade her baby sister to return to terra +firma via the basket route proved unavailing. Daisy kicked and screamed +at the slightest attempt on Madge's part to put her into the basket. + +"If you will bring a ladder and lower it into the well I believe I can +climb up with Daisy on my back," proposed Madge faintly. The strain was +beginning to tell upon her. + +"I'll have one down in ten seconds," called David cheerily. + +He was back to the edge of the well almost instantly with a long ladder +that he had spied leaning against a fruit tree. He cautiously lowered +it to the waiting girl. + +Madge tested it to see that it was firm, then, setting Daisy down, she +bent almost double. + +"Climb on Madge's back, dear. Daisy must be very brave. Then we'll go +up, up, up the ladder to Sister Dot. Put your arms around Madge's neck +as tightly as ever you can," directed the little captain. + +The novelty of the situation appealed to Daisy and she fastened her fat +little arms about poor Madge's neck in a suffocating clasp. Slowly but +surely, in spite of the hampering embrace, Madge climbed steadily to the +top, to be met by the firm, reassuring grasp of David's strong hands. + +Phil lifted the clinging Daisy from Madge's tired back. The little +captain staggered and would have fallen but for David, whose hand on her +elbow quickly steadied her. + +Then the boy of whom Miss Betsey entertained such unpleasant suspicions, +the "ne'er-do-weel" of the community, took charge of the situation with +a dignity that surprised even Madge, who believed in him. + +"I think it will be best for me to notify Dr. Alden of what has +happened. I will telephone him, then drive over and bring him back. It +will be better not to let Mrs. Alden know that the children fell into +the well. Dr. Alden can look them over. As your mother is recovering +from a long illness, she must not be worried or frightened. What do you +think of my plan, Miss Alden?" + +Phyllis quite approved of the suggestion. She looked at David almost +wonderingly. Was this resolute, self-contained young man the surly, +unapproachable boy she had always disliked to encounter when calling +upon Miss Betsey? She awoke to a tardy realization that whatever faults +David Brewster possessed, they were merely on the surface, and that at +heart he was a good man and true. And although David never knew it, on +that day he made another friend whose friendship was destined to prove +as faithful as that of Madge Morton. + +That night as the two chums, wrapped in their kimonos, were having a +comfortable little session together before going to bed, Phyllis said +thoughtfully, "Do you know, Madge, I think David Brewster is splendid. I +am afraid I have misjudged him." + +"Phil," said Madge with conviction, "David is a man, and I am sure he is +good and true at heart, no matter how gruff he may seem on the surface. +I asked Tom to take him with us on the trip, and now that he has +consented to go, I feel as though I were responsible for him. I know +Miss Betsey believes him to be sneaking and undependable. So far, +however, I have seen nothing about him that looks suspicious, and I do +not believe him to be a sneak. I trust David now, and I am going to keep +on trusting him." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +PULLING UP ANCHOR FOR NEW SCENES + + +A motor boat ploughed restlessly about near the broad mouth of the +Rappahannock River. It flew a red and white pennant, with the initials +of the owner, "T. C.," emblazoned on it. The name of the boat, "Sea +Gull," was painted near the stern. It was a trim little craft with a +fair-sized cabin amidships and was capable of making eight knots an hour +at its highest speed. + +"Toot, toot, toot, chug, chug, chug!" the whistle blew and the engine +thumped. The captain stood with his hand on the wheel, gazing restlessly +out over the water. + +"I wonder what can have happened?" muttered Tom Curtis impatiently. +"Here it is, as plain as the nose on your face: the 'Merry Maid' with +four houseboat girls, a chaperon and one other passenger, will join the +'Sea Gull' at the entrance to the Rappahannock River on the southern +side of the Virginia shore near Shingray Point, on August first, at ten +A.M." Tom looked up from the paper he was reading. "We have the time and +the place all right, haven't we, fellows? But where are the girls?" + +"Cheer up, old man!" Jack Bolling clapped Tom on the shoulder. "A +houseboat is not the fastest vessel afloat. Who knows what kind of tug +the girls have had to hire to get them here? And a woman is never on +time, anyhow." + +"We'll be in luck if the houseboat gets here by to-night, Curtis," +argued Harry Sears, another member of the motor boat crew of five +youths. "Do slow down; there is no use ploughing around these waters. We +had better stay close to the meeting place. It's after twelve o'clock; +can't we have a little feed?" + +"Here, Brewster, stir around and get out the lunch hamper," ordered +George Robinson. "We must all have something to sustain us while we wait +for the girls." + +David Brewster's face colored at the other's tone of command, but he +went quietly to work to obey. + +"David," interposed Tom Curtis, "come put your hand on this engine for +me, won't you? I will dig in the larder if Robinson is too tired. I know +where the stores are kept better than you other chaps do, anyhow." + +"Tom Curtis is a splendid fellow," thought David gratefully. "Miss +Morton was right. He doesn't treat one like a dog, just because he has +plenty of money." + +David Brewster and Tom Curtis had traveled down from New York to +Virginia together. Their fellow motor boat passengers they had picked up +at different points along the way. David had come to understand Tom +Curtis pretty well during their trip--better than Tom did David. But +then, Tom Curtis was a fine, frank young man with nothing to hide or to +be ashamed of. David had many things which he did not wish the public to +know. + +The houseboat party had arranged to join one another in Richmond. From +there they were to go by rail to a point up the Chesapeake Bay, where +the "Merry Maid" had been kept in winter quarters since the houseboat +trip of the fall before. A tug was to escort the houseboat to the mouth +of the Rappahannock River, where they were to meet Tom and his motor +launch. + +Phyllis Alden had accompanied Madge to "Forest House," so the two girls +and Eleanor were not far from Richmond. Miss Jenny Ann Jones and Lillian +had come from Baltimore together. But Miss Betsey Taylor took her life +in her own hands and traveled alone. She carried only the expenses of +her railroad trip in her purse. But in a bag, which she wore securely +fastened under her skirt, Miss Betsey had brought a sum of money large +enough to last her during the entire houseboat trip, for when a maiden +lady leaves her home to trust herself to a frisky party of young +people, she should be prepared for any emergency. Miss Betsey also bore +in her bag a number of pieces of old family jewelry, which she wore on +state occasions. + + * * * * * + +When luncheon time passed and there was still no sign of the "Merry +Maid," Tom Curtis could bear the suspense of waiting no longer. + +"Something has happened, or the girls would have been here before this," +he declared positively. "Bolling, I am going to leave you and Sears to +wait here in the rowboat. I am going to look down the coast." + +"All right, old man," agreed the other boys. They did not share Tom's +uneasiness. Indeed, as the "Sea Gull" headed down the coast, the three +men on board her heard Harry Sears shouting an improvised verse: + + "Where, oh, where, is the 'Merry Maid'? + What wind or wave has her delayed? + Our hearts are breaking, our launch is quaking, + Fear and despair are us overtaking, + Where, oh, where----" + +The rest of this remarkable effusion was lost to their ears as they +glided along. + +"It is rather strange that we haven't picked them up yet, isn't it?" + +David Brewster said nothing. He was always a silent youth. With Tom's +telescope in his hand he stood eagerly scanning the line of the coast as +the motor launch ran along near the shore. + +"Ho, there!" he cried. "What's that? Look over there!" + +Tom shut off speed and hurriedly seized the spy-glass. + +There, apparently peacefully resting on the bosom of the water, was an +odd craft, gleaming white in the afternoon sun. Tom Curtis at once +recognized the "Merry Maid." + +No one on board the houseboat noticed the approach of Tom's motor launch +until he blew the automatic whistle. Then, with one accord, the four +girls rushed to one side of the boat. They made frantic signals, then +all began to talk at the same time. + +"What's up? Where's your tug?" demanded Tom. "Here you are, as peaceful +as clams, while we have been scouring the coast for you." + +"Don't scold, Tom," laughed Madge, "and don't refer to us as clams. We +are stuck in the mud. Our wretched little tug brought us too near the +shore, piled us up here and then went away two hours ago for help. We +were so afraid you would go on without us. What can we do?" + +While the girls talked Tom, Jack and David had been quietly at work. +They had secured the houseboat to the launch by means of their towing +ropes. Tom put on all speed. His motor launch tugged and strained +forward. The "Merry Maid" did not move. She was a fairly heavy craft, +with her large cabin and broad beam. Miss Betsey Taylor and Miss Jenny +Ann joined the crowd of anxious watchers on the houseboat deck. Instead +of gliding up a peaceful river, gazing at fruitful orchards and lovely +old Virginia homesteads through the oncoming twilight, the houseboat +crew would have to remain ignominiously on a sand bank until a larger +boat came along to pull her off. + +Tom tried again. Once more the "Sea Gull" went bravely forward--the +length of her towing rope. + +The girls were almost in tears. Suddenly Madge laughed. Eleanor and +Lillian looked at her reproachfully. + +"I don't see anything to laugh at," expostulated Eleanor. + +"I don't either, Nellie," agreed Madge. "We ought to cry, we are such +geese. Tom! David!" she cried. "You have never pulled up our anchor. Of +course we can't get off the sand bank. We forgot to tell you that the +captain on the little tug anchored us here to keep us from drifting +away. I am so sorry." + +In a little while Tom Curtis's motor launch, followed by the "Merry +Maid," entered the Rappahannock from the Chesapeake Bay. It was Tom's +intention to tow the houseboat along several of the Virginia rivers +during their vacation. It looked as though they might have a peaceful +excursion with nothing to mar its serenity. But there were five boys and +four girls aboard the boats, besides the two older women. + +The voyagers did not journey far the first day. It was about sundown +when they came along shore near a wonderful peach orchard and it was +here that they decided to spend the night. The crew of the "Merry Maid" +entertained the crew of the "Sea Gull" at dinner, the young folks +spending the evening together. As Tom was about to bid Madge good night +she said almost timidly, "Thank you so much, Tom, for being so good to +David. I hope he hasn't disappointed you?" + +"Oh, he is all right," replied Tom. "He is a queer fellow, though; never +has much to say. He has asked me to let him have an hour or so to +himself every day that we are on shore. Of course, it is only fair for +him to have the time, but why does he wish to go off by himself?" + +"I don't know." Madge shook her head disapprovingly. Then she adroitly +changed the subject, but she could not help hoping that David would not +incur the displeasure of the boys by his mysterious ways. It looked as +though the boy she had determined to trust was to prove very +troublesome. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +WANDERLUST + + +"Miss Jenny Ann, I don't think I can endure her," declared Madge +mournfully. + +It was late afternoon. The houseboat was gliding serenely along the +river bank. Several yards ahead of her puffed the motor launch. Harry +Sears and George Robinson were in the kitchen of the houseboat, helping +Lillian and Eleanor wash the dinner dishes. Phil sat comfortably in the +motor launch, having her usual argument with Jack Bolling. Tom Curtis +was steering his launch, with a cloud over his usually bright face. +David Brewster was looking after the engine. He was silent and sullen. +But unless he was at work this was his ordinary expression. + +"You can see for yourself, Miss Jenny Ann," continued Madge, her lips +trembling with vexation, "that nothing I can do pleases Miss Betsey. I +am just as polite to her as I know how to be, but she just hates me. +According to what she says, everything that goes wrong is my fault. I +have a great mind to leave the houseboat and let you and the other girls +take the trip. It isn't much fun for the rest of the party to have Miss +Betsey and me quarrel all the time. It is unpleasant for everyone, isn't +it?" + +Miss Jenny Ann did not answer. Madge caught hold of her impulsively. + +"Do scold or preach, whichever you like, Jenny Ann," she pleaded, "but +please answer me. It is not polite to be so silent." + +"What is it now?" Miss Jenny Ann inquired teasingly. + +The little captain's face sobered. "It isn't a little thing this time, +like my putting the sheet on Miss Betsey's bed wrong side up. It's very +important. Miss Betsey says," whispered Madge in Miss Jenny Ann's ear, +although they were standing some distance away from any one else, "that +nearly every day for the past week some of her money has disappeared out +of her wretched old money bag. Not very much at a time. First she +noticed that three dollars had gone, then five, and now it's ten. She +seems to think that I ought to know how it happens. She doesn't want to +worry you about it. Of course, I know she is mistaken," cried Madge +indignantly. "She just does not know how much money she had. There +hasn't been a single person on this boat this whole week except our +party." + +Miss Jenny Ann looked serious. "Does Miss Taylor suspect any one?" she +asked carelessly, not glancing at Madge. + +Madge's cheeks reddened. "Miss Betsey says she does not suspect any one, +but she spoke darkly of poor David Brewster. She says he never took +anything that she knows of when he was on her farm, but that his father +was almost a tramp. He came up to New England from goodness-knows-where, +and every now and then he disappears and is gone for months at a time. +Miss Taylor believes that when Tom ties up our boats in the afternoons, +and David goes off and leaves everybody, it is his vagabond blood +showing in him. Isn't it cruel to make the poor fellow responsible for +his father's sins? I am going to stand up for him through thick and +thin. Coming, Miss Betsey," answered Madge cheerfully, in response to a +call from the tyrannical old spinster. + +Miss Jenny Ann remained by herself a few moments longer. She wondered +why Miss Taylor required more attention from poor Madge than she did +from any of the other girls. It was certain that she liked her least. +But Miss Jenny Ann shrewdly suspected that prim Miss Betsey thought that +their impetuous captain needed discipline and had set herself to +administer it to her. About David Brewster Miss Jenny Ann was more +worried. She did not like the lad. No one did. He was the discordant +element in their whole party. Lillian and Eleanor fought shy of him. +Phyllis was kind to him but had little to say to him, and the boys in +the motor launch, except Tom, treated him with a kind of scornful +coolness. The boy was neither a gentleman nor a servant. It was small +wonder that generous-hearted Madge championed him. Miss Jenny Ann +understood, from Madge's allusion to David's father, one reason why +Madge was kind to the boy. + +Miss Jenny Ann Jones and Miss Betsey Taylor shared one of the houseboat +staterooms. The four girls, to their great joy, bunked together in the +other. + +It was exactly a half hour before Miss Betsey would let Madge come out +on deck again. She wished her money carefully counted and a new place +discovered for concealing it. Madge was strangely patient, for she had +had a long talk with Dr. Alden before she left Hartford. He had told her +that she would have a good deal to bear from Miss Betsey. Yet, if she +wished to give the pleasure of the houseboat trip to her friends and to +herself, she must remember the tiresome old adage, "What is worth having +is worth paying for." So far Madge had paid with little grumbling. + +This afternoon, as she reappeared on deck, her red lips were pouting and +her cheeks were a deeper color. Her resentment against Miss Betsey was +at its height. + +No one noticed the little captain standing alone on deck. Usually she +would have thought nothing of it, but this evening she was tired and +cross. It did not seem fair for her to have to take all the trouble with +their houseboat boarder on her shoulders. She could hear Lillian, +Nellie, Harry Sears and George Robinson singing on the upper deck of the +little houseboat. Phyllis was talking busily to Jack Bolling and did not +even glance over toward Madge from her seat on the launch. Madge knew +that Tom was angry because she had not joined him in the motor boat +earlier in the afternoon, when the boats had put in to the shore. She +had not been able to go on account of Miss Betsey, but she certainly had +no intention of explaining anything to Tom. He could think what he +chose. + +The two boats were in the habit of landing several times during a day's +cruise. Ordinarily they went ashore just before sunset, and the boys and +girls had their dinner together in some sequestered place. They then +spent the night with the houseboat and motor boat at anchor. But this +evening it was so lovely, gliding along the face of the river, with its +hills on one side and meadows and orchards on the other, that Miss +Jenny Ann requested Tom not to land until just about bed-time. + +Madge stood looking at the sunset for a few minutes. There was nothing +to do and no one wished to talk to her. She would go to bed. A little +later she tumbled into her bed and shed a few tears, she was so sorry +for herself. She did not waken until the other three girls came in for +the night at about ten o'clock. + +"Is there anything the matter, Madge?" whispered Phil before she crept +into the berth above her chum. "We missed you dreadfully." + +Madge gave Phyllis a repentant kiss. She knew that she had been absurd. +But now that Phyllis had awakened her, she could not go back to sleep +again. It was a hot August night, with a moon almost in the full. Not a +breath of air was stirring along the river. The moonlight shone through +the little cabin window, flooding the room with its radiance. Madge felt +that if she could only get a breath of air, she might be able to go to +sleep. Just now she was suffocating. Yet the other girls were breathing +gently. She slipped softly into her clothes, put on a long light coat, +tucked her hair under a boy's cap and stole silently out on the +houseboat deck. All was solemn and still. She was the only person awake +on either of the two boats. An almost tropical heat made the moon look +red and ominous. Madge was oppressed by its mysterious reflection on +the water. The shore seemed peaceful, deserted. She went noiselessly +down the gang plank. She walked up and down the bank, keeping the boats +in sight. However, the shore was not quiet. The ceaseless hum of the +August insects set her nerves on edge. + +"Katy did, Katy did," the noise was insistent. To Madge's ears the name +was transposed. "David did, David did," it rang. Yet she did not really +believe that David had stolen Miss Betsey Taylor's money. If not David, +who else? Surely the money could never be found in the new hiding place +where she and Miss Taylor had stored it that afternoon. It was quite +secure from thievish fingers. + +It was lonely along the river bank. The sudden hooting of an owl sent +her flying toward the houseboat. She waited a second before going +aboard. The "Water Witch" was floating peacefully on the water, tied to +the rail of the "Merry Maid!" + +All at once the passionate love which Madge felt for the water, that she +believed to be an inheritance, woke in her. It was wrong and reckless in +her, yet the desire to be alone out there on the river was +uncontrollable. She went swiftly to their little rowboat, and without +making a single unnecessary sound she rowed straight out into the +moonlight that streamed across the water. + +No one heard her or saw her leave the shelter of the two boats. Only +David, who was also awake, thought for an instant that he caught the +splash of a pair of oars skimming past the motor launch. He supposed it +to be some idle oarsman who lived along the river, and he never glanced +out of his cabin window. + +Madge rowed for more than an hour in the golden moonlight, meeting no +one. A cool breeze sprang up. Her restlessness, impatience and suspicion +passed away. She felt that she would like to move on forever up this +silent river, near her well-loved Virginia shores. It never dawned upon +her how far she had gone, or that she might be missed, or that the river +would be dark when the moon went down. Neither did she consider that she +was not familiar with the spot where the houseboat and motor boat were +anchored. Tom had chosen the landing place for the night after she had +gone into her stateroom. + +For a long time Madge rowed on, regardless of time. She was dreaming of +her own father. To-night she felt that she would find him. The night +seemed trying to convey to her the message, "He lives." + +It was nearly one o'clock when the moon went down. Madge felt, rather +than saw, the darkness on the water. She was so oblivious to time that +she believed for a few minutes that the moon had only gone behind a +cloud. At last she realized that it was now time for her to turn back. +She had been rowing in the middle of the river, where the water was +deep, and she was unfamiliar with the line of the shore. Yet she knew +that here and there along either bank of the river there were shoals and +shallow places where rocks jutted out of the water. Once or twice Tom +steered them past places in the river where there were falls and swift +eddies in the current. Now she awoke to the fact that she was in danger. +She could go down the river in the center of the stream as she had come +up. But in the black darkness she could not pull in close to the river +bank without nearing perilous places. Yet, unless she kept near the +shore, how could she ever spy either the houseboat or the motor launch? + +Madge rowed slowly and cautiously along. She tried to keep at a safe +distance from the land while she strained her eyes for a glimmer of +light that might come from either one of their boats. She was growing +tired, for she was beginning to feel the effects of her long row. Her +arms and back ached. All at once she became stupidly sleepy. She +wondered dimly what on earth Miss Jenny Ann and the girls would do if +they discovered that she had disappeared. What would Miss Betsey Taylor +think of her now, when she learned that she, Madge Morton, had gone out +on the river alone at night without a word to any one? + +Madge sleepily pulled on her oars. She wished that she had persuaded +Phil to come out on the water with her. Now the loneliness of the +deserted river began to oppress her. She could have fallen over in the +boat from sheer exhaustion. Through the darkness she suddenly saw a +flickering light. Thank goodness, she was home at last! The light came +from the left bank of the river, where their boats were moored. Madge +rowed joyfully toward it. A little further in she saw that the light was +on land. She had seen only its reflection in the water. + +After another half hour's steady pulling Madge believed that she must +have passed by their boats. Surely she could not have gone so far up the +river as she had rowed down. She turned her boat and began to retrace +her way, then drew in a few yards nearer the shore. Danger or no danger, +she must not pass the houseboat by again. She wondered if she would have +to stay out on the water until the dawn came to show her the way home. +She would have to cease rowing and let the boat drift. She was too +tired to keep on. She was growing so drowsy. All at once the "Water +Witch" trembled violently. It gave a forward leap in the dark and went +downward. Madge was thrown roughly forward. But she kept a firm grasp on +her oars. She could not see, yet she knew exactly what had happened. Her +boat had gone over some falls in the river. There was nothing for her to +do but to try to stay in her boat. The "Water Witch" might overturn, or +else right herself, at the end of her downward plunge. + +The little skiff did neither. At the end of the falls she was caught in +a swift whirlpool. Crouched in the boat, with her teeth clenched and her +eyes watching the white spray that she could see even in the darkness, +Madge felt her boat rotate like a wheel. She had never let go her oars. +Now she braced herself with all her strength and gave one forward, final +pull. The "Water Witch" leaped ahead. It was safely out of the eddy and +in the current. But Madge's oar struck against a rock. It snapped in two +and the lower half went floating with the stream. There was a grating +sound, then she felt her boat ground between two rocks and stick fast. + +Ahead the river seemed to gurgle and splash alarmingly. There might be +other falls and whirlpools in her course. Madge had sense enough to +know when she was beaten. If she pushed out from the rocks, where her +boat was caught, with her single oar, she might find herself in far +worse danger. She was grateful that the "Water Witch" had run aground. + +Madge lay down in the bottom of her boat. She would wait until the +daylight came and see what was best to be done. She did not mean to go +to sleep, for she realized her peril. She idly watched a single star +that shone through the clouds, then her heavy eyelids closed and she +fell asleep to the sound of the water beating against the side of her +skiff. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE RESCUE + + +When Madge opened her eyes the sun was shining into them. It was already +broad daylight. Her boat was no longer held fast between rocks. In the +night it had made its own way out and had floated toward the land. It +was now only a few yards from the shore. With her one oar Madge pushed +herself gently toward land. + +Hills rose up along the river bank. The farmhouses lay farther back, she +supposed. Certainly she had not the faintest idea where she was. The +hills were thickly covered with scrub oaks and pines. She had not landed +in a friendly spot. It was far more deserted than any place that she had +ever noticed along the Rappahannock. At least, so she thought in the +gray dawn of the August morning. Yet she knew that there were plenty of +kind people who would be glad to help her if she could get over the +hills to their homes. + +From the appearance of Madge's clothes she might easily have been +mistaken for a tramp. Her long coat was wet to her ankles and her shoes +and stockings were muddy. She had long since lost her little cap and +her hair was rough and tumbled from her night's sleep in the boat, while +her face was white and haggard. Instead of following the line of the +river, where she was sure to find some life stirring in another hour or +so, Madge foolishly pushed up over the hill. She did not find a path, so +she might have guessed that she was off the beaten track. She must have +walked up the hill for half a mile when she saw a sight that at last +gave her hope. An old, broken-down horse was tethered to a tree, eating +grass. Surely he was a sign-post to some human habitation farther on. + +Madge spied a cornfield to the left of her, though some distance off. +She knew that the Virginia farmers cultivated the low hills for their +crops, and that she was near some house. She sniffed the fresh morning +air. A delicious odor wafted toward her, the smell of boiling coffee, +which came from the thickest part of the hillside, away to the right of +the cornfield. + +Madge made straight for it. She had to push aside branches and +underbrush, and the place was farther off than she supposed, but she +found it at last. Seated on the ground before a small fire was an old +woman, the oldest the little captain had ever seen. She was +weather-beaten and brown, withered like a crumpled autumn leaf. She was +roasting something in the fire and muttering to herself. A little +farther on a man was drinking coffee from a quart cup. They were +rough-looking people to come across in the woods. But Madge knew that in +the harvest season many tramps and gypsies traveled about through +Virginia, living on the crops of the fruitful land. They were usually +harmless people, so she felt no fear of the strangers. They had no tent, +but a few logs with branches over them formed a sort of hiding place. + +"Please," began Madge timidly, "will you tell me where I am?" + +The man sprang up and rushed toward her with a big stick in his hand. He +seemed not so angry as frightened. The little captain's appearance +disarmed his suspicions. He dropped his stick to the ground. The strange +girl was a gypsy or tramp herself. + +"Will you give me some coffee?" asked Madge pleadingly. She was +beginning to feel weak and faint. + +With the instant hospitality of the road the man passed Madge his own +quart can. She took it, shuddering a little, but she was too thirsty to +hesitate. She held the cup to her lips and drank. Then she went over and +dropped down on the ground by the side of the old woman, who, although +her eyes were fastened on the girl, had never ceased to mutter to +herself. Madge began telling the story of her night's adventure. + +"I haven't any money with me," she declared as she finished her story, +"but if the man will get an oar and take me down the river to my +friends, I will pay him whatever he thinks is right. I dragged my +rowboat up on the shore not very far from here. I must return to my +friends at once." + +The old woman looked at the man questioningly. Madge's eyes were also on +him. It did not dawn on her that the fellow could have any reason for +refusing her simple request. + +The man shook his head doggedly. "I can't row," he announced. + +"Oh, that does not matter," replied Madge. "If you will get me an oar +and come with me, I can do the rowing. I am rested now." + +The man grunted unintelligibly, then went on with his breakfast. He paid +no further attention to Madge. The old woman continued her curious +muttering. + +"Won't you try to find me an oar?" asked Madge again. + +The man shook his head. His face darkened with anger. + +"Then I might as well leave you," declared Madge haughtily. "If you are +so unaccommodating, I will look for some one else." She struggled +wearily to her feet to continue her search. Her body still ached with +the fatigue. + +"Don't be rough with her," the old crone spoke from behind Madge. + +The young girl felt her arms roughly seized and drawn back. She was +forced to the ground. She struggled at first, but she was powerless. The +man took a small rope and bound her feet together so that she could not +move them. The ropes were not tight. The fellow did not wish to hurt +her, but merely to prevent her getting away. + +"You can't leave this place by day, Miss," he announced quietly. "I +can't have anybody following you back here and running me down. When +night comes I'll let you go." + +Madge bit her lips. Night! Once more she must wander alone in the +darkness in a vain search for her lost friends. What would they think if +a day, as well as a night, passed with no sign of her? + +Her big blue eyes were dark with grief and protest. "Please let me go," +she entreated. "I promise, on my honor, that I will never show any one +your hiding place, or say that I have seen you. I must get back to my +friends, they will be so frightened." She was shaking with terror and +anger, but she struggled to keep back her tears. Surely the man must +relent and let her go back to the houseboat. + +He turned away without paying the least attention to her demands. +Creeping under the pile of underbrush, he lay so still that no one would +have dreamed that a human being was concealed there. + +It came over poor Madge, at first dully, then with complete conviction, +that the man whom she had come upon in the woods was a fugitive from +justice--an outlaw hiding from the police. + +Madge flung herself down in the warm, soft grass. For the first time in +the seventeen years of her life she cried without any one to care for or +comfort her. Until to-day Eleanor, her uncle or aunt, or one of her +chums--some one--had always been near at hand to soothe her grief. Madge +knew that her own recklessness had got her into this predicament. She +had deserved some of the punishment. But she thought, as a great many +other people do, that she was being judged more severely than her fault +merited. + +"Here, child," a voice said not unkindly, "bathe your face and eyes. +There's no use crying. We don't mean you no harm. Only you have got to +wait here." + +Madge sat up; the old woman, who looked like an aged gypsy, was handing +her a dirty basin filled with a small supply of river water. The woman +evidently went about and got what was necessary for the existence of the +man and herself. At other times she kept guard over his hiding place. + +Madge bathed her tired eyes and face. She was glad to have the use of +her hands. She even managed to smile gratefully when the woman offered +her a piece of cornbread and an ear of roasted corn. + +She resolved to summon all of her courage and endurance to her aid. She +would not plead or argue again. She would wait patiently until the long +day had passed. Perhaps Tom or David or one of the other boys would see +her skiff on the beach and come to her aid. + +The morning went by. No one spoke or moved. Only once the man crawled +out from under the brush for food and water. Then he stole back again. + +Madge grew more tired with every hour. It was hard to have to sit still +so long in one place, so she lay down on the grass. She did not go to +sleep, but was drowsy from the heat and fatigue. + +The old woman came over to where she lay and stood looking at her sadly. +Her pretty white face, with its crown of sun-kissed hair, gleaming with +red and gold lights, her brilliantly red lips, brought back to this +ugly, time-worn crone the memory of her own youth. Madge always caused +other women to think of their own youth, she was so radiant, so full of +faith and enthusiasm. It was partly because of this that Miss Betsey +Taylor disliked her. Her own springtime had been prim and narrow. She +had wasted the years that Madge was living so abundantly, and +unconsciously Miss Betsey envied Madge. + +The little captain saw the old gypsy's little, beady eyes fixed on her. +She tried to sit up, but found herself too tired to do so. The woman +dropped down near her and lifted her up. She had a pack of dirty cards +in her hand. "Want your fortune told, honey?" she asked. "Then cross my +palm with gold." The crone looked narrowly at the single gold seal ring +that Madge wore. It had been a gift to her from her three houseboat +chums. + +Madge shook her head. "No, thank you," she answered politely, then +listened for the sound of approaching footsteps. She looked up toward +the crest of the hill. "'From whence cometh my strength'," she thought +to herself. But she could not see or hear any one. The little spot where +she was held a prisoner was surrounded with heavy shrubbery and walled +in with ancient trees that had grown on the Virginia hillside for +centuries. + +The woman ran the cards through her withered hands. "Better let me tell +your fortune; never mind the gold." She shook her head and muttered so +mysteriously that Madge's cheeks flushed. + +"I see, I see," the gypsy crooned, "many hearts in your fortune, but as +yet few diamonds. And here, there, everywhere there is mystery. You are +always seeking something. I can't tell whether it is a person, or +whether you are only looking for happiness. But you are very restless." +For a long time after this the old woman said nothing more. She sighed +and mumbled to herself. Two or three times she went over her pack of +cards. Madge watched her in fascination. + +"Now I see a light-haired and a dark-haired man. They will come together +when you are older. One of them will bring diamonds and the other +spades. Neither are for you, not at first, not at first. I see water all +about you and a fortune in the sea. But be careful, child, be careful. +Go slow and----" + +Madge was no longer interested. "There is always a dark man and a light +one in everyone's fortune," she thought wearily. "What a silly old +woman, and what utter nonsense she is talking! Oh, if you would only let +me go away from this place?" she begged aloud. + +[Illustration: David Came to Her Rescue.] + +At some distance off there was an unmistakable sound of people coming +through the woods. Madge's heart leaped within her. She gave one glad +cry, when the gypsy woman clapped both hands over her mouth. Madge +fought the woman off. She cried out again. The man crept from his hiding +place, half dragging, half pulling Madge behind a thick cluster of +trees, keeping his coarse, heavy hand over her mouth. + +Madge heard Phyllis Alden's and David Brewster's voices, yet she could +not call out to them for aid. + +She saw some one pull aside the low branch of a tree, then David's face +appeared, discolored with anger as he caught sight of her. Before the +man who had seized her could strike at the boy David had grasped him by +both shoulders and hurled him to the ground. + +Whipping out his knife David cut the cords that bound Madge and raising +her to her feet, placed one arm protectingly around her. Her captor had +also risen and stood glowering at David without offering to attack him. +The boy's rage was so terrifying that even this hardened lawbreaker +quailed before it. + +"We didn't mean any harm," mumbled the old woman. "You know us, boy. You +know we wouldn't hurt the young lady. You won't say you saw us, will +you?" + +But ignoring her question David turned to help Madge back to her +friends. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE MOTOR BOAT DISASTER + + +It was Miss Betsey Taylor who had first discovered Madge's absence. Just +before daylight she awakened with the feeling that some one had stolen +into her stateroom, for she was dreaming of her lost money. Miss Betsey +sat straight up in bed and looked about her small cabin. There was no +one to be seen. + +"Miss Betsey," called Miss Jenny Ann from the berth above, "what is the +matter?" Nor would Miss Jones go back to sleep until she had explored +the houseboat thoroughly. + +As she stole into the next cabin where the girls slept she noticed that +Madge was not in her bed. She must have heard the same noise that had +disturbed Miss Betsey, and gone to investigate the cause. But Miss Jenny +Ann could not ascertain the cause of the noise nor did she find Madge on +the decks. She aroused Phil and they sought for her together. Then +Eleanor and Lillian joined them, and Miss Betsey, a prey to curiosity, +came forth to find out what all the commotion was about. + +It took a very brief space of time to examine the entire houseboat. The +girls held the lanterns and scurried about, calling "Madge!" It seemed +incredible that she did not answer. + +Tom was the first of the boys on the motor launch to be disturbed by the +unusual sounds from the "Merry Maid." His first thought was fire. With a +cry to the other boys on the "Sea Gull" he rushed to the houseboat. But +the appearance of the five young men, who had come to join in the search +for the lost Madge, merely added to the confusion. They tumbled over one +another, and as they were half asleep, most of them did not know what or +whom they were looking for. + +"Come on, Brewster," commanded Tom Curtis, "it is absurd to think that +Miss Morton can be anywhere near and not have heard us. It may be she +became restless and went for a little walk on the shore; let us look +there." + +David and Tom crept along the river bank, their eyes turned to the +ground. They detected Madge's footprints leading away from the launch +and then returning to the houseboat. The revelation only added to the +mystery. + +There was one thought in the minds of the seekers. Could Madge have +walked in her sleep and fallen over into the water? The river was +shallow along the bank, but she might have been borne by the current out +into the stream. It did not seem a very probable idea. But then, no one +had any possible explanation to offer for the little captain's vanishing +into the night like this. No one had yet seen that the rowboat, too, was +missing. + +It was an hour after the first alarm, and daylight was beginning to +dawn, when Phyllis Alden heard a noise from Miss Betsey's stateroom. She +went in, to find the old lady seated on her trunk wringing her hands. +She had been awake so long that she was tired and querulous. Her +corkscrew curls were carefully arranged and she was fully dressed. Her +head was bobbing with indignation. "I am perfectly willing to confess +that I am worried about that child," she announced to Phyllis. "But I +knew, as soon as I set my eyes upon her, that wherever Madge Morton went +there was sure to be some kind of excitement. It may not be her fault, +but----" Miss Betsey paused dramatically. "And your father, Phyllis +Alden, was a great goose, and I an even greater one, to trust myself on +this ridiculous houseboat excursion. A rest cure! Good for my nerves to +be among young people!" Miss Betsey fairly snorted. "I shall be a happy +woman when I am safe in my own home again!" + +Phyllis hurried into the galley and came back with a glass of milk for +the exhausted old lady. "Come, take a walk around the boat with me, +Miss Betsey," she invited comfortingly. "We can't do anything more to +find Madge until the morning comes." + +Phil was always a consolation to persons in trouble, she was so quiet +and steadfast. She wrapped Miss Betsey in a light woolen shawl and +together they walked up and down the little houseboat deck. Phyllis kept +her eyes fixed on the shore. Madge had surely gone out for a walk and +something had detained her. Her loyal friend would not confess even to +herself the uneasiness she really felt. + +Miss Betsey and Phil stood for a quiet minute in the stern of the "Merry +Maid," watching the morning break in a splendor of yellow and rose +across the eastern sky. Not far away Miss Jenny Ann was talking to +several of the boys, with her arms about Eleanor and Lillian. + +Miss Betsey Taylor glanced down at the mirroring gold and rose of the +water under her feet. + +"My gracious, sakes alive, it has gone!" she exclaimed, pointing a +trembling finger toward the river. + +"What has gone, Miss Betsey?" inquired Phil. "Don't tell us that +anything else besides Madge has vanished." + +"But it has," Miss Betsey Taylor insisted. "Where is that little rowboat +that you girls call the 'Water Witch,' that is always hitched to the +stern of this houseboat? I saw it last night just before I went to bed. +Wherever that child has gone the boat has gone with her." + +Everyone crowded around Miss Betsey and Phyllis. Tom and David returned +from their search on the shore. "I am sure I don't know what it all +means," declared Miss Jenny Ann in distracted tones. + +"Don't worry so, Miss Jenny Ann," protested Phil. "It only means that +runaway Madge went out for a row by herself on the river last night +after we went to bed." And Phil's voice was not so assured. "Something +must have happened to keep her from getting back home. We shall just +have to look along the river until we find her." + +Tom was already aboard his motor launch. It took only a few moments to +get his engine ready for service. "Come on, Sears and Robinson," he +cried, "you can help me by being on the lookout for Miss Morton while I +run the boat. I'll go from one end of the Rappahannock to the other +unless I find her sooner." + +"Let me go with you, Tom, please do," pleaded Eleanor, looking very wan +and white in the morning light. "It's too dreadful to wait here on the +houseboat with nothing to do." + +Tom nodded his consent. He was too busy to waste time in conversation. +So Harry Sears helped Lillian and Eleanor to the cabin of the "Sea +Gull." + +Tom put on full speed, heading his launch up the river. He had been the +captain of his own boat for several years. To-day he was unusually +excited. The speed limit of his boat was eight knots an hour. Tom tested +his motor engine to the extent of its power as he dashed up the river, +the water churning and foaming under him. + +Eleanor, Lillian, Harry and George looked vainly up and down the shore +for a sign of Madge. Tom was going so fast they could see nothing. + +"Do, please, go a little slower, Tom," begged Eleanor. "We shall never +find Madge at the rate you are traveling." + +It was morning on the river. The river craft were moving up and down. +Steamboats carrying freight and heavy barges loaded with coal made it +necessary for Tom to steer carefully. + +The "Sea Gull" slowed down. Every now and then Tom would put in +alongside another boat to inquire if a girl in a rowboat had been seen. +No one gave any news of Madge. + +After gliding up the Rappahannock for ten miles, and finding no trace of +the lost girl, Tom decided she must have rowed down stream instead of +up. So the "Sea Gull" turned and went down the river. + +The launch's engine was not in the best of humors. It may not have liked +being roused so early in the morning, and David Brewster was not by to +tend it under Tom's careful directions. Every now and then the gasoline +engine would emit a strange, whirring noise. Harry Sears, who was +watching the engine, heard it lose a beat in its regular rhythmical +throb. "See here, Tom," he called suddenly, "something is wrong with +this machinery. I can't tell what it is." + +Harry had spoken just in time. The motor launch stopped stock still in +the middle of the river. Tom flew to his beloved engine. "Don't worry," +he urged cheerfully, "I'll have her started again in a few seconds." + +Tom kept doing mysterious things to the disgruntled engine. The two boys +and Lillian watched him in fascinated silence. Eleanor was not +interested. They were only a few miles from the houseboat, and she +wondered if Madge could possibly have returned home. + +Eleanor stepped out of the little cabin of the launch toward the fore +part of the boat. Drifting down toward them, directly ahead and in their +straight course, was a line of great coal barges, three or four of them +joined together, with a colored man seated on a pile of coal, idly +smoking and paying little heed to where his barges were going. It was +the place of the smaller boats to get out of his way. The barges could +only float with the current. + +But the "Sea Gull" was stock still and there was no way to move her. + +"Tom!" Eleanor cried quietly, although her face was as white as her +white gown, "if we don't get out of the way those coal barges will sink +us in a few minutes. You will have to hurry to save the 'Sea Gull'." + +Tom sprang up from his work at the engine. Eleanor was right. Yet his +motor engine was hopelessly crippled. He could not make it move. + +"Get to work with the paddle, Robinson, and paddle for the shore for +dear life," he commanded, seizing the other oar himself. Tom was a +magnificently built fellow, with broad shoulders and muscles as hard as +iron. He never worked harder in his life than he did for the next few +minutes. The girls and Harry Sears watched Tom and George Robinson in +anxious silence. The coal barges were creeping so near that the "Sea +Gull" was in the shadow they cast. + +The two boys had to turn the launch half way around with their paddles +before her nose pointed to the land. The man on the coal barge was +shouting hoarse commands when the side of the first barge passed within +six inches of the stern of Tom's launch. + +Tom wiped the perspiration from his face. "I think I had better take the +girls to land," he decided. "Then we can find out what is best to be +done." + +"Your automobile boat's busted, ain't it?" inquired a friendly voice as +the entire party, except Tom, piled out of the launch to the land. + +A colored boy of about eighteen was standing on the river bank grinning +at them. He held a piece of juicy watermelon in his hand. + +Eleanor and Lillian eyed it hungrily. They suddenly remembered that they +had had no breakfast. + +"The young ladies had better come up to my ole missus's place?" the boy +invited hospitably. "They look kind of petered out. I spect it will take +some time to fix up your boat." + +The entire company of young people looked up beyond the sloping river +bank to the farm country back of it. There, on the crest of a small +hill, was a beautiful old Virginia homestead, painted white, with green +shutters and a broad, comfortable porch in front of it. It looked like +home to Eleanor. "Yes; suppose we go up there to rest, Lillian," pleaded +Eleanor. "If Tom can't get his engine mended, we can row back to the +houseboat in a little while." + +David Brewster and Phyllis Alden had not waited quietly on the "Merry +Maid" while Tom and his launch party went out in search of Madge. + +Five minutes after the "Sea Gull" moved away David left the houseboat +and went on shore. + +"Where are you going, David?" called Phyllis after him. + +"I am going to look for Miss Morton along the river bank," he answered +in a surly fashion. "Anybody ought to know that if an accident happened +to her rowboat, the boat would have drifted in to the land." + +"I am going along with David Brewster, Miss Jenny Ann," announced Phil. +"It's mean to leave you and Miss Betsey alone, but I simply can't stay +behind." + +David's face grew dark and sullen. "I won't have a girl poking along +with me," he muttered. + +"You will have me," returned Phyllis cheerfully. "I won't be in your +way. I can keep up with you." + +At first David did not pay the least attention to Phyllis, who kept +steadily at his heels. Phyllis could not but wonder what was the matter +with this fellow, who was so strange and taciturn until something +stirred him to action. + +Only once, when Phil stumbled along a steep incline, David looked back. +"You had better go home, Miss Alden," he remarked more gently. "I'll +find Miss Morton and bring her to you." And Phil, as Madge had been at +another time, was comforted by the boy's assurance. + +"I am not tired," she answered, just as gently, "I would rather go on." + +At one o'clock David made Phyllis sit down. He disappeared for a few +minutes, but came back with his hands full of peaches and grapes. He had +some milk in a rusty tin cup that he always carried. + +"Did some one give this to you?" asked Phil gratefully. + +David shook his head. "Stole it," he answered briefly. Phil, who could +see that David was torn with impatience for them to resume their march, +ate the fruit and drank the milk without protest. + +It was about four o'clock in the afternoon, when David spied the "Water +Witch," drawn up on the river bank out of the reach of the water. Some +unknown force must have led him to Madge's hiding place in the woods. + +Afterward he made no explanation either to Phyllis or Madge of his +unexpected acquaintance with the man who had kept Madge a prisoner, and +neither girl asked him any questions. + +David managed to get the "Water Witch" out into the river with the +single oar, and a party of young people in another skiff, seeing their +plight, brought them safely home to the houseboat. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +LEAVING THE HOUSEBOAT TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF + + +"I should dearly love it," declared Eleanor. + +"I think it would be a great lark," agreed Lillian. + +"Are you sure you would like it, Miss Betsey?" asked Phyllis and Miss +Jenny Ann in the same breath. + +"I certainly should," Miss Betsey asserted positively. + +Madge was unusually silent. She had been in such deep disgrace since her +escapade, both with Miss Taylor and Miss Jenny Ann, that she felt she +had no right to express her opinion in regard to any possible plan. But +her eyes were dancing under her long lashes, which she kept discreetly +down. + +Miss Taylor had just suggested that, in view of the fact that Tom Curtis +was obliged to take his motor launch to the nearest large town to have +it repaired, and their excursion up the river must cease for a time, the +houseboat party desert the river bank and spend ten days or more farther +inland. + +George Robinson had offered to go back with Tom. David Brewster +expected to do as he was ordered, but Harry Sears and Jack Bolling +positively refused to give up their holiday. And there was no room for +them on the houseboat. + +Eleanor and Lillian had come back from the old farmhouse, where they had +spent the day before, filled with enthusiasm. Mr. and Mrs. Preston were +the most delightful people they had ever met. Their house was filled +with the loveliest old mahogany and silver, and they had no visitors and +no family. Eleanor was sure that, if she begged her prettiest, Mrs. +Preston could be persuaded to take them all in her home until Tom came +back with his motor launch. + +"You see, Jenny Ann," entreated Eleanor, with her hands clasped +together, "every year Mr. Preston has the most wonderful entertainment. +He told us all about it. In August he gives what he calls 'The Feast of +the Corn.' All the country people for miles around come to it. He asked +me to bring every member of our party over for it at the end of the +week. It's just like Hiawatha's feast. Do let's ask them to take us in, +if only for a little while." + +Miss Betsey Taylor's New England imagination was fired. The house that +Eleanor described was just such a Virginia home as she had dreamed of in +her earlier days. She must see it. Also, Lillian had related the story +of a wonderful sulphur well not many miles from the Preston estate. +Miss Betsey was sure that sulphur water would be good for her nerves. + +Two days later the entire party stood out on the deck of the "Merry +Maid" to see Tom and George Robinson start off with their broken-down +motor launch before the rest of the party moved over to wait for them at +the Preston farm. + +"I am so sorry, Tom," apologized Madge, with her eyes full of remorse. +"It is really my fault that you will have to miss this part of our +holiday. I wish I could go back with the boat instead of you. Can't you +send David and stay here with us?" + +Tom shook his head. He was ashamed of his previous grumbling. "Of course +not. It wasn't your fault. The engine would have broken down just the +same if I hadn't been searching the river for you. But I must see to its +being mended myself, and Robinson is a brick to go along with me. I +shall have no use for Brewster. Perhaps, after all, we may be able to +get back in time for the Indian feast. Good-bye, Madge." + +A few minutes after the launch was seen moving back down the river, +being ignominiously towed by an old horse, the same gay craft that had +proudly advanced up the stream only a few days before with the "Merry +Maid" in her wake. + +The houseboat party waved Tom and George a sad farewell, and then +promptly forgot almost all about them in the excitement of moving their +clothes and a few other possessions up to the farm, Eleanor having +persuaded the Prestons to take them for a few days as boarders. + +Mrs. Preston drove down in her own phaeton to take Miss Betsey and Miss +Jenny Ann home with her. A farm hand came with a wagon for the trunks. +But the young people decided to walk. The Preston house was only two +miles away from the houseboat landing. Sam, the colored boy, who had +been Lillian's and Eleanor's original guide to the farm, had been +engaged to show them the way. + +The houseboat party formed a gay procession. None of the four girls wore +hats. Lillian and Eleanor, who took some care of their complexions, +carried pink and blue parasols to match their linen gowns, but Madge and +Phil bared their heads to the sun, as did Harry Sears, Jack Bolling and +David. + +Sam lugged a lunch basket, which Mrs. Preston had sent down to the +party; and David, who kept in the rear, carried a dress suit case that +had accidentally been left behind. + +Most of the road ran past meadows and orchards, with few houses in +sight. The ripening fruits made the air heavy with their summer +sweetness. David was shy and silent, as usual, but the others were in +gay humor. + +Beyond a broken-down rail fence Phil espied a tree laden with luscious +peaches. Farther on, past the orchard, she could just catch the outline +of a house. + +"Let's get some fruit, Jack?" Phil suggested to Bolling, who was walking +with her. They both climbed over the fence. + +"Wait a minute, everybody," Phil called. "Wouldn't you like to go up to +the old house back there to ask for some water. I am nearly dead, I am +so thirsty." + +"Don't go in that thar place," Sam entreated, turning around suddenly, +his brown face ashen, "and don't eat them peaches. The house is a ha'nt +and them peaches is hoodooed." + +Eleanor and Madge burst into peals of laughter. The other young people, +who were not Southerners, smiled and stared. + +"What is a hoodoo, Sam?" Harry Sears, whose home was in Boston, inquired +teasingly. + +Sam scratched his head. "I can't splain it," he announced. "But you'll +know a hoodoo all right if it gets hold of you. That young lady and +man'll sure have bad luck if they eat them peaches. Nobody'll touch 'em +around here." + +"A hoodoo is a kind of wicked charm, like the evil eye, Harry," Madge +explained, her eyes twinkling. "All we Southerners believe in it, don't +we, Sam? Go and warn Miss Alden and Mr. Bolling, David. They must not +bring bad luck on themselves without knowing it." Madge had not meant to +order David Brewster to do what she wished; she merely requested him to +take her message, as she would any one of the other boys. + +David looked stolidly ahead and made Madge no answer. He was in a black +humor. He had reasons of his own for not wishing to stay near the place +where he had discovered Madge. He had hoped that Tom would take him down +the river in the motor launch, but Tom had believed that he was doing +David a favor by allowing him to remain with the others to enjoy the +holiday on the farm. + +"Don't you hear Miss Morton, Brewster?" shouted Harry Sears angrily. +"She told you to tell Miss Alden something." Harry Sears was always +particularly disagreeable with David. To-day his anger seemed justified. + +A wave of crimson swept over David's brown face. He looked as though he +would have liked to leap on Harry Sears and throw him into the dust. +Only the presence of the girls and Madge's quick action deterred him. + +"Never mind anybody telling Phil and Jack," she added quietly. "It's too +late to save them now. Besides, I want a peep at Sam's 'ha'nted house' +and a drink of water from the ghost's well. So follow me, good people, +if you are not afraid." + +Phyllis and Jack Bolling led the way to the haunted house, as the place +had been their discovery. The old house had been a beautiful one in its +day. It was built of shingles that had mellowed to the beautiful shade +of gray that only time can give. The front door hung loosely on its +hinges. Spider-webs obscured the windows, with their narrow diamond +panes of broken glass. Rank weeds grew everywhere and poison ivy hung in +long branches from the ancient trees. To the left, where the old garden +had once been, there was a glory of scarlet poppies and cornflowers +growing amid the weeds. Their triumphant beauty had repeated itself year +after year here in this neglected spot with no one to marvel at it. +Madge, Eleanor and Lillian gathered great bunches of the red and blue +flowers. Phyllis and Jack discovered the well, with its crystal cold +water. Harry Sears prowled about near the old house, with Sam at his +heels. The boy was frightened, but too faithful to desert his party. +David kept at some distance from the others. + +"Don't you think this a good place to eat the luncheon Mrs. Preston has +given us?" Harry called out, poised on the broken steps that led up to +the tumbled-down front porch. "The well is here to supply us with water +and I'm jolly hungry." + +The houseboat travelers formed a circle on the grass just in front of +the old house. Sam spread out the luncheon. It was a warm day, the +clouds hung low in the sky and the garden was humming with honey-full +bees. + +There was nothing mysterious about the place that Sam described as +"ha'nted," except that it was entirely deserted. + +Harry Sears reached out for a sandwich. "Tell us why this old house is +supposed to be inhabited by ghosts, Sam," he ordered. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A GHOST STORY + + +"It all happened such a long time ago I can't zactly call to mind the +whole story," confessed Sam. "But they was two brothers that owned this +here old place. They was in the war and fought side by side. Then they +lived here together, peaceful, for a long time. One of them was married +and the other wasn't, but it didn't seem to make no difference. All of a +sudden they fell out, and after a while one of the brothers died, +mysterious like. The live man went away from here and he hasn't been +heard of since. But they do say," Sam shivered and looked fearfully at +the dilapidated mansion, "that the murdered man still walks around this +here place at night. People even claim to see him in the daytime. +Sometimes he is by himself, and then again he brings a lady-ghost with +him, but there ain't nobody ever lived in this here house since them two +brothers fell out," Sam concluded, mightily pleased with the gruesome +impression that his tale had made on his hearers. + +"I should think not," agreed Lillian Seldon hastily. "I don't like ghost +stories." + +"I am sorry, Lillian, because I know a perfectly stunning one that is as +true as history," declared Harry Sears. "If we had time, and Lillian +didn't mind, I was going to tell it to you while we rested." + +Madge put her arm around Lillian. "Do tell it, Harry," she begged. "I'll +protect Lillian from the 'ghosties.'" + +The other young people clamored for the ghost story. + +Harry looked serious. "My story isn't a joke," he announced. "It hasn't +a beginning or much of an end, like ordinary ghost stories, but it is +true. The people to whom the ghost appeared are great friends of my +mother and father. Somehow this deserted place here makes me think of +the one down on Cape Cod. That house was also uninhabited for years and +years, and no one knew exactly why, except that there were rumors that +the place was haunted. One day a Mr. Peabody, of Boston, an old friend +of ours, went down to Cape Cod to look for a home for the summer. The +ghost house was what he wanted, so he rented it and left orders for it +to be fixed up. He didn't know about the ghosts, though, and he wondered +why the real estate agent let him have the place so cheaply. Mr. Peabody +was a bachelor, so he asked two friends, Captain Smith and his wife, to +occupy the house with him for the summer." + +"Oh, trot out your ghosts, Harry. We are getting impatient," interposed +Jack Bolling. + +"The first day that Mrs. Smith was alone in the house," continued Harry, +"she was in the sitting room with the door open when a fragile old lady +passed right through the hall. She disappeared into space. That very +same night, just at midnight, when Mr. Peabody, Captain Smith and his +wife were in the library, they heard the fall of a heavy body upstairs +on the second floor. Captain Smith and Mr. Peabody rushed up the steps +just in time to see an old man, leading a young girl by the hand, enter +a room where the door was locked. When they got the door unfastened +there was no one in the room." + +"Harry, don't go on with that horrible tale," entreated Lillian, looking +timidly up at the dusty windows of the old house, under whose shadow +they had taken refuge. The sun was no longer shining brightly, but the +shade was grateful to the little circle of listeners on the grass. + +"Don't be such a goose, Lillian," protested Phil. "What have Harry's +Massachusetts ghosts to do with us way down here in 'ole Virginny'?" + +Lillian gave a shriek. The entire company sprang to their feet, +scattering sandwiches, cakes and pickles on the grass. Inside the empty +house there had been a distinct noise. Something had fallen heavily to +the floor. + +At the same instant David, who had been apart from the others, appeared +around the corner of the house. + +"Whew, I am glad it was you who made that racket, Brewster!" declared +Jack Bolling, grinning rather foolishly. + +The young people looked at one another with relieved expressions. + +"I'm so grateful it isn't night time," sighed Eleanor. + +"I didn't make any noise," declared David, seeming rather confused. No +one paid any attention to his reply. They were again clustered about +Harry Sears, begging him to go on with his ghost story. + +"Things went from bad to worse in the house I was telling you about," +continued Harry. "Every night, at the same hour, the same noise was +heard and the old man and the girl reappeared. Why, once Mr. Peabody was +sitting in his garden, just as we are doing here"--Harry glanced across +the old garden. Was it a branch that stirred behind the tangle of +evergreen bushes? The day was very still--"and he saw the same old man +walk by him and enter his house through a closed side door. After +awhile Mrs. Smith became ill from the strain and she sent for a +physician who had been living in the neighborhood a long time. The +doctor did not wish to come to see Mrs. Smith just at first. When he did +he related his own experience in the same house years before. He had +just moved into the neighborhood, as a young physician, when one night, +at about midnight, he was aroused by some one ringing his bell. An old +man asked the doctor to come with him at once, as a young girl, his +grand-daughter, was dangerously ill. Dr. Block went with the old +gentleman. He found the young girl, dying with consumption, in a room on +the second floor of a house. An old lady was with her, but the doctor +saw no one else. He wrote a prescription, put it on the mantel-piece and +said he would come back in the morning." + +Harry stopped talking. A distant roll of thunder interrupted him. + +"Do hurry, Harry; we must be off!" exclaimed Jack Bolling. + +"The next morning the doctor went back to the same house. It was closed +and boarded up, and the caretaker told the physician that no one had +lived in the house for many years. The doctor was indignant, so the +caretaker opened the door and let Dr. Block into the house, so he could +see for himself that it was empty. The hall was covered with dust, but +a single pair of footprints could be seen going from the hall door to +the bedroom on the second floor. The old man had left no tracks. The +physician entered the room, which was empty. There was no old man, no +old woman, no sick girl, not even a bed, but"--Harry made a dramatic +pause--"the doctor walked over to the mantel-piece and there lay the +prescription that he had written the night before!" + +"Oh, my! Oh, my!" exclaimed Lillian. She was on her feet, pointing with +trembling fingers toward a window of the old house which was back of the +rest of the party. "I am sure I saw a face at that window," she cried. +"No one will believe me, but I did, I did! It was a girl's face, too, +very white and thin. Please take me away from here." + +Madge slipped her arms about the frightened Lillian. For an instant she +almost believed that she, too, had seen the specter that must have been +born of Lillian's overwrought imagination as a result of the ghost +stories she had just heard. + +Madge and Lillian led the way down the tangled path from the haunted +house. They were some distance from the others when the little captain +discovered that David was following them. She had not looked at him, not +spoken to him since he had so rudely refused her simple request. + +Now she walked on, with her head in the air. Lillian did not like David, +but now she was almost sorry for the boy: she knew the weight of Madge's +displeasure. "David Brewster wants to speak to you, Madge, dear," she +whispered in her friend's ear. + +Madge made no answer, nor glanced behind her. + +"Miss Morton!"--David's face was very white; he was bitterly ashamed--"I +am sorry, beastly sorry, I was so rude to you this morning. I was angry, +not with you, but about something else. I don't seem to know how to +control my temper. Perhaps it is because I am not a gentleman. I would +do anything I knew how to serve you." David was not looking at Madge, +but on the ground in front of him. + +Madge's expression cleared as though by magic. "Never mind, David," she +said impulsively. "Let's not think anything more about it. I lose my +temper quite as often as any one else. And don't say it is because you +are not a gentleman; you _are_ a gentleman, if you wish to be." + +The other young people came hurrying on. The clouds were now heavy +overhead and the thunder seemed ominously near. The lightning began to +streak in forked flames across the summer sky. + +"I think everybody had better run for the farm," suggested Phyllis. "Sam +says it is only a short distance away." + +No one cared to linger any longer in the deserted grounds. The story of +the tragic old house, oddly mixed as it was with Harry Sears's ghostly +tale and Lillian's fancied apparition of a girl's white face at the +window, did not leave a pleasant recollection of the morning spent near +Sam's "ha'nted house." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE FEAST OF MONDAMIN + + +"Minnehaha, Laughing Water, otherwise known as Madge Morton, you are the +loveliest person I ever saw," announced Phyllis Alden, while Eleanor and +Lillian gazed at Madge in her Indian costume with equally admiring eyes. + +"See, here is the description of Minnehaha. Doesn't it sound like +Madge?" Phil went on, reading from a volume of Longfellow: + + "'Wayward as the Minnehaha, + With her moods of shade and sunshine, + Eyes that smiled and frowned alternate, + Feet as rapid as the river, + Tresses flowing like the water, + And as musical a laughter.'" + +Phyllis paused and Madge swept her a low curtsey. "Thank you, Phil," she +said, her blue eyes suddenly misty at her chum's compliment. + +It was the day of the great corn feast on the Preston estate, and Madge +had been selected to appear in the costume of Minnehaha and to read to +the guests certain parts of Hiawatha that referred to the Indian legend +of the corn. + +All the young people were to appear in the guise of Indians. Phyllis, +with her olive skin, black eyes and hair, made a striking Pocahontas. + +Phil looked more like an Indian maiden than Madge, but Madge had more +dramatic skill. Lillian, with her hair as yellow as the corn, was the +paleface princess stolen by the Indians in her babyhood. Eleanor wore an +Indian costume, also, but she represented no especial character. + +Much against his will David Brewster impersonated Hiawatha. He hated it. +He did not wish to come to the entertainment at all, much less in the +conspicuous position of the hero of the evening. But Mr. Preston had +taken a deep fancy to David. He seemed not to mind the boy's queer, +moody ways, and he had a great respect for his practical judgment. Mr. +Preston had asked David to remain in his service when the houseboat +party disbanded, but David, for reasons that he would not tell, had +refused. The boy did not think he could decline to impersonate Hiawatha +when Mr. Preston considered that he had paid him a compliment in asking +him. In spite of his embarrassment David Brewster was a good +representation of a young Indian brave, with his swarthy skin, his dark +eyes that flashed fire when his anger was aroused, and his vigorous, +muscular body, made lean and hard by his work in the open fields. + +In the middle of the Preston estate, between the orchards and the +cornfields, a huge platform had been erected with a small stage at one +end. The place was decorated with sheaves of wheat, oats and barley, +with great stacks of green and yellowing corn standing in the four +corners. The platform was filled with chairs and hung with lanterns, +some of them made from hollowed-out gourds and pumpkins, to carry out +the harvest idea. After the reading of Hiawatha the platform was to be +cleared and the young people were to have a dance. + +The invitations to the feast read for six o'clock. At seven a dozen open +wood fires were roasting the green ears of corn for more than a hundred +guests. The long tables under the trees in the yard were laden with +every kind of delicious food. + +But Madge wished the feast was over and her poem read. Her knees were +knocking together when she rose to read before so many people. + +The August moon was in the full. It was a golden night. In a semi-circle +behind her crowded her friends from the houseboat party. They formed an +Indian tableau in the background, and David stood near her at the front +of the stage. + + "And in rapture Hiawatha + Cried aloud, 'It is Mondamin!'" + +read Madge, with a shy glance at the young Hiawatha standing beside her. + +At this moment there crept up on the platform an old woman, so old that +the audience stared at one another in amazement. They believed that the +strange visitor was a part of the performance. David and Madge knew +better. David's face turned white as chalk, but Madge's voice never +faltered as she went on with the reading: + + "'Yes, the friend of man, Mondamin! + Then he called to old Nokomis'." + +The old woman's presence was explained to at least those of the audience +who were familiar with the story of Hiawatha. The ancient gypsy woman +who had appeared on the stage among the young people so unexpectedly was +"old Nokomis," Hiawatha's grandmother, one of the principal characters +in Longfellow's poem. + +The moment that Madge finished her recitation David Brewster +disappeared. But the old gypsy went about among the Prestons' guests, +keeping their attention engaged by telling their fortunes. + +The gypsy woman was not the only mysterious visitor at the famous corn +feast. Madge and Lillian were dancing with two young country boys when +two Indian braves unexpectedly appeared in the midst of the guests. They +had on extremely handsome Indian costumes and their faces were +completely covered with Indian masks. They spoke in strange, guttural +voices, so that no one could guess who they were. + +Madge and Lillian tried in vain to escape them. Wherever the girls went +the Indian chiefs followed them. + +As the evening progressed Madge grew very tired. The apparition of the +old woman, whom she had seen before on the day when she was held a +prisoner in the woods, had made her nervous. She longed to ask Phil if +she also recalled the face of the old woman. + +"Miss Jenny Ann," Madge kept a tight hold on Phil's hand, "Phyllis and I +are a little tired. We are going away by ourselves to rest. You and Miss +Betsey won't be frightened about us?" Madge gave her chaperon a +repentant hug and Miss Jenny Ann smiled at her. The little captain had +promised never to wander off again without saying where she was going. + +The fires where the corn had been roasted were still burning dimly. The +girls made a circuit of the fires and went over into another nearby +field, where a haystack formed a good hiding place. There they dropped +down on the ground and Madge, who was more easily tired than Phil, laid +her head in her chum's lap. + +No matter how much Phyllis and Madge enjoyed parties and people, they +were never happier than when they could stroll off to have a quiet talk +with each other. The two girls were splendid associates. Phil had the +calm sweetness, poise and good sense that impetuous Madge often lacked, +while Madge had the fire and ardor that Phyllis needed to give her +enthusiasm. + +"I wish Tom and George Robinson were here at the farm to-night, Phil!" +exclaimed Madge, after a short pause, giving a little sigh. + +Phyllis looked at her chum closely. The moonlight shone full in Madge's +wistful blue eyes. Phil patted her hand by way of sympathy. + +"You see, Phil, it is like this," went on Madge. "I feel sorry about +Tom, because I was really responsible for making him break his engine +and spoiling a part of his holiday. If I had not run away by myself in +the moonlight, Tom might have been here with us. It seems to me that I +am having a perfectly lovely time, while poor Tom is being punished for +my fault. It isn't fair." + +"Sh-sh!" Phyllis put her fingers gently over her friend's lips. Some one +was stealing quietly past them on the other side of the haystack. He +disappeared in the darkness, a little way off, and the girls supposed +that he was one of the Prestons' guests escaping from the crowd. + +A few minutes later Phil exclaimed: "Madge, is that one of the fires +from the corn roast over there? I did not think that there was any corn +roasted so near to Mr. Preston's barn." + +Madge glanced idly across the field. The girls were at one side of the +group of buildings where Mr. Preston kept his live stock. She saw a tiny +jet of flame, apparently running along near the ground. Both watchers +stared at it silently. A larger flame crawled up the outside wall of the +barn, then smoke began to pour out through the cracks. + +The two girls sprang to their feet. "One of the barns has caught fire!" +cried Phil. "I'll find Mr. Preston. You give the alarm to the men about +the place." Phil ran toward the festival grounds. + +As Madge turned she heard a slight sound behind her. Some one was coming +toward her, moving cautiously over the grass. She slipped to one side +of the haystack so that she could see who it was. "Why, David Brewster!" +she cried, "what are you doing way off here? Quick! hurry! Phil and I +think Mr. Preston's barn is afire!" + +David set his teeth in rage as he sped across the field with Madge close +at his heels. He had taken off his Indian costume, but his face was +still stained and painted in Indian fashion, so that it gave him a wild, +unnatural appearance. Instead of stopping at the barn David, without a +word of explanation, ran on to the Preston house. + +Madge found a crowd of men already gathered about the burning barn. Mr. +Preston had formed a bucket brigade and a dozen men were passing buckets +from the well to the fire. Half a dozen of the more valorous men, three +of them farm-hands, were fighting their way into the barn, leading, +driving, or coaxing out the terrified horses and cattle. + +Mr. Preston stood at the barn door, giving commands to the workers. + +By this time the hay in the loft had caught and the whole barn was a +seething mass of fire. Mrs. Preston stood near the scene, with Madge and +Phil on either side of her. David Brewster suddenly joined them. No one +noticed his peculiar expression. + +"Let the barn go, men!" shouted Mr. Preston. "Quick, out of it! It will +fall in a minute. We have saved the other buildings, and we must let +this go." + +"Oh, my poor Fanny!" wailed Mrs. Preston, as though she were talking of +a human being. Fanny was a beloved old horse that had belonged to Mrs. +Preston for twelve years. She had driven her in her phaeton nearly every +day in all this time and loved the old horse almost as a member of the +family. + +Madge felt sure that Mr. Preston could not know that Fanny was still in +the burning barn. The little captain broke away from her friends and +made a rush toward the smoke and flames. Mr. Preston was within a few +feet of the partially consumed building. From the inside of the barn +came a groan of anguish and terror that was human in its appeal. Mr. +Preston covered his face with his hands. "Don't try it, men," he +commanded authoritatively; "the old mare can't be saved. It is useless +to try to go into the barn now." + +Madge could no longer endure the piteous sounds. She made a headlong +plunge toward the barn door. She could not see her way inside, but the +noise that the horse was making would guide her, she thought. + +Just at the threshold of the barn she felt herself shoved aside and +hurled several feet out of harm's way. She fell backward on the ground +and lay still. It was David who had flung her from the reach of the +fire's scorching heat and plunged into the barn in her stead. + +The crowd watched the brave young man in horrified silence. Seconds that +seemed ages passed. The front of the barn collapsed. Madge felt Mr. +Preston seize her and drag her away with him, but not before she and all +the watchers had caught sight of David. He stood in the far corner of +the barn with his coat thrown over the terrified horse's head. His face +was almost unrecognizable through the smoke, but the ringing tones of +his voice urging the old horse forward could be heard above the +crackling wood. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Mr. Preston hoarsely. He almost trampled over Madge, +who was sitting on the ground staring wildly at David. Then she saw Mr. +Preston and a half dozen other men pick David up on their shoulders and +bear him away from the crowd, while two of the farm-hands took charge of +old Fanny. + +David's burns, though not serious, were painful. His hands and arms were +severely blistered. But the excitement occasioned by the fire had hardly +passed when it was discovered that during the fire some one had entered +the Preston house and had stolen a quantity of old family silver. Miss +Betsey Taylor's money bag, which she had carefully concealed under the +day pillow on her four-post mahogany bed, had also disappeared. + +There would probably never be any way to discover how or when the thief +entered the house. There had been more than a hundred visitors about the +place, and the house had been open for hours. During the fire every one +of the servants had rushed into the yard. + +There was also another disturbing fact to be considered. Either before +or after the fire the old gypsy woman, who had unexpectedly appeared to +take the character part of old Nokomis in the Hiawatha recitation, had +completely vanished; also, the two men disguised as Indian braves had +gone. + +The Prestons and their guests discussed all these pertinent features of +the affair until long after midnight. Miss Betsey wept and mourned over +the loss of her money bag, and dolefully repeated that she wished she +had never, never heard of a houseboat. The four girls and Miss Jenny Ann +became thoroughly disgusted with the disgruntled spinster's selfish +bewailing of her own loss, when the Prestons, who had met with a much +heavier loss, were heroically making light of their misfortune. + +Madge also had a private grievance, one that was quite her own. David +had behaved roughly, almost brutally, toward her when she had tried to +dash into the burning barn. She decided that she did not in the least +like David, and that she was not at all grateful to him for literally +hurling her out of harm's way. + +As for David himself, he had slipped away from the men who had borne him +in triumph on their shoulders and, in spite of the pain of his burns, +was striding across the fields in the direction of the woods with angry +eyes and sternly set mouth. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +A BOY'S TEMPTATION + + +In the days that followed David kept more than ever to himself. He +occupied a small room alone, and for hours at a time he would stay +inside it, with his door locked against intruders. Few sounds ever came +forth to show what the lad was doing. His hands and arms were bandaged +almost to the elbows, but he had use of his fingers and his face was +uninjured. + +Madge had forced herself to thank David, both for his rescue of her and +of the old horse, which she had intended to save. But David had not had +the courtesy to apologize to her for having thrown her aside so roughly. +He wished to, but the poor fellow did not know what to say to her, nor +how to say it. + +The girls had all offered to read to David, or to entertain him in any +way he desired, while he was suffering from his burns. But the boy had +refused their offers so flatly that no one of them felt any wish to be +agreeable to him again. + +The young people spent a great part of their holiday on the Preston farm +in riding horseback by daylight and by moonlight, and in exploring the +old salt and sulphur springs and mines in the neighborhood. Word had +come from Tom Curtis and George Robinson that the accident to the engine +of the motor launch had been more serious than they had at first +supposed. The boys would be compelled to remain away some time longer. +Mrs. Curtis wished to see Tom on business, so he had gone on to New York +for a few days. + +Since the corn roast, the burning of his barn and the burglarizing of +his house Mr. Preston had been quietly endeavoring to discover the +evil-doers. He had notified the county sheriff and the latter had set +his men to work on the case, but so far there were no clues. Mr. Preston +believed that the same person who had set fire to the barn had committed +the robbery. The barn, must have been burned in order to keep the +attention of the family and guests centered on the outside disaster +while the thief was exploring the house. + +Madge did not like to mention to Mr. Preston that David Brewster might +be able to give him some information about the burglary; for Madge +remembered having seen David run toward the house at about the time the +fire was started. He did not come back for some minutes afterward. Yet, +as David did not speak of his presence in the house to Mr. Preston or +to any one else, she did not feel that it was her place to speak of it. +David might have some reason for his silence which he would explain +later on. + +Miss Betsey Taylor was now more than ever convinced that the same thief +who had robbed her of various small sums on the houseboat had but +completed his work. How the robber had pursued her to Mr. Preston's home +she did not explain. But she certainly cast aside with scorn Madge's +suggestion that no one had stolen from her while she was aboard the +"Merry Maid." She had only miscounted her money, as many a woman has +done before, Madge had contended. Miss Betsey had been fearful that the +little captain might be right before the final disappearance of her +money bag. But now she regretted, far more than her money, the loss of +the few family jewels that she had inherited from her thrifty New +England grandmothers. + +David Brewster stood at his little back window, watching Madge, Phyllis, +Lillian, Eleanor, Harry Sears and Jack Bolling mount their horses for a +long afternoon's ride over to some old sulphur springs a few miles from +the Preston estate. The party was to eat supper at the springs and to +ride home before bed time. Mrs. Preston, Miss Jenny Ann and Miss Betsey +Taylor were already driving out of the yard in Mrs. Preston's old +phaeton. They were to be the advance guard of the riding party, as no +one except their hostess knew the route they should take. + +Mrs. Preston had invited David to drive with her, as he was not able to +use his injured hands sufficiently to guide a riding horse, but David +had refused. The party were to be away for some time. Mr. Preston would +be out on the farm, looking after his harvesting. David Brewster had +other plans for the afternoon. + +Once the others were fairly out of the yard the boy found an old slouch +hat in his shabby suit case. He pulled it well down over his face. Then +he got into an old coat that he had been ashamed to wear before the new +friends, but it served his present purpose. Inside his coat pocket David +thrust a small, flat object that, in some form, always accompanied him +whenever there was a possible chance of his being alone for any length +of time. + +Then David left the farm. He said good-bye to no one. To one of the +maids who saw him leaving he merely explained that he was going for a +walk. He did not ask for food to take with him. His one idea was to be +off as soon as possible. + +The boy was not entirely certain of the route that he must travel. He +knew of but one way to go, and it stretched over many miles. It might +mean delay and difficulty. David was not as strong as he had been before +the shock and injury of the fire. Still, the thing must be done. It was +not the physical effort that worried David. + +The trip seemed interminable. The lad had to travel along the road that +led back to the houseboat, and from there to follow the line of the +river bank to a well-remembered spot. David swung along as rapidly as +possible. His greatest desire was to make his journey and to return to +the farm before the riding party got home. He might then have an +explanation to make. What could he say if anybody demanded to know where +he had been? His silence would create suspicion. But then, David had +kept his own counsel before to-day. + +It was well into the afternoon before the boy reached his destination. +Slowly and cautiously, making as little noise as possible, he climbed a +hill that rose before him. The crest of the hill was heavily wooded and +a high pile of sticks and branches formed a clever hiding place. But +there was no human being in sight, no old woman, no man, no sign of a +fire except a few ashes that had been carefully scattered over the +ground. + +When the youth reached the top he stood still and looked cautiously +about him. He could hear the rush of the river below the hill and the +rustle of the wind in the trees. He crouched low and put his ear to the +ground, like an Indian, then rose and, with a frown, went to the brush +heap and crawled under it. Presently he came out, holding in his hand a +small red handkerchief which was knotted and tied together. David's face +was very stern. It seemed that something which he had feared had come +true; yet the lad turned and went down the hill again, whistling and +kicking at the underbrush and shrubbery as he walked, as though he were +trying to make as much noise as possible. Ten minutes later David came +back up the hill by another route as quietly as some creature of the +woods in hiding from a foe. Behind a tree the boy lay down flat. He took +out of his pocket the small package that he had brought with him from +the farm and, holding it before him, seemed to lose himself completely +in earnest contemplation of it. + +After a while some one else drew near the same place, walking even more +stealthily than had the boy. David did not stir nor turn his head. He +was hidden by the trees. An old woman crept to the pile of underbrush. +She crawled under it and stayed for some time. When she came out she had +forgotten to be silent; she was mumbling and muttering to herself. + +"Granny," David touched the gypsy woman on the shoulder. + +"Is it you, boy?" she asked, riveting her small black eyes on him. "How +came you to Virginia? We thought that you were many hundreds of miles +away. It's a pity!" She shook her head. "Fate is too strong for us all," +she muttered to herself. + +"I am sure I am as sorry as you are that I am here," David interrupted +her passionately. "But perhaps you are right, and it is fate. I came to +Virginia because I had work to do here. Where is _he_?" + +"I don't know. I ain't seen him but once since," answered the woman. + +David laughed rather drearily. "Don't try to fool me. You've got to tell +me the truth before I go away from here. You might as well do it first +as last." + +The old woman looked furtively and anxiously at the heap of dead +branches. "I _am_ telling you the truth," she asserted. + +"Where is he, Granny?" continued David. "I've got to find him." + +"You _ain't_ got to find him," protested the old woman. "You can't give +him away, and it won't do no good. Ain't you his----" She stopped +short. "You can't make him change now; it is too late." + +"I don't want to talk; I've got to get back," returned David quietly. +"If you don't tell me where he is, I'll give the alarm and have the +country scoured for him." + +The old woman whispered something in David's ear. "I am not sure he is +there, but I think that's the place. I know we can trust you, boy, for +all your high and mighty ways." + +"You had better get away from here, Granny," answered David. "You are +too old for this sort of life, and some day you will get into trouble." + +The gypsy's hand moved patiently. "It's the only kind of life I have +been used to for many, many years. I don't mind, so long as he keeps on +getting off." + +David strode down the hill. It was just before sunset. He was beginning +to doubt his being able to make his way back to the Preston place before +the picnic party came home. He could not walk so fast as he had come, +for he was tired and disheartened. + +After a few miles' journey along the river bank he came to a bend where +he could see, farther ahead, the "Merry Maid," the poor little +houseboat, looking as deserted and lonely as David felt. Her decks were +cleared and her cabins locked until the return of the houseboat party. +She was being taken care of by a colored boy who lived not far away. + +David felt a sudden rush of longing. The houseboat was filled with happy +memories of the girls. He was tired out and exhausted. He must rest +somewhere. The boy climbed aboard the houseboat. But he did not rest. He +walked feverishly up and down the deck. + +An overwhelming impulse never to return to the Preston farm swept over +David. The love of wandering was in his blood. To-day he did not feel +fit to associate with the girls and boys who made up the two boat +parties. He ought never to have come with them. His lowly birth and lack +of training were against him. David knew that trouble, and perhaps +disgrace, might be in store for him if he went back to Mr. Preston's and +faced what was probably going to happen. + +The poor boy wrestled with temptation. Mr. and Mrs. Preston had been +good to him. Miss Betsey meant to be kind, in spite of her fussiness, +and she had evidently told his new acquaintances nothing to his +discredit. Tom Curtis and Madge Morton trusted him. Yet could he face +the suspicion which he felt sure would fall upon him? + +The sun was going down and the river was a flaming pathway of gold when +David turned his back on the houseboat and started for Mr. Preston's +home. His steps grew heavier and heavier as he walked. He was stiff, +sore and weary. The bandages were nearly off his hands and the flesh +smarted and burned from the exposure to the air. David was also +ravenously hungry. Against his heart the things wrapped in the old red +handkerchief cut like sharp tools. + +Night and the stars came. David was still far from home. He decided that +it might be best for him to struggle on no farther. It would be easier +to explain in the morning that he had gone out for a walk and lost his +way; than to face his friends to-night with any explanation of his trip. + +David remembered that the house that the colored boy, Sam, had described +as "ha'nted" lay midway between the houseboat and the farm. He could +sleep out on its old porch. + +David filled his hat with Sam's "hoodoo" peaches. He sat on the veranda +steps as he ate them, thinking idly of Sam's story of the old place and +getting it oddly mixed with what he had heard of Harry Sears's ghost +story. David was not superstitious. He did not believe that he could be +afraid of ghosts. He had other live troubles to worry him, which seemed +far worse. Still, he hoped that if ghosts did walk at midnight about +this forlorn old spot that they would choose any other night than this. + +It was a soft, warm summer evening with a waning moon. David rolled his +coat up under his head for a pillow and lay down in one corner of the +porch. + +He did not go to sleep at once; he was too tired and his bed was too +hard. How long he slept he did not know. He was awakened by a sound so +indescribably soft and vague that it might have been only a breath of +wind stirring. But David felt his hands grow icy cold and his breath +come in gasps. He was conscious of something uncanny near him. Something +warm touched him. He could have screamed with terror. But it was only a +thin, black cat, the color of the night shadows. + +The boy sat up. He was wide awake. He was not dreaming. Stealing up the +path to the house was a wraith; tall, thin, emaciated, with hair +absolutely white and thin, and skeleton-like hands; it was the semblance +of an old man. He was not human; he made no noise, he did not seem to +walk, he floated along. There was something dreadfully sad in the +ghost's appearance. Yet he was not alone. He led some one by the hand, a +young girl, who was more ghost-like than he was. Her hair was floating +out from her tiny, gnome-like face. She was thinner and more pathetic +than the old man. She had no expression in her face and she, too, made +no sound. + +The awestruck boy did not stir. The midnight visitants to the empty +house did not notice him. They came up to the porch. They mounted the +steps and, without touching the fallen front door, passed silently into +the deserted mansion. + +David did not know how long he waited, spellbound, after this +apparition. But no sound came forth from the house; no one reappeared. +The black cat rubbed against him the second time. Even the cat must have +been dumb, for she made no noise, did not even purr. + +David Brewster was not a coward. If you had asked him in the broad +daylight if he were afraid of ghosts he would have been too disgusted at +the idea even to answer you. But to-night he could not reason, could not +think. As soon as he could get his breath he ran with all his speed down +through the yard of the "ha'nted house," over the fence and into the +road, and then for the rest of the distance to the Preston house. He +forgot his fatigue, forgot that he might have to answer difficult +questions once he got home. David wanted to be with real, live people +after his night of fears. + +The boy found no lights in the Preston house. The front door was closed +and the back one barred for the night. Evidently the excursionists had +come back late and, believing him to be in bed, had not wished to +disturb him. + +David prowled around the house. He hated to wake anybody up to let him +in. He knew that Miss Betsey would be frightened into hysterics by the +sudden ringing of a bell. The boy found a pantry window unlocked. +Opening it, he crawled into the house. He got up to his bedroom without +anybody coming out to see who it was that had entered the house at such +a mysterious hour. It was not until early the next morning that David +learned that he need not have been so careful, as there was no one in +the Preston house except himself and some of the servants. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +ELEANOR GETS INTO MISCHIEF + + +Mrs. Preston, Miss Jenny Ann and Miss Betsey, in the old phaeton, +plodded on ahead of the young people to show them the route to the old +sulphur springs. They passed by a number of beautiful Virginia farms and +old homesteads along the shady roads. Miss Betsey was deeply interested +in the history of the neighborhood, and in the old families that had +lived in this vicinity since the close of the Civil War. Mrs. Preston +liked nothing better than to relate that history to her New England +guest. + +To tell the truth, Miss Betsey Taylor was far more clever than any one +might have supposed. She remembered very well that the friend of her +youth, Mr. John Randolph, had come from somewhere near Culpepper, +Virginia. Nor was she by any means unwilling to know what had become of +him after he had disappeared from her horizon. But Miss Taylor did not +intend to ask her hostess any direct questions if she could be persuaded +to relate the story of this John Randolph in the natural course of her +conversation. It may be that Miss Betsey had even been influenced in +her desire to spend some time on the Preston estate by this same thirst +for information in regard to the friend who had certainly lived not far +from this very neighborhood. + +"Whose place is that over there?" inquired Miss Jenny Ann unexpectedly, +pointing to an old brick house overgrown with ivy. + +Mrs. Preston flicked her horse. "It belongs to the Grinsteads. They are +descendants of the Randolphs, who used to live in these parts." + +Miss Betsey's eyelids never quivered. "The Randolphs?" she inquired +casually. "What Randolphs?" + +"James and John were the heads of the family in my day, but they have +both---- Dear me! are the young people following us? We must hurry +along," returned Mrs. Preston absently. + +Miss Jenny Ann looked out of the phaeton. She reported that she could +see Madge and Phil, who were riding side by side, leading the horseback +cavalcade. + +Miss Betsey's side curls bobbed impatiently, but she decided to ask no +more questions of her hostess just at present. + +Behind Madge and Phil, Lillian and Jack Bolling were riding companions, +and Eleanor and Harry Sears brought up the rear. The four front riders +kept close together, but every now and then Harry and Eleanor would lag +behind until they were almost out of sight of the other riders. + +Madge did not like Harry Sears. He was not always straightforward, and +he was not kind to those who were less fortunate than himself. It may be +that the little captain's dislike was due to the fact that Harry was +always particularly rude to David and never failed to try to make the +boy feel his inferior position. She did not believe, as Harry did, that +because he was well off and well-born he had the privilege of being +impolite to poorer and less aristocratic people. So Madge could not +imagine how Eleanor could like Harry Sears. She did not know that Harry +showed only his best side to Eleanor. + +"I do wish Nellie would keep up with us, Phil!" she exclaimed a little +impatiently. "I am afraid she and Harry may get lost if they keep on +loitering; they don't know which roads to take." Phil looked back +anxiously over the road. At some distance down the lane Harry and +Eleanor were riding slowly, deep in conversation. + +"I think I will ride back and ask Nellie to hurry," proposed Madge, +turning her horse and cantering back to her cousin. + +"Hurry along, Eleanor," she said rather crossly. "It is ever so much +nicer for us to keep together." + +Eleanor laughed. "Don't worry about me, Madge. I am not going to fall +off my horse and we can catch up with you at any time we wish. I don't +wish to ride fast. Harry and I are talking and I like to look at the +scenery along the road." + +Madge's face flushed. Eleanor was generally easy to influence, but once +she made up her mind to a thing she was quietly stubborn and unyielding. + +"All right, Nellie," Madge shrugged her shoulders eloquently, "but if +you and Harry are lost, don't expect us to come back to hunt for you. +Mrs. Preston particularly asked us to keep her in sight, as the roads +about here are confusing. I am sure I beg your pardon for intruding." +Madge touched her horse with the tip of her riding whip and cantered +back to Phil's side, her cheeks scarlet, her eyes snapping. Hereafter +Eleanor could go her own way. Madge had heard Harry Sears chuckle +derisively as she turned away and it made her very angry. + +Eleanor gazed after Madge's horse a little regretfully; not that she +intended doing what her cousin had asked of her, but she was sorry that +Madge had become so cross over nothing. + +[Illustration: "Hurry Along, Eleanor," Called Madge.] + +[Blank Page] + +"I tell you, Miss Eleanor," Harry Sears continued when Madge was out of +hearing, "I don't trust that fellow Brewster. I know we are going to +have trouble with him before this holiday is over. I want to warn you, +because I know you don't like the fellow either. Tom Curtis won't hear a +word against him. But I know Brewster is up to some mischief when he +goes off for hours and stays by himself. I have pretty well made up my +mind to follow him some day to find out what he does." + +Eleanor shook her gentle, brown head. "I don't think I would spy on him, +Harry," she protested. "I don't like David, because he is so rough and +rude, but I don't think he is positively bad." + +"Oh, it wouldn't be spying," argued Harry. "If I think the fellow is +going to get us in trouble, I believe it is my duty to keep a close +watch on him." + +"He'll be awfully angry," sighed Eleanor. + +Harry made no answer, but merely smiled contemptuously. + +Eleanor's horse was ambling down a road that was cut along the foot of a +tall hill. On the other side there was a steep declivity that dropped +nearly twenty feet to the ground. A low rail fence separated the +embankment from the road, which was rough and narrow. + +All of a sudden Eleanor's horse began to shy off to one side of the +road. The more Eleanor pulled on her left rein, the more her horse moved +toward the right; and on the right side of the road was the precipice. + +One of her horse's forefeet went down beneath the level of the road. +Eleanor tried to rein in, but she felt herself sliding backward over the +right side of her horse. + +"Harry!" she cried desperately. Harry Sears turned in amazement. He was +not in time. Eleanor rolled off her horse. In falling she struck her +back on the rail fence. But the fence saved her life. She tumbled +forward toward the road, instead of rolling down the steep embankment. + +Harry was off his horse in a moment. Eleanor was huddled on the ground, +her face white with pain. She had fallen off her horse, though the +animal had not tried to run away. It had stumbled back into the road and +stood waiting to know what had happened. + +"Your saddle girth broke, Eleanor," explained Harry. "Are you much +hurt?" + +"No-o-o," replied Eleanor bravely, with her lips trembling. "I believe I +have bruised my shoulder, but it isn't very bad." + +Harry had Eleanor on her feet, but he could see that she was suffering +intensely. He did not know what to do. The rest of the riding party was +well out of sight. He did not like to leave Eleanor alone while he +galloped after them; yet he did not believe that she would be able to +ride on. + +"Can you fix my saddle girth, Harry?" questioned Eleanor. "We shall be +left behind sure enough, and Miss Jenny Ann will be angry with me." + +It took Harry quite ten minutes to mend Eleanor's saddle girth. She sat +limply on the grass, hoping that the pain in her shoulder would pass. It +did not, but she managed, with Harry's help, to get back on her horse. + +Harry started off at a brisk canter, a little uneasy. He and Eleanor +were entirely unfamiliar with the country through which they were +traveling. There were roads that intersected each other every few miles. +These were not marked with sign-posts and Harry had no idea in what +direction lay the old sulphur springs. + +But Nellie was not following him. He reined up and rode back to her. +"What's the matter now?" he asked impatiently. + +"I am so sorry, Harry," apologized Eleanor. "I think I can ride, but I +can't go fast; it hurts my shoulder so dreadfully." Eleanor's soft brown +eyes were filled with tears, which she tried in vain to keep from +falling. Her pretty, light-brown hair, which she had braided and tied +up with a black velvet ribbon, hung in a long plait down her back. + +Slowly, keeping the horses in a walk, Harry and Eleanor continued their +journey. Harry hoped that some one would ride back to see what had +delayed them. Eleanor knew that no one would. Madge would think that +they had purposely tarried. She would say so to the others, and no one +would seriously miss them until after the arrival at the picnic grounds. + +But Eleanor and her companion conquered another mile of the way, when +they came to what Harry had feared, two roads that crossed their path +like two sides of a triangle, each leading in a totally different +direction. + +Both riders reined up. Harry found a spring and Eleanor felt refreshed +after drinking and bathing her face in the cold water. But which road +should they take? They had both given up all hope of rejoining the rest +of the party on their way to the springs; all the two now dreamed of was +ultimately to arrive there. After careful consideration Harry and +Eleanor chose the wrong road. + +The old sulphur springs had been a fashionable summer resort in Virginia +twenty-five years before. It still had its famous sulphur well and a +dozen or more brick cottages in various stages of dilapidation. The big +hotel had been burned down and no one had attempted to rebuild it. + +It had been Miss Betsey Taylor's special desire to drink the waters of +the famous sulphur well. She had heard of it as a cure for all the ills +of the flesh. + +When the riding party dismounted from their horses Madge and Phil espied +Miss Betsey peering down the old well. Madge had visited sulphur wells +before. "Want a drink, Miss Betsey?" she inquired innocently, coming up +to the old lady. She decided to revenge herself on Miss Betsey for the +excellent daily advice that the maiden lady bestowed upon her. + +Miss Betsey looked pleased. "Certainly. I intend to drink the sulphur +water all day, and to have some of it put up in bottles to take back +home with me. I can't say that I exactly like the odor." Miss Betsey's +aquiline nose was slightly tilted. + +"Here you are," interrupted Madge, passing Miss Betsey a glass of the +sulphur water. + +Miss Betsey took one swallow and gave a hurried gasp. "Take it away, +child," she urged faintly. "It is the most horrible thing I ever tasted +in my life." The old maid's eyes almost twinkled. "I think, my dear, +that I will cure my nerves in a pleasanter way," she decided. + +Miss Jenny Ann hurried over to them. "What has become of Nellie, Madge?" +she questioned immediately. + +The little captain shook her head. "She will be along soon. She and +Harry Sears were loitering a little behind the rest of us." + +But Eleanor and Harry did not arrive. An hour passed, then Miss Jenny +Ann and the girls began to feel uneasy. It was growing late. The time +had long since come for supper. Finally Jack Bolling suggested that he +ride back to see what had become of the wanderers. In the meantime the +supper was spread out on the grass. No one ate much. The whole party +kept gazing up the road. It was nearly dark when Jack Bolling +returned--alone. He had galloped back over the way they had come for +three miles without seeing a sign of either Eleanor or Harry. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +"CONFUSION WORSE CONFOUNDED" + + +"I can't go any farther, Harry," said Eleanor despairingly. + +Harry Sears reached her just in time. Eleanor fell forward on her +horse's neck. She had fainted with the pain in her shoulder, which had +increased with every step her horse had taken. + +Harry laid Eleanor on the ground under a tree. Then he stood staring at +her pallid face. He had not the faintest idea what he should do. He knew +of no spring nearby where he could get water. Girls were an awful +nuisance, anyway; something was always happening to them. Harry was +sorry that he had ever ridden with Eleanor. It was stupid of him to have +let the rest of the party get so far ahead of them. + +Still, poor Nellie did not open her eyes. Harry hitched both of the +horses to a fence rail and then came back to gaze at Eleanor until she +came to herself. + +When Eleanor opened her eyes it was to see Harry's frown, partly of +impatience and partly from worry. She tried to sit up, but the pain made +her ill and she lay back on the ground. She realized that she must have +sprained her shoulder when she fell from her horse. She had been wrong +in believing it to be only bruised. + +"What shall we do, Eleanor?" asked Harry gloomily. "You can't ride any +more and I can't leave you here by yourself. This road seems to be cut +through a wilderness. We have not passed a house in miles!" + +"You can help me over into that woods, Harry," she said faintly. "I'll +lie down under the trees and wait--the sulphur springs can't be very far +from here--then you ride on and find the others. Madge will drive back +in Mrs. Preston's phaeton for me," smiled Eleanor, though her lips were +almost colorless with pain. "Please don't forget where you leave me, +Harry." + +Harry Sears's face cleared. Eleanor's idea was the only possible one, +and she was a brave girl to be willing to be left alone. "Don't you +fear," he comforted her, as he led her deeper into the thick grove of +trees. "I'll tie my handkerchief to the tree nearest the road. Besides, +your horse will be hitched near here. When you hear us driving along the +road, in about ten or fifteen minutes, just you sing out." + +Eleanor was grateful when Harry left her, and she could give way to her +real feelings. She was on a bed of moss and Harry had rolled up his +coat for a pillow to put under her head. But the pain in her shoulder +was excruciating. She could not get into any position where it seemed to +hurt less. Each time she moved a twinge caught her and she would have +liked to scream aloud. But Eleanor did not scream; she waited patiently, +though now and then the tears would rise in her eyes of their own accord +and trickle down her white cheeks. Madge was such a long time in coming +to find her. However, Harry did not know his way to the sulphur well. It +might take him some time to find it. How late it was getting! The sun +was low in the west. + +After taking a last look at the spot where Eleanor lay, at her horse +hitched to a fence rail, at his own white handkerchief, which fluttered +from a low branch of a tree near the road, Harry rode furiously off. He +would surely find their friends in a few moments. But Harry continued to +ride in exactly the wrong direction. Every yard he covered took him +farther away from the sulphur springs. While he was galloping on his +wild-goose chase the party at the springs decided to return to the +Preston farm. They were too uneasy about Harry and Eleanor to have a +good time, and they concluded that they would either overtake the lost +couple on the way home or else find that the two young people had given +up and returned to the farm. + +The three girls gave their horses free rein and cantered home with all +speed. Yet it was dark when they arrived. No word had been heard of +Eleanor or Harry. It was a cloudy evening and the sun had disappeared +quickly. Without waiting, except to give the alarm to Mr. Preston, the +entire riding party set out again. Madge thought that she would have +liked to ask David to help them, but there was no time to spare. The +riders met Mrs. Preston, Miss Jenny Ann and Miss Betsey, who had set out +for home in the phaeton. The three older women also refused to go back +to Prestons, until Eleanor and her companion were discovered. + +In the meantime Harry Sears had finally reached the decision that he was +not on the right road to the sulphur well. At the end of a five-mile +gallop he turned his horse and cantered back. He passed Eleanor's horse, +tugging impatiently at the reins that bound her; he saw his own white +handkerchief tied on the tree; but he could not see or hear Eleanor. He +would have liked to stop to find out that all was well with her, but he +dreaded to let Eleanor know that he had spent all this time and was +still without assistance. At the crossroads, where the young man had +made his original mistake in the roads, he at last turned down the lane +that led to the sulphur springs. But by this time his friends were well +on their way home to the Preston farm. + +Eleanor's horse had grown weary of remaining standing. It was past her +supper time and she wished her measure of oats. The horse tossed her +head restlessly, walked forward a few steps and then backward, tugging +and straining at her bridle. In his excitement and hurry to be off, +Harry had not tied the horse very securely. He had no other hitching +rope than her bridle. The mare gave one final jerk and shake of her head +and was free. Quite innocent of the mischief her desertion would cause, +she trotted back to her own stable at the Prestons. + +At nine o'clock in the evening rain began to fall. The night was pitch +dark, except for an occasional jagged flash of lightning. When Madge, in +advance of all the others, passed along only a few rods from the very +spot where Harry had left Eleanor the latter must have heard nothing, +for she made not the faintest outcry. + +It was almost midnight before Eleanor's friends discovered that Harry +was not with her. Not finding any of the party at the sulphur springs, +Sears had lost his head completely. Instead of returning to poor Eleanor +he went on to the Preston farm, hoping stupidly that Nellie had in some +way been rescued and that he would find her there. The journey back home +was a long, weary one. His horse was completely fagged out and had gone +lame in one foot. Harry was terrified at the emptiness of the Preston +farm; only one or two servants were about; the others had gone with Mr. +Preston to look for Eleanor. There were no horses left on the place. So, +on foot, Harry set out again, only to have Eleanor's riderless horse +pass by him in the night. He hardly saw the animal in his excitement. He +did not dream that it was the horse he had hitched to mark Eleanor's +resting place, but plodded on, tired and dispirited. + +Harry finally ran across Madge, Phyllis and Jack. He told them his story +as best he could. Foot by foot the young people retraced their way over +the same road, looking for the fluttering signal of Harry's white +handkerchief and the waiting horse. + +The horse, of course, had run off, and at first it seemed impossible to +find the handkerchief. Madge was desperate. It was her fault that poor +Nellie was alone at midnight in the rain with her injured shoulder. If +only Madge had begged Eleanor to ride on faster, she knew that Eleanor +would have consented. It was only because she had commanded it that her +cousin had been so obstinate. + +The other members of the Preston household were almost as miserable as +Madge. Even Miss Betsey Taylor could not be persuaded to return to her +bed. She forgot all about her health and her nerves, and was intent only +on finding Eleanor, who was her favorite of the four girls. + +The rain was still pouring in heavy, unrelenting streams, and everyone +was soaked to the skin. + +"My poor Nellie!" cried Madge. She and Phil were leading their tired +horses along the road. "I shall never forgive Harry Sears for leaving +her by herself and chasing all over the country for help. What an idiot +he is!" + +"Sh-sh!" Phil comforted her, although she herself was quietly crying. It +was so dark that no one could see the girls' tears. "Don't blame Harry. +He did what he thought was best at the time, although it seems silly to +us now." + +It was Harry, though, who at last found his rain-soaked handkerchief +tied to the branch of a tree. He had held a dark lantern up by every +bush or tree that he passed in the neighborhood where he believed he had +left poor Eleanor. + +"I've found the place, I've found the place!" he cried triumphantly. +"Just a minute, Eleanor, and we will come to you!" He ran toward the +spot where he remembered to have left Eleanor. Madge hurried after him, +Phyllis keeping tight hold of her hand. + +Harry's cry had thrilled all the searchers. Jack and Lillian came next +to hunt, with Mr. Preston close behind them. They stood together under +the tree where Eleanor had lain. The dark lanterns lit up their haggard +faces. Eleanor was not there! + +"You have made a mistake in the place, Sears," declared Jack. + +Harry reached down and picked up his own coat. "No, this is my coat," he +declared. + +Madge dropped to the ground, shaking with sobs. She had found Eleanor's +little, soft felt riding hat. + +"Children," urged Mr. Preston, "don't be so alarmed. It is very natural +that, when we took so long to find the poor child, she got up and +wandered off somewhere to get out of the rain. I will rouse the +neighborhood and we men will search the woods and fields. We will +inquire at all the farmhouses in the vicinity. Why, we are sure to find +Eleanor. You girls must run along home and wait until morning. I can't +have you all ill on my hands with pneumonia." + +Miss Jenny Ann, Mrs. Preston and Miss Betsey were crawling out of the +phaeton when Mr. Preston led three of the girls back to "I can't go +home, Jenny Ann," insisted Madge. "It was my fault that Nellie is lost. +Uncle and Aunt will never forgive me." + +It was in vain that Miss Jenny Ann pleaded, argued and commanded the +little captain to return with the other women to the Preston farm. She +simply would not go. So Phyllis stayed behind with her for company. + +Just before daylight one of the farmers who lived near the woods where +Eleanor was supposed to have been left took the two girls home with him. +Eleanor had not then been found. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE BLACK HOLE + + +Hours and hours had gone by, and Eleanor had lain quite still. Sometimes +she was conscious, but oftener she was not. The pain in her shoulder, +the exhaustion from the long waiting, had made her delirious. When the +rain began it seemed at first to refresh her, she was so hot and +feverish. Later rheumatic twinges began to dart through her injured +shoulder; her whole body was racked with pain. She seemed to be in some +horrible nightmare. She forgot what had happened to her. She no longer +realized that she was waiting for her friends to come to her rescue; she +only believed that, if she could in some way get back to her own home, +"Forest House," the agony and terror would cease. + +In her delirium Eleanor managed to get up from the wet ground. She never +knew how or when, but she remembered groping her way cautiously through +the dark forest. The hundreds of trees seemed like a great army of +terrible men and women waving angry arms at the frightened girl. Now and +then she would bump into one of the trees. Eleanor would then step back +and apologize; she thought that she had collided with a human being. + +At times Eleanor was dimly conscious that she could hear the sound of +her own voice. She was singing in high, sweet tones a song of her +babyhood: + + "When the long day's work is over, + When the light begins to fade, + Watching, waiting in the gloaming, + Weary, faint and half afraid, + Then from out the deep'ning twilight, + Clear and sweet a voice shall come, + Softly through the silence falling-- + Child, thy Father calls, 'Come home.'" + +There was something in the familiar words that comforted Eleanor. She +would soon find her mother and father and Madge. But step by step +Eleanor went farther away from civilization and deeper into the woods. +At last she came out of the woods altogether to a more forbidding part +of the country. A group of small hills rose up at the edge of the +woodlands. They seemed to poor Eleanor's distorted imagination to be a +collection of strange houses. + +A yawning hole gaped in the side of one of the hills. Years before a +company of promoters had believed that rich coal deposits could be +found in these Virginia hills. A coal mine had been dug in the side of +this solitary hillock. But the coal yield had not been rich enough. +Later on the company had abandoned it and the old coal mine was disused +and almost forgotten. A strange freak of destiny led Eleanor to the +spot. + +She felt, rather than saw, the opening. The rain had ceased, but the +night was still dark. Eleanor believed that she had found the door of +her own home at "Forest House." Why was it so dark in the hall? Had no +one lighted the lamps? Surely, she heard some one cry out her name! + +"Mother! Father!" she called. "Madge!" She put out one hand--the other +was useless--and stepped into the black hole. It was all so dark and +horrible. Eleanor took a few steps forward; a suffocating odor of coal +gas greeted her; she stumbled and fell face downward. Eleanor was +literally buried alive. She had wandered into a place that the world had +forgotten, and she was too ill to make any effort to save herself. + +So it was that Eleanor Butler heard no sound and saw no sign of the +desperate search that was being made for her. But if Eleanor were +unconscious, there was some one else who knew that the woods and all the +nearby fields and countryside were being investigated, inch by inch, by +a party of determined seekers. The man believed that the search was +being made for him. For several days he had been in hiding on the edge +of the woods, not far from the old coal mine into which Eleanor had +stumbled. He had his own reasons for hiding, although he believed that +until to-night no crime had been fixed on him. + +While Eleanor was groping her way out of the woods this man was crouched +in the branches of a heavily wooded tree. He had spent all his life in +the open, and knew that a party of men searching through a forest on a +dark night would not spy him out so long as the darkness covered him. +But he knew that at dawn he must find a better hiding place. + +Just before daylight the woods were silent once more. The fugitive +understood that the searching parties had gone home to rest and to get +reinforcements in order to begin a more thorough hunt at dawn. + +The greater part of the night the man had spent in trying to decide +where he should conceal himself before the daylight. He knew of but one +possible hiding place that was safe. He had tracked through the country +for miles to hide his treasures in the old coal mine, although he had +believed that he was absolutely free from suspicion. Who had betrayed +him? Not the old gypsy woman. The man did not consider her. But there +was--_the boy_! + +As soon as the woods were free from the hunting parties the man slipped +down from his tree. It was a poor place of refuge, but he would crawl +into the disused coal mine, for the day at least, to guard his life and +his stolen property. He crept cautiously along. As soon as he could get +word to the gypsy woman they would both try to get away from the +neighborhood. Things were getting too hot for them both. And again, +there was _the boy_! + +There was some one else afoot in the woods. The man could hear a +cat-like tread. Nearer stole the other prowler. There was another sound, +a faint call, which the man answered. An instant later the old gypsy +woman appeared. "I have been searching for you, lad. The boy says he has +got to see you." + +It was hardly dawn, but a faint light had appeared in the sky that was +not daylight but its herald. A pause hung over the world that always +comes just before its awakening. + +The man and woman hesitated just a moment at the opening of the old +mine. It was dreadful to shut themselves away from the daylight. The man +went in first, the old woman close behind him. But a few feet from the +entrance he staggered back; he had struck his foot against something. +The man's first thought was that some one had crept into the mine to +steal his treasure. A few seconds later he became more accustomed to the +dim light and saw the still figure of Eleanor. + +The man and the woman stared at the girl as though they had seen an +apparition. She was so deathly pale it was not strange that they thought +at first that she was not alive. + +Both the man and the woman kept close to the ground, so as not to inhale +the odor of the coal gas. The old gypsy took Eleanor's limp, white hand. +"She is alive," she whispered to the man. + +The man nodded. He realized at once that the woods were being searched, +not for him, but for this lost girl. He could not imagine how the girl +had wandered into this dreadful place of concealment. But she was +certainly innocent of any wrong or suspicion of him. Yet, if she stayed +in the coal mine with them all day, she might die. + +There has hardly ever been born into this world any human creature who +is wholly wicked. The man in the mine with Eleanor was not a cruel +fellow. He had one strange, wicked theory, that the world owed him a +living and he would rather steal than work for it. + +Unexpectedly Eleanor opened her eyes. She did not cry out with terror. +She was no longer delirious. She smiled at the man and at the old woman +in a puzzled, friendly fashion. "It is so dark and dreadful in here! +Won't you take, me out?" she pleaded. + +Fortunately Eleanor had fallen near enough to the entrance of the mine +to get the fresh air from the outside. She struggled to sit up, but the +pain in her shoulder again overcame her. + +"How did you get in here?" the man asked Eleanor suspiciously. + +"I don't know," she answered, beginning to cry gently. "Please take me +out." + +The man realized that whatever was to be done for Eleanor must be done +at once. Every minute that passed made it the more dangerous for him to +return to the forest. Later on, when the woods were full of people, he +would not dare leave the mine. He knew that even now he was risking his +own freedom if he carried the girl out from the safe shelter that +concealed them. + +The man lifted Eleanor in his arms as gently as he could. She cried out +when he first touched her; then she set her teeth and bore stoically the +pain of being moved. + +"You can trust me," her rescuer said kindly. "I can't take you to your +friends, but I will take you to a place where they can find you. Now +you must promise me that you will never say that you have ever seen me +or the old woman, and that you will never mention the old coal mine." + +Eleanor promised and the fugitive seemed impressed with her sincerity. + +The man carried her about a quarter of a mile into the woods. Then he +laid her down in the grass and hurried away. Eleanor watched him with +grateful eyes. She did not wonder why the man and the old woman had come +to the mysterious hole in the earth, nor why they wished her to keep +their hiding place a secret; she was not troubled about it. She was +still in great pain, but her fever had gone and she was no longer +delirious. She remembered the events of the day before up to the time +when she started to wander in the woods. Now Eleanor waited, content and +full of faith. The day had come, with its wonderful promise. She knew +that she would soon be found. She would bear the pain as well as she +could until then. + +"Nellie! Nellie!" It was Madge's voice calling to her from afar off. The +tones sounded queer and strained, but Eleanor felt sure they were those +of her cousin. She could not be mistaken, as she had been last night. +She must have been dreaming when some one seemed to summon her from the +mouth of the cave. Eleanor did not realize that she had but caught an +echo of some one crying to her through the heart of the forest. + +Eleanor was weak and faint, but she summoned her strength. "Madge! here +I am!" she cried. Her voice was too feeble to carry far. + +Neither Madge nor any of her companions caught the answering sound. +David Brewster, Jack Bolling, Phil and Lillian were with her. Harry +Sears had given out at daylight and had gone back to the Preston farm. + +Again they were wandering away from the spot where Nellie waited so +patiently. + +"Nellie! Nellie!" Madge called once more, her voice breaking. + +Poor Eleanor realized that Madge's voice was farther off than it had +been when she first called. + +Eleanor made an heroic effort. She raised herself to a sitting position. +"Madge! Phil! Oh, come to me!" she cried. Then Eleanor fainted. + +It was a limp, white figure that Madge, running ahead of all the others, +found stretched out on the grass. Her companions soon caught up with +her. + +"Nellie is dead!" cried Lillian, bursting into tears and sinking down +beside her friend on the grass. + +"Oh, no," assured Phil, "Nellie has only fainted." She turned quietly +to David and Jack. "Go back, please, and tell Mr. Preston and some of +the other men to bring a cot on which to carry Eleanor. She is only worn +out and exhausted with exposure and pain. She will be all right soon. +Don't look so heartbroken Madge." + +Madge had not taken her eyes from her cousin's pale, haggard face. She +could not believe that she was really looking at Eleanor. Could this +poor, white, exhausted little creature be her Nellie? Why, it was only +the afternoon before when Madge had last seen Eleanor laughing and +talking to Harry Sears. And now----! + +A few minutes later the men came with the cot and Eleanor was carried to +the Preston home. Everybody, except David, followed her in triumph. + +For David Brewster did not go back home with the others; he wished to +find out about an old coal mine which he had been told was in this +vicinity. He did not, of course, dream of Eleanor's connection with the +place, but he had his own reasons for wishing to discover it. + +An hour later the man and the old gypsy woman were startled by another +visitor. David crept into the opening in the side of the hill. When he +left, the man and woman in the mine had promised the lad to leave the +countryside as soon as possible. They had also agreed to return to +David the silver and the greater part of the money stolen from the +Preston house on the night of the corn roast. It remained for David to +see that the stolen goods were returned to the house without suspicion +falling on any one. David believed that he could save the evil-doers +from disgrace and detection. But how was he to save himself? + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE BETTER MAN + + +"Eleanor, dear, do you know who the two Indian Chiefs were who appeared +so mysteriously at our 'Feast of Mondamin'? They followed Lillian and me +about all evening and wouldn't take off their masks." + +Eleanor was propped up in a big, four-post mahogany bed with half a +dozen pillows under her lame shoulder. One arm and shoulder were tightly +bandaged. Eleanor had had a serious time since her accident. For +rheumatism, caused by her exposure to the rain, had set in in the +strained shoulder. She was now much better, though still feeling a good +deal used up, and she found it very difficult to move. + +Eleanor turned her head and smiled languidly at the excited Madge. + +"Of course I don't know who the Indians were. Dear me, I had forgotten +all about them. I suppose they must have been Mrs. Preston's and Miss +Betsey's burglars. Has any one caught them?" Eleanor was getting +interested. + +"I should say not," giggled Madge cheerfully. "Those Indian braves were +no other persons than our highly respected friends, Mr. Tom Curtis and +Mr. George Robinson! The sillies came all the way here just to be +present at the corn roast, and then rushed off without telling us who +they were. Tom was awfully cross because I never mentioned their +appearance at the feast in any of my first letters. But I forgot all +about them, there has been so much else going on. Only in my last letter +I just happened to say that Mr. Preston had never been able to find out +anything about his burglars, and that the two men dressed as Indians, +whom Mr. Preston had always suspected, had disappeared." + +Eleanor laughed. "Of course Tom had to 'fess up' after that, didn't he? +Tom would so hate to do anything that might arouse suspicion. I think +Tom Curtis is the most honorable boy I ever knew. Don't you?" asked +Eleanor. + +"Of course I do," answered Madge emphatically. "By the way, Tom and +George will be back in a short time now with the motor launch. As soon +as you are well enough we shall probably start off again, though our +holiday time is almost over. You and I have distinguished ourselves by +getting lost on this houseboat trip, haven't we, Nellie, dear? Only it +is the old story. It was my fault that I got into trouble, while yours +was only an accident, you poor thing!" Madge patted Eleanor's hand +softly. + +The bedroom door now opened to admit Phyllis and Lillian. Phil carried a +large dish of ginger cookies, hot from the oven, and Lillian a platter +heaped with a pile of snowy popcorn. Both girls planted themselves on +the side of Eleanor's bed. + +"Phil, I thought you and Lillian promised to go walking with Harry Sears +and Jack Bolling," protested Madge. "I was to take care of Nellie this +afternoon while Miss Jenny Ann and Miss Betsey drove with Mrs. Preston +to look at the 'ha'nted house' we have talked so much about." + +Lillian shook her golden head calmly. "Did not want to go walking," she +remarked calmly. "Phil and I broke our engagements. We decided that we +would much rather stay with you and Nellie." She smiled and gave Eleanor +a hug. "Cook is going to send up a big pitcher of lemonade in a few +minutes. Who wouldn't rather stay at home than go walking with two +tiresome boys on an afternoon like this?" + +"You girls are terribly good and unselfish about me," exclaimed Eleanor. +"It's worth being ill, and having a sprained shoulder, and being rescued +by an old gypsy woman and a strange looking man to----" Eleanor stopped +short. Her face flushed painfully and her eyes filled with tears. "Oh!" +she exclaimed, "I'm so sorry I have broken my word. I promised not to +tell. Please, please, don't anybody ask me any questions, for I can't +answer them even to please you girls." + +Lillian looked mystified and extremely curious. Phyllis and Madge gazed +at each other blankly. Neither of them spoke, but they were both +concerned with the same question. Could it be possible that Nellie had +also run across the old gypsy woman and the man who had held Madge a +prisoner until Phil and David had rescued her? But then, Eleanor had +been found several miles from the spot where the two old people were in +hiding when Madge ran across them. + +The little captain made up her mind to one thing; she would not trouble +Eleanor with questions. But she would ask David if he thought his +mysterious acquaintances were still in the neighborhood. Neither she nor +Phil had ever spoken of them, though they had never ceased to wonder at +David's knowing such peculiar people. + +"Is David Brewster going for a walk with Jack and Harry?" inquired Madge +casually. + +Lillian shook her head. "Of course not," she replied. "David is going +off on his usual secret mission. He goes on one every single +afternoon!" + +"It doesn't concern any one but him, does it?" + +Lillian shrugged her shoulders. "I am certainly not in the least +interested," she answered disdainfully. "I think he is the rudest person +I ever met." + +Unfortunately, there were other members of the boat party who were much +concerned with David's peculiar behavior. Harry Sears and Jack Bolling +were rather bored with their stay on the Preston farm since Eleanor's +accident. The girls devoted all their time to nursing Eleanor; they +could rarely be persuaded to take a walk or a drive, or to stir up a +lark of any kind. Neither Harry nor Jack, who were from the city, felt +the least interest in the farm work. David spent every morning in the +fields with Mr. Preston. So Harry and Jack, having nothing else to think +about, began to worry and pry into David's actions. It was strange that +the boy went away every afternoon and never told any one where he was +going, nor spoke afterward of what he had done or where he had been! + +Jack Bolling did not really care a great deal about Brewster's affairs, +but Harry Sears was a regular "Paul Pry." He had made up his mind to +find out what Brewster was "after" on these afternoons when he +"sneaked" off and hid himself. + +Just before Jack and Harry started on their walk David Brewster came out +on the side porch of the Preston house with his coat pockets bulging +with flat, hard packages. He had his hat pulled down over his eyes, and +was hurrying off without looking either to the right or left, when Harry +Sears called out: "Where are you off to, Brewster? If you are going for +a walk, Bolling and I would like to go with you. We are looking for +something to do." + +David turned red. It was unexpected friendliness for Harry Sears to +suggest coming for a walk with him. Harry usually never noticed David at +all, except to order him about at every possible opportunity. + +But David was resolute. He particularly needed to be alone on this +afternoon. Besides his usual occupation, he must make up his mind how he +could go about restoring to the Prestons and Miss Taylor their stolen +property. + +"I'm off on personal business, Mr. Sears," he returned politely. "I +can't let any one else come along." + +"Well, you are a nice, sociable person, Brewster," sneered Harry. "Sorry +to have intruded. I might have known better." + +David swung out of the yard without answering. It never occurred to him +to glance back to see what Sears and Bolling were doing. + +"Let's go after the fellow, Bolling," proposed Harry. "We have nothing +else to do this afternoon. It would be rather good fun to find out what +knavery the chap is up to and to show him off before the girls. I +actually believe that Madge Morton and Phyllis Alden like the common +fellow. Maybe they think Brewster is a kind of hero; he is so silent, +dark and sullen, like the hero chap in a weepy sort of play." + +Jack Bolling hesitated. "I don't think it is square of us to spy on +Brewster, no matter what he is doing," he argued. + +"I _do_," returned Harry briefly. "If he isn't up to something he has no +business doing, what harm is there in our chancing to run across +him--quite by accident, of course? If he is up to some deviltry, it is +our business to find it out." + +David had turned a corner in the road and had jumped over a low stone +fence into a field when the other two young men started after him. + +Harry soon espied David, and he and Jack tramped after him cautiously, +always keeping at a safe distance. + +But David Brewster was wholly unaware that he was being followed. He +hurried from one field to another until he came to a meadow that had +been left uncultivated for a number of years. It was uneven, running +into little hills and valleys, with big rocks jutting out of the earth. +One of these rocks formed a complete screen. David walked straight +toward this spot as though he were accustomed to going to it. He lay +down on the grass under the rock. On his way to his retreat he had made +up his mind how he should try to return the stolen goods to the rightful +owners, so there was nothing to keep him from his regular occupation. +David pulled out of his pocket one of the small, flat objects that he +carried and almost completely concealed it with his body as he leaned +over it. + +A few minutes later Harry Sears crept up on tip-toe from the back of the +rock. Jack Bolling was considerably farther off. He meant to give David +some warning of his presence before he approached him. + +Harry Sears lay down flat on top of the rock. He made a sudden dive +toward David, grabbing at the object that David held in his hand. + +"What have you there?" he demanded. "Out with it! You've got to tell +what you do every afternoon, hiding off by yourself." + +David Brewster sprang to his feet, his face white with passion. He +thrust the object that Harry coveted back into his pocket. + +"Get up from there!" he shouted hoarsely. "What do you mean by spying on +me like this? What business is it of yours how I spend my time? I am +answerable to Tom Curtis, not to you. Here is your friend, Mr. Bolling, +sneaking behind you on the same errand; and I suppose you both think you +are gentlemen," he sneered. + +"Oh, come, Brewster," interrupted Jack Bolling apologetically, "I +suppose Harry and I were overdoing things a bit to come over here after +you. But there is no use getting so all-fired angry. If you are not up +to mischief, why do you care if we do happen to come up with you?" + +"Because I care to keep my own business to myself," answered David. + +"Look here, you fellow, don't be impertinent," broke in Harry Sears +coolly, as though David had scarcely the right to speak to him. + +David felt a blind, hot rage sweep over him. The boy was no longer +master of himself. Some day, when he learned to control this white heat +of passion, it was to make him a great power for good in the world. Now +his rage was the master. + +"Take care!" he called suddenly to Harry. He swung himself up on the +rock opposite Harry, forcing his opponent into an open place in the +field. Then David let loose a swinging blow with his closed fist. + +Harry and David were evenly matched fighters. Harry was taller and +older, and had been trained as a boxer in school and college gymnasiums; +but David was a firmly built fellow, of medium height, with muscles as +hard as iron from his work in the open. In addition, David was furiously +angry. + +Harry parried the first blow with his left arm, then made a lunge at +David. + +"Here, you fellows, cut that out!" commanded Jack Bolling. "You are +almost men. Don't scrap like a couple of schoolboys. You know the women +in our party will be disgusted with you." + +Neither Harry nor David paid the least attention to Jack's excellent +advice. Both fighters had their blood up. Harry's face was crimson and +David's white. Few blows were struck, because David made a headlong rush +at his opponent and the combatants wrestled back and forth, each boy +trying to force the other on the ground. It was by sheer force of +determination that David won. David got one hand loose and struck Harry +over the eye. Harry went down with a sudden crash. His head struck the +earth with a whack that temporarily put him out of the fight. + +But David kept his knee on Harry's chest. He made no effort to get up. +His face was still working with anger. + +"Say, get off of Sears, Brewster, can't you?" growled Jack Bolling. "You +see he is down and out and you've won the fight. Don't you know that the +rules of the game won't let you hit a man when he is down?" + +David straightened up and stood upright. "Thank you, Bolling," he said +curtly. "I wasn't a sport and I am glad you reminded me of it. I was too +angry with Sears to want to quit the fight." + +Harry was sitting upon the ground, looking greatly chagrined. He had a +bruise over one eye and the place was rapidly swelling. + +"I expect I ought to apologize to you, Sears, for not having let you +alone when you were down," remarked David proudly. "But in the future +you will kindly leave my private affairs alone." + +David made off across the fields. He hoped to be able to get back to the +Preston house before Miss Betsey Taylor returned from her ride to the +haunted house. He was lucky enough to find Miss Betsey still out. As +David passed through the hall he was glad to find her bedroom door open. +He had just time enough to slip into her room and thrust a red cotton +handkerchief, which was tied up in a curious knot, under Miss Betsey's +pillow, when he thought he heard some one about to enter the room. + +David hurried out into the hall just as Madge and Phyllis passed by. +Both girls nodded to David in a friendly fashion, though Madge's +expressive face was alive with the question: "What is David Brewster +doing in Miss Betsey's room?" + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE BIRTH OF SUSPICION + + +Miss Betsey Taylor had a very successful drive to the "ha'nted house." +She returned home with the secret curiosity of years partly satisfied. +Not that Miss Betsey saw the "ghosts walk," or that anything in the +least unusual took place at the "ha'nted house"; it was simply that Mrs. +Preston at last unveiled to Miss Betsey Taylor all she knew of the +history of the particular "John Randolph" in whom Miss Betsey had once +been interested. + +It happened that Miss Jenny Ann, Miss Betsey and Mrs. Preston, in +driving up the road to the "ha'nted house," had met an old colored mammy +coming toward them, carrying a basket on her arm and talking to herself. + +She raised up one hand dramatically when she caught sight of the three +women. "Stay where you is. Don't come no farder," she warned. "The house +you is drawing nigher to is a house of 'ha'nts.' Ghosties walk here in +the day and sleep here in the night. It am mighty onlucky to bother a +ghostie." + +"Why, Mammy Ellen," protested Mrs. Preston, smiling kindly at the old +woman, "you don't tell me that you believe in ghosts? I thought you had +too much sense." + +"Child," argued the old woman, "they is some as _says_ they is ghosts in +this here house of Cain and Abel; but they is one that _knows_ they is +ghosts here." She shook her head. "I hev seen 'em. Jest you let sleepin' +ghosts lie." + +"We are not going to disturb them, Mammy Ellen," promised Mrs. Preston. +"We are just going to drive about the old place, so that my friends, who +are from the North, can see what this old, deserted estate looks like." + +"That old woman once belonged to the family of John Randolph, Miss +Betsey. Do you recall your speaking of him to me a few days ago?" +inquired Mrs. Preston as the old colored woman marched solemnly away. + +"Yes, I remember," answered Miss Betsey vaguely. "I believe I knew this +same John Randolph when I was a girl." + +"Then I am sorry to tell you his story, because it is a sad one," sighed +Mrs. Preston. "My husband and I often talk of him. We feel, somehow, +that we ought to have done something. John Randolph came back here +suddenly, after spending a year or so in New York, after the close of +the war. He married three or four years afterward a girl from the next +county. She wasn't much of a wife; the poor thing was ill and never +liked the country. She persuaded John to sell out his share in the +estate to his brother James. You remember, it was the Grinstead place I +showed to you on our drive to the sulphur well the other day. Well, John +and his wife settled in Richmond and John tried to practise law. He +wasn't much of a success. I reckon poor John did not know much but +farming. He and his wife had one child, a girl. She married and died, +leaving a baby for her father and mother to look after. A few years ago +John's wife died, too, and the old man came back here to the old place. +He didn't have any money, and I expect he didn't have any other home to +go to." Mrs. Preston paused. She had driven around the haunted house, +but her visitors were more interested in her story than they were in the +sight of the deserted mansion. + +"Then, I suppose, poor John died," added Miss Betsey sadly, her face +clouding with memories; the John Randolph she had known had been so full +of youth and enthusiasm. + +Mrs. Preston flapped her reins. "I reckon so," she sighed. "You see, +John Randolph did not have any real claim on the Grinsteads. They were +his brother James's wife's people, and I suppose they were not very good +to him; or it may be the old man was just sensitive. Anyway, John +Randolph went away from the Grinstead place about six months ago. No +word has been heard of him, so I suppose he is dead." + +Miss Betsey surreptitiously wiped away a few tears for her dead romance. +They were not very bitter tears. Of course, her old lover, John +Randolph, was only a memory. But it was sad to hear that he had had such +an unfortunate life; he might better have been less "touchy" and not +have left _her_ so abruptly. Miss Betsey's tears passed unnoticed. Miss +Jenny Ann was also depressed by the story, and as for kind Mrs. Preston, +she sighed deeply every five or ten minutes during the ride home. + +But Miss Betsey was so quiet and unlike herself all the evening that +Madge, Phyllis and Lillian decided that she must feel ill. The girls +would never have believed, even if they had been told, that Miss Betsey, +who was on the shady side of sixty, could possibly have been sorrowing +over a lover whom she had not seen in nearly forty years. But girls do +not know that the minds of older people travel backward, and that an old +maid is a "girl" at heart to the longest day she lives. + +Miss Taylor went up to her own room early. + +Madge and Phyllis were undressing to jump into bed, when a knock on +their door startled them. + +"Girls!" a voice cried in trembling tones. + +"It's poor Miss Betsey!" exclaimed Phil. "I'll wager she is ill or +something, she has been acting so queerly all evening." Phil ran to open +their door. + +"Take me in, children," whispered Miss Betsey, shaking her head. "Sh-sh! +Don't make a noise; something so strange has happened. I couldn't wait +until morning to tell you." + +Miss Betsey dropped into a chair by the window. She was minus her side +curls and she had her still jet-black hair screwed up into a tight knot +at the back of her head. But in honor of her present frivolous life as +one of the houseboat girls she wore a bright red flannelette dressing +gown. + +Madge looked at Miss Betsey, then choked and began to cough violently to +conceal her laughter. + +"Don't make that noise, Madge; laugh out-right if you think I am funny," +whispered Miss Betsey, instead of giving the little captain the lecture +she deserved. "I don't want any one to know I am in here with you. I've +got something so strange to show you." + +Miss Betsey slipped her hand into the capacious pocket of her dressing +gown. She drew out a bright red cotton handkerchief, knotted and tied +together into a dirty ball. + +"What on earth have you there, Miss Betsey?" asked Phil. "I should be +afraid to touch such a dreadful looking handkerchief." + +Miss Betsey fingered it gingerly. She seemed to be trying to open it. + +Madge picked up a pair of curling tongs and caught the handkerchief by +one end. "Do let me throw it out of the window for you, Miss Betsey!" +she urged. + +Miss Betsey gave a little shriek of protest. But Madge and Phil were +staring in Miss Betsey's lap, their eyes wide with amazement. Into the +old lady's lap had fallen, from the dirty cotton handkerchief, all her +stolen jewelry. + +"Where did it come from, Miss Betsey?" demanded Phil. + +"From under my pillow," answered Miss Betsey. + +"Then the thief must have put it back!" exclaimed Madge impetuously. + +Miss Betsey nodded emphatically. "Yes, of course he did. But who and why +and how? My money has not been returned. Why should the burglar take +pity on me and return me my poor little jewelry? It is of some value. +And now Mr. Preston will have a much easier time in tracing the thief, +with this handkerchief as a clue to go on. I can't help suspecting one +of the servants, for, girls," Miss Betsey lowered her voice solemnly, "I +was in my own room all the morning. I made my bed, as it has been my +custom to do every day of my life, and when I made my bed there was +certainly no red cotton pocket handkerchief with my jewelry in it under +my pillow. I have been out this afternoon, but you children have been up +on this floor with Eleanor. Now think. Did you hear anything or see any +one enter my room at any time?" + +Madge and Phyllis stood still, thinking deeply. Suddenly Madge's cheeks +flamed. "David!" exclaimed Phil Alden involuntarily at the same moment. + +"David?" Miss Betsey's face was a study. She turned almost as red as +Madge. "You don't mean that you girls saw David Brewster enter my room +this afternoon? No, no, children, it couldn't be! The boy has a bad +disposition, I know. He is surly and cross. But then the lad has had no +training of any kind. He has had everything against him. He seemed to be +quite honest when he lived with me. But, but----" Miss Betsey hesitated. +"Of course, David will tell me why he came into my room this afternoon. +He probably went there on an errand." + +Phyllis Alden shook her head regretfully. She said nothing. + +"You don't suspect David, do you, Phil?" questioned Madge. + +"I don't know what to think," remarked Phil judicially. "Of course, I +don't really suspect David. No one has the right to suspect him without +any real proof. But it does seem queer to me that Miss Betsey lost her +money first on the houseboat and then here. What is your honest +opinion?" + +To save her life, Madge could not but think of David's mysterious trip +to the Preston house while the barn was burning on the night of the +robbery. Still, she did not answer Phyllis. + +"Tell us what you think, Madge," insisted Miss Betsey. "Why, I was +beginning to feel proud of the boy, his manners have improved so much +since he came on this trip. And I have been saying to myself that if I +had believed in the boy and tried to help him, as you have done, perhaps +he might have been less surly years ago. Some day I may tell you +children more of the lad's history." + +"Miss Betsey," Madge's voice was very grave, "to tell you the truth, I +don't know what to think. I know that there are some things that point +toward David's being a thief. But, just the same, I don't believe he is +one. You know I have always been sorry for David, Miss Betsey, ever +since he pulled me out from under Dr. Alden's buggy, when I was trying +to spoil your lawn, as the donkeys did Miss Betsey Trotter's in 'David +Copperfield.' And somehow"--she paused reflectively--"I believe in him +still. I _know_ that David Brewster wouldn't steal! It may be my +intuition that makes me say this; I have no real reason for thinking it. +I trust David, trust him fully. I am sure that he is absolutely honest." + +Miss Betsey patted Madge's auburn head almost affectionately. She felt +nearly fond of her for her loyalty toward David. "We won't, any of us, +speak of suspecting any one, children," she concluded. "You are not to +mention having seen David Brewster come out of my room. I would not have +suspicion rest on the boy wrongfully for a great deal; it might ruin his +whole future life. But we must be very careful; say nothing and watch! +There are sure to be other developments that will point toward the real +thief. If we do see or hear anything else that seems suspicious, then we +owe it to Mr. and Mrs. Preston to take them into our confidence. We must +remember that their property was stolen as well as mine, and that they +have taken us into their household and treated us as members of their +own family. Much as I may wish it," Miss Betsey lowered her voice +solemnly, "I feel that we have no right to shield David if he is at +fault. But"--Miss Taylor's voice was even more serious--"it would be a +far more wicked thing for us to accuse the boy if he is guiltless." + +Miss Betsey rose to go. In spite of her funny, old maid appearance and +her usually severe manner toward Madge, that young woman flung her arms +around the spinster's neck and hugged her warmly. "You are perfectly +splendid, Miss Betsey," she whispered. As Miss Betsey tip-toed +cautiously out of the room, Madge blew a kiss toward her retreating +back. "You can just lecture me, after this, as much as you like. And I +promise, I promise"--Madge hesitated--"I promise not to like it a bit +better than I do now," she ended truthfully. + +Then Madge turned to Phil, her rock of refuge. "Phyllis Alden, if David +Brewster stole from Miss Betsey or Mrs. Preston, I don't care what +excuse he has, I shall never forgive him, or myself for bringing him on +this boat trip. Oh, dear me! I wish dear old Tom were here! I would ask +Tom to ask David to clear things up. I suppose if I try to talk to David +Brewster, he will bite my head off." + +"Come to bed this minute, Madge, and don't talk to anybody about +anything until you know more," commanded Phil stolidly. And Madge +obeyed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +DAVID'S MYSTERIOUS ERRAND + + +Poor David Brewster was facing a more difficult problem than he ever had +had to conquer in his life. He must manage to get over to the old coal +mine, bring back the Preston silver and as much of Miss Betsey's money +as he could force the thief to leave behind him, without being noticed +or suspected of any unusual design. The jewels that David had already +returned to Miss Betsey had been in charge of the old gypsy woman; David +had found them on his first visit to her. But to carry back a quantity +of old family silver, some of it in fairly large pieces, was not so +simple a task. Yet David had one thing in his favor: Harry Sears and +Jack Bolling had both left the Preston farm. After Harry's encounter +with David, and the latter's frank account of his own part in the fight, +Harry had not cared to linger at the farm. He knew that some day Madge +and Phyllis Alden would find out why David had been tempted to fight. +Harry Sears had no desire to recount his own unsuccessful attempt to act +the part of "Paul Pry," so Harry and Jack had gone on to join Tom Curtis +and George Robinson, and the four boys were to come on to the houseboat +party in a few days. + +David Brewster knew that whatever he had to do must be done quickly. So +he borrowed a horse and cart from Mr. Preston a day or so after Miss +Betsey's midnight talk with Madge and Phyllis. He did not explain what +he wished with the horse. However, his host asked no questions, for Mr. +Preston had entire faith in the boy. + +Madge happened to be in the yard as David drove out from the stable. She +waved her hand to David in a friendly fashion, feeling secretly ashamed +of having even discussed the question of his possible guilt. + +David was too worried and unhappy to respond to Madge's greeting +pleasantly, but he acknowledged her salutation with a curt nod of his +head. He had lately been more silent and reserved than ever in his +manner, because, in his heart, he longed so deeply to know some one in +whom he could confide. Yet he was afraid to trust even Madge. + +"Going driving all alone, David?" questioned Madge. + +"Yes," answered David harshly. Yet he was thinking at the same moment +that if he only could confide in her, Madge was just the kind of a girl +to help a fellow out of a scrape and to stand shoulder to shoulder with +him if he got into a difficulty. + +Madge hesitated. She wanted so much to be friendly with David. She +thought that perhaps if he talked with her alone, he might explain a +number of things about himself that she wanted to understand, not from +curiosity but in a real spirit of friendliness. Yet she could not make +up her mind to make this request of David. If he had been like Tom, or +any one of the other motor launch boys, she would not have hesitated for +an instant. + +"Stop a minute, please, David," she said, looking earnestly at the boy, +"I have a favor to ask of you." She knew that David had some mysterious +occupation that took him away from the farm every afternoon, and that he +would brook no interference. "If you are going to drive alone and I +won't be in the way, won't you take me with you?" + +David Brewster colored to the roots of his dark hair. Never in his whole +life had a nice girl approached him in the friendly way that Madge had +just done. Yet he knew he must refuse her request, though David would +have dearly loved to have Madge drive with him. He simply must return +the stolen goods to Mr. Preston's house to-day, or else run the risk of +never restoring them to their rightful owners. He would not dare to ask +Mr. Preston to lend him a horse again soon, and Tom might return any day +with his launch. + +Madge realized before David answered her that he meant to refuse to take +her with him. She felt furiously angry, more with herself than with the +boy. + +"I am sorry," muttered David, when he at last found his voice. "I've got +to attend to some business this afternoon and I've got to attend to it +alone, or I would like very much to have you come along with me." + +"Oh, never mind, then," answered Madge coldly, turning away from David, +who took a step toward her retreating figure, then, with a muttered +exclamation, sprang into the cart and drove off. + +As for Madge, she decided never to speak to David again; he was +insufferable. + +About five o'clock on the same afternoon Madge, Phyllis, Lillian and +Miss Betsey were out on the lawn eating watermelon. Eleanor stood at her +front window gazing down wistfully at her friends. Miss Jenny Ann was +reading to amuse her, but it was really more fun to look down at the +girls. Nellie was getting dreadfully tired of being confined to one +room, and yet she did not feel well enough to go downstairs. + +David Brewster drove back into the yard. Inside his cart Madge noticed +a square, wooden box, which she had not seen when David left the farm. +Without saying a word to any one, the boy lifted the box and carried it +into the house. A little later he came out on the lawn to where Miss +Betsey and the girls were sitting and approached Madge rather +diffidently. + +"Miss Morton," David's voice was unusually gentle, "don't you think I +might carry your cousin, Miss Butler, downstairs? I saw her at the +window as I drove into the yard. She looks lonely. Perhaps she would +like to be down here." + +Madge blew a kiss up to Eleanor. She, too, had caught her cousin's +wistful expression. The little captain's heart melted toward David. "I +don't know," she answered doubtfully. "I'll go upstairs and ask Miss +Jenny Ann what she thinks." + +"I'd be awfully careful," urged David. "I know I could carry Miss Butler +without hurting her shoulder. We could bring a steamer chair out here on +the lawn for her when I get her down." + +Madge hurried away. A few seconds later David saw her at the open window +waving her hand and nodding her head energetically. "Yes; do come up," +she called. "Eleanor is _so_ anxious to have you carry her down into the +yard, and Miss Jenny Ann is willing that you should try." + +The girls busied themselves with arranging Nellie's chair in the +shadiest spot on the lawn, under a great horse-chestnut tree, and piling +the chair with sofa cushions and a pale pink shawl, and in cutting the +"heart" out of the choicest watermelon to bestow on the invalid and her +cavalier. + +David bore Nellie as comfortably as though she were a baby. She had her +well arm about his neck and the other, the bandaged one, rested +comfortably in her lap. David's face had completely lost its sullen +look. He was actually smiling at Eleanor as she apologized for being "so +heavy." + +Then he sat down on the ground in the midst of the bevy of laughing +girls. Lillian passed him his piece of watermelon in her prettiest +fashion. David accepted it as gracefully as Tom Curtis might have done. +When the watermelon feast was over David helped the three girls to clear +away the dishes. When he came back he dropped down at Miss Betsey's side +and began to wind her ball of yarn. + +"I wish you would knit me some gloves this winter, Cousin Betsey," he +begged boyishly. + +The old lady patted him affectionately. When, before, had the boy ever +called her "Cousin Betsey"? He had seemed always to try to ignore their +relationship. "The lad isn't so bad-looking after all," Miss Taylor +thought to herself. "He is handsome when he is happy." David had on a +soft, faded, blue shirt, with a turned-down collar that showed the fine, +muscular lines of his throat. He had a strong, clear-cut face, and his +brown eyes were large and expressive. When he laughed his whole face +changed. He looked actually happy. + +Then Miss Betsey realized all of a sudden how seldom she had ever seen +the boy even smile before. Perhaps, after all, Dr. Alden's prescription +for Miss Betsey Taylor was precisely what she needed. Sunshine and the +company of young people had really given her something to think about +besides her own nerves. + +"Mr. Brewster," Eleanor's voice was still a little weak from her +illness, "where were you the night I was lost? Madge said you did not +join the searching party until early next morning. I believe if you had +been with the others, you might have found me sooner, you were so clever +about finding Madge." + +David's face changed suddenly. The old, sullen look crept over it. Then, +as he glanced straight into Eleanor's clear eyes, his expression +softened. + +"I was sorry I wasn't along with the others," he answered kindly. "But +I forgot to tell you something. I had an experience of my own that +night. I went for a long walk. On my way back I decided to take a nap on +the porch of the 'ha'nted house.' What do you think happened?" David +lowered his voice to a whisper. + +"You saw the ghosts?" shivered Lillian. + +David nodded his head solemnly. "I suppose you'll think I am quite mad," +he insisted. "I think I am myself when I recall the story in broad +daylight. But, as sure as I am sitting here, I saw two ghosts walk up +the path and pass into the empty house. They were those of an old man +and a young girl. They flitted along like shadows." + +"You were dreaming, boy," insisted Miss Betsey. + +David shook his head. "I don't think so," he argued. "I was as wide +awake as I am now. I got up and made a blind rush for home as soon as +the spooks went by me." + +"Girls! Miss Betsey!" called Mrs. Preston from the veranda, "it is time +to come into the house to get ready for tea." + +As the watermelon party scrambled to their feet Madge waved one hand +dramatically. "Pause, kind friends," she commanded. "Who among us has +the courage to find out whether David Brewster's 'spooks' are real? I +have always longed to spend a night in a haunted house. Now, here's our +chance!" + +"I'm with you," answered David. "I'll go." + +"So will I," announced Phil. + +Miss Jenny Ann, who was in for most larks, hesitated. "Of course, I +don't believe in ghosts, children; there are no such things," she +declared. "Still, I shouldn't like to meet them at night." + +Before the laughter at Miss Jenny Ann had ceased reinforcement for +Madge's ghost party arrived from an unexpected quarter. Miss Betsey +Taylor offered her services as chaperon, and suggested that the "spook +investigation" take place the very next night. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +GHOSTS OF THE PAST + + +It was nearly ten o'clock the following evening when four excited +adventurers set out from the Preston house. They carried dark lanterns, +while practical Phil had a package of lunch stored away out of sight. +She had an idea that sitting up all night in a forlorn, dirty old house +was not going to be half as much sport as enthusiastic Madge +anticipated. + +The little captain was not the only enthusiast in the ghost party, which +was composed of herself, Phil, David and Miss Betsey. Miss Betsey Taylor +had cast from her the sobriety of years. She was as eager and as +interested in their midnight excursion as any young girl could have +been. Not that the pursuit of ghosts had been a secret passion of Miss +Betsey's. It was only that, at the age of sixty, she was at last +beginning to understand how it felt to be young, and she was as ready +for adventure as any other one of the party of young folks. + +Indeed, she was far more eager than Lillian Seldon, who could not be +persuaded even to contemplate the thought of approaching the "ha'nted +house." Lillian insisted that it was her duty to stay at home with +Eleanor and Miss Jenny Ann. + +No one had been told of the proposed trip except Mr. and Mrs. Preston. +The ghost party had no intention of allowing practical jokers in the +neighborhood to get up "fake spooks" for their entertainment. They were +seriously determined to find out why the ancient house was supposed to +be inhabited by spirits from another world, and whether David Brewster +had seen real ghosts during his visit to the house or only creatures of +his own imagination. + +Miss Betsey clung tightly to David's arm as they made their way along +the dark road. The old lady wore a pale gray dress, with a soft real +lace collar around her neck. Recently the houseboat girls had persuaded +her to leave off her false side curls and to wave her hair a little over +her ears. No change of costume could make Miss Betsey a beauty, but she +was improved, and she did look a little less like an old maid. To-night +Miss Betsey had concealed her dress with a long, black macintosh cape, +which completely enveloped her. With her tall, spare form and her lean, +square shoulders Miss Betsey looked like a grenadier. On her head she +had tied, with a long gray veil, one of Jack Bolling's soft felt hats. + +"Madge, if you keep on prattling such gruesome tales I shall turn back +and leave you to your fate," expostulated Phil, as she urged Madge along +behind David and their chaperon. "I know nothing will happen to-night, +except that we will all be dead tired and wish we were safe at home in +our little beds. Good gracious, what was that?" Phil gave Madge's arm a +sudden pinch. "That" was an old woman hobbling along the road in the +opposite direction from the four adventurers. + +"Scat!" cried Miss Betsey nervously as the woman came face to face with +her. + +David laughed and took off his hat in the dark. The old woman had picked +up her skirts and started to scurry off as fast as she could. But as she +caught sight of Miss Betsey's face in the light of the lantern that +David carried the old mammy paused. She was the "Mammy Ellen" to whom +Mrs. Preston had talked on the day of the drive to the "ha'nted house." + +"Land sakes alive, chillun, how you scairt me!" grumbled the old woman. +"When you done said 'Scat!' I thought certain you'd seen a black cat, +and it jest nacherally means bad luck. Ain't you the lady I seen with +Mrs. Preston?" inquired Mammy Ellen of Miss Betsey, with the marvelous +memory that colored people have for faces. + +Miss Betsey nodded. "I wish you would come to see me in the morning, +Mammy," suggested Miss Betsey. "Long years ago I used to know Mr. John +Randolph, and Mrs. Preston tells me you were a member of his family. We +can't stop to-night. We are going--on up the road," concluded Miss +Taylor vaguely. + +Even in the darkness Madge and Phyllis could see the whites of Mammy +Ellen's eyes grow larger. "You ain't a-goin' near the house of 'ha'nts,' +is you? If you do, you'll sure meet trouble, one of you, I ain't a +saying which. But ef you disturb a dead ghost, he am just as apt to put +his ice cold fingers on you, and you ain't no more good after that. You +am sure enough done for." + +"Why not, Auntie?" inquired Madge, her blue eyes dancing. Meeting this +aged colored woman with her mysterious tale of ghost signs and warnings +was the best possible beginning for their lark. + +"Child, ef a ghost's cold fingers teches you, your heart grows stone +cold. There ain't nobody that loves you and you don't love nobody ever +after. Don't you go near that old house, chilluns. It ain't no place for +the likes of you," pleaded Mammy Ellen. "I tell you there am more buried +there than youall knows. That old house am a grave for the young and the +old. Mind what I say. It sure am." + +"Why do you think we are going to the 'ghost house,' Mammy?" queried +David, laughing. + +The old colored woman shook her head slowly. "It ain't caze I think +youall's going to the old place that I warn ye; it am only caze I's so +afeerd you might. I know there ain't nobody, in their right good senses +as would want their wits scairt clean out of 'em." + +"But we don't believe in ghosts, Mammy," argued Madge. + +Mammy Ellen peered into Madge's bright face. "Go 'long, child," she +said. "You don't believe in ghosts caze you ain't seen 'em, jest as ye +don't believe in most of the things you's got to find out." + +Mammy Ellen bowed courteously to Miss Betsey and the young people as she +walked away from them. + +"I do wish we hadn't met that old colored woman, Madge," whispered Phil. +"She makes me feel as though we were intruding on ghosts when we go +prying about their haunts at night." + +Every leaf of every tree, every rustling blade of grass, every stirring +breath of the night wind took on a more sinister character as the four +ghost-investigators slipped up the tangled, overgrown path to the house +of mystery. + +"We must put out all our lanterns but one," ordered David. "If any one +happens to be walking along the road, we don't wish them to see us +prowling about this place. Besides, we don't want to frighten the +ghosts." + +The three women put out the light of their lanterns. David kept his +light, walking in front, with Miss Betsey next and Madge and Phyllis +bringing up the rear. The women clutched at one another's skirts as they +went around and around the dark old house, tumbling over crumbling +bricks and tangled vines. They thought it best to look thoroughly around +the outside of the house for loiterers, whether ghostly or real, before +exploring the inside. + +"'Chickamy, chickamy, crainey crow, went to the well to wash her toe! +When she came back her chickens were all gone.' What time is it, old +Witch?" murmured Madge, giving Phil's skirt a wicked pull. Phil fell +back, almost upsetting Miss Betsey, who clutched feverishly at David's +coatsleeve. + +"What on earth happened to you, child?" she asked tremulously. + +"It was that good-for-nothing Madge's fault," laughed Phyllis. + +No one of the party took the first part of their ghost hunt seriously, +but when David reported that the hour was growing late, and that it was +now time for them to enter the old house, a different feeling stole over +each one of them--a kind of curious foreboding of evil, or unhappiness, +or some unexplainable mystery. + +"Let's give up and go back, Madge," proposed Phyllis. "The old house is +so musty, dark and horrible that it is sure to have rats in it, if +nothing worse. I feel that it would be better for all of us not to go +in. Suppose we should see something queer? What could we do?" + +"Phyllis Alden, the very idea of your suggesting that we turn +'quitters'!" expostulated Madge. "Do you suppose we could face Miss +Jenny Ann and the girls if we retreat before we even know there is an +enemy? Come on, Miss Betsey; you and I will go on ahead. Let Phil come +with David if she likes." + +Madge danced up the old, tumbled-down veranda steps, guided by the rays +of her lantern. Each one of the women had relit her lantern to enter the +deserted house. Once inside they might put them out again. But who could +tell what they might stumble against in a house that was supposed never +to have been entered in nearly forty years? + +Madge pushed at the front door, which hung by a broken hinge, and drew +Miss Betsey in after her. "Oh, dear me, isn't it awful?" she whispered. + +Not one of the ghost party had spoken in an ordinary voice since the +start of their adventure. Somehow their errand, the darkness of the +night and their own feelings made whispered tones seem more appropriate. + +The four explorers gazed silently at the sight that Madge described as +"awful." They had expected to find the "ha'nted house" empty of +furniture. Yet in the broad hall there was an open fireplace. On either +side of it were great oak arm-chairs. Spider webs hung in beautiful +silver festoons from the mantel, with their many-legged spinners caught +in their mesh. Gray mice, lean and terrified, scuttled across the dusty +floor. A bat flapped blindly overhead. + +Miss Betsey caught Madge by the hand. "I can almost see dead people +sitting in those dusty chairs," she murmured. "Let us go on upstairs. I +wish this thing were over." + +The railing had fallen away from the steps, that were covered not only +with dust but with a kind of slippery mould, as many winters' rain had +fallen down upon them from the holes in the roof. David crawled up +first, pulling Madge, Phyllis and Miss Betsey after him. They groped +their way to the front bedroom. + +"I won't go in there; I shall wait here in the hall," Phil said +pettishly. "I can't help thinking of Harry Sears's story about the sick +girl in that old house on Cape Cod." + +David shoved at the closed door. It was fastened tight. Had the room +been locked against intruders for nearly half a century? But ghosts do +not hesitate at closed doors. David pushed harder than he knew. The lock +on the old door gave way. It fell forward, striking the floor with a +terrific crash. + +Phyllis screamed with horror, then turned rigid. Not one of the others +made a single sound, except that Madge's lantern dropped to the floor at +her feet and her light went out. + +An old man rose slowly from the side of a tumbled bed. He was so thin, +so white, so ethereal that he could not be human. But the four pair of +frightened eyes strained past the ghostly old man to a thin wraith that +lay on the bed. It was a girl, frail, white and wasted, staring not at +the intruders before the fallen door, but at an object that she seemed +to see afar off. + +Madge's voice caught in her throat. Her knees trembled and she swayed +helplessly toward Phil. If only she and Phil could have run from the +sight before them! But they stood stupidly still, unable to move. There +was absolutely not a ray of light in the ghostly bedroom, save that +which came from the reflection of the dark lanterns in the hall. David +had jumped back when the door fell before him. But Miss Betsey's tall, +thin figure, in her queer, military coat, cast a long black shadow +across the old room. Why did not some one speak? Ghosts can not talk +and the onlookers were dumb with fear and amazement. + +Then the ghost laughed drearily. "You have found me out," it said +mournfully. "I have no place, even in this house of darkness. I can not +see your faces. But I wonder why you wish to disturb an old man's last +retreat?" + +For answer, Madge burst into tears. She was nervous and overwrought, and +to find that "the ghost" was a real person was more than she could bear. + +"We didn't know there was any one living in the house," she faltered. +"We are strangers in this neighborhood. The people about here told us +that this old place was haunted, and we came to-night to see if ghosts +were real." + +"Come in and bring your lights," invited the old gentleman. "There are +many kinds of ghosts, child. I will tell you who I am." + +The four visitors crowded into the musty room. Phyllis and Madge had +their eyes fixed on the girl's figure in the bed. She did not return +their look, although the muscles of her face were twitching +pathetically. + +Miss Betsey Taylor was behaving very curiously. She held her dark +lantern up so that its light fell full on the white face of the old man +whom they had so rudely disturbed. + +"Bless my soul!" she murmured out loud, "it _can't_ be!" + +"My name is John Randolph," explained the old gentleman, with a fine +stateliness. "My grandchild and I have been living in this deserted +house because we had no other home in the world." + +"I knew it!" announced Miss Betsey. "Isn't it just like John Randolph! +Would rather bury himself alive than let his friends take care of him. +Southern pride!" sniffed Miss Betsey. "I call it Southern foolishness." + +"Madam," answered Mr. Randolph coldly, "I have no friends. I can not see +that I have done wrong to any one by hiding away in this old place, that +was once the property of my friends. If people have thought of me as a +ghost, and I have tried to encourage them in the idea, well, lives that +are finished and have no place in the world are but ghosts of the +unhappy past." + +"Nonsense!" said Miss Betsey vigorously, her black eyes snapping, +though she felt a curious lump in her throat. "You were always a +sentimentalist, John Randolph. But you can't live on memories. You +still are obliged to eat and to breathe God's fresh air. How do you +do it?" + +If the broken old man wondered why Miss Betsey Taylor took such an +interest in his affairs, he was too courteous to show it. + +"An old colored woman, 'Mammy Ellen,' who was a girl in our family when +I was a young man, has not forgotten us. She brings us each day such +food as she can procure. As for air"--the old man hesitated--"we do not +go out in the daytime. I prefer that the people of the neighborhood +should think of me as dead. But at night my little grand-daughter and I +walk about over the old place." + +Madge, Phil and David gasped involuntarily. They had been silent and +amazed listeners to the dialogue between the two old people. Now the +thought of a girl younger than themselves being shut up all day in this +dreadful house, and only being allowed to go out-of-doors at night was +too dreadful to contemplate. + +"Oh, but surely you can't keep your little grand-daughter shut away from +the daylight!" exclaimed impetuous Madge, her face alive with sympathy +as she gazed at the thin little form on the bed. + +"Daylight and darkness are as one to my little girl," the old gentleman +answered quietly, "she is blind." + +Madge shivered. Phil went over to the bed and patted the girl's hand +softly. But they both longed, with all their hearts, to get away from +this house of tragedy. It was strange that Miss Betsey did not offer to +go and leave the old man and child to their privacy. + +Miss Betsey's black eyes were no longer snapping; they were wet with +tears. + +"I am coming to take you both away from this place in the morning, John +Randolph. If you won't come for your own sake, you must come for the +child's. So like a man not to know that that poor baby needs to _feel_ +all the more sunlight because she can't _see_ it! And she may even be +able to see it some day with proper care." Miss Betsey bent over the +child so caressingly that she looked more like a funny old angel in her +strange, long cape and her ridiculous hat than a selfish, cross-grained +old maid. + +"I do not understand your kindness, Madam," returned the old gentleman +with courteous curiosity. + +"Because I am your friend," answered Miss Betsey curtly. "I'm Betsey +Taylor, whom you used to know a great many years ago. You have forgotten +me because you have had many interests in your life that have crowded me +out. But I--I have remembered," concluded Miss Betsey abruptly. "Good +night." She swung her dark lantern and, looking more than ever like a +grenadier, led the little procession out. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE FANCY DRESS PARTY + + +"Mrs. Preston says we may have a dance before we go back to the +houseboat, Eleanor," announced Lillian. The two girls were out under the +big grape arbor filling a basket with great bunches of red and purple +grapes. "And Madge suggests that we have a surprise dance for the boys +the night they get back with the motor launch." + +Eleanor laughed happily. "What a perfectly delightful idea! Isn't Mrs. +Preston a dear? We must have been a lot of trouble to her." + +Lillian shook her head thoughtfully. "I don't think so," she answered. +"At least, I believe Mrs. Preston has liked the trouble. She says that +we have made her feel younger and jollier than she ever expected to feel +again in her life. She says that she is awfully fond of each one of us, +and that Mr. Preston has never cared as much for a boy since his own son +died, many years ago, as he does for David Brewster." + +"Lillian," Eleanor's tones were serious, "I think that we ought to +change our opinions of David. Somehow, he seems so much nicer recently, +since the other boys went away. He is awfully quiet and sad, but I +don't believe he is hateful and sullen, as we thought him at first. Poor +David!" + +Lillian did not reply at once. A sympathetic expression crossed her +delicate, high-bred face. "I suppose, Nellie, dear, it must be hard for +David to be with fellows who have everything in the world, like the +motor launch boys--money and family and friends--when David has +nothing." + +"Madge declares that David will some day be a great man," rejoined +Eleanor. "There he is now over there under the trees with Madge, Phil +and little blind Alice. Isn't she a quaint child? She says she loves +Madge best of all of us, because she can feel the color in Madge's red +hair and cheeks. Miss Betsey is almost jealous of our little captain." + +Lillian finished eating a bunch of catawba grapes. "Miss Betsey wants to +take that blind child back to Hartford with her. She says that if Alice +sees specialists in New York her sight may be restored. And her +grandfather has consented to let her go, though I don't see how the old +man can bear to give her up. Mr. and Mrs. Preston have asked him to live +here with them, but he says he will go into a Confederate home for old +Southern soldiers as soon as Alice leaves. Let's go over under the trees +with Madge and Phil. We can eat our grapes and talk about the party." + +Madge waved a yellow telegram frantically as Nellie and Lillian came +toward them. "Tom and the boys will be back with the motor launch the +day after to-morrow," she announced. "And that darling, Mrs. Preston, +says we can have our dance on that very night, and it's to be a fancy +dress party if we like, because she has stores and stores of lovely +old-fashioned clothes up in her attic and she won't mind our dressing up +in them. So we must drive round the neighborhood this afternoon and +deliver our invitations and decide what characters we are to represent +and----" Madge gasped for breath, while Phil fanned her violently with a +large palm-leaf fan. + +"Come right on upstairs to the attic with me," ordered Madge, as soon as +she could speak again. "We have no time to waste. We can look at the +dresses and then see what characters we wish to represent. David, you +can come, too," invited Madge graciously. "You can carry Alice up the +steps." + +David lifted the blind girl to his shoulder and trotted obediently after +the girls. He no longer minded Madge's occasionally imperious manner, +for he knew she was unconscious of it. + +On top of all the other clothes in Mrs. Preston's cedar chest was a +black velvet gown, made with a long train and a V-shaped neck. Phyllis +laid it regretfully aside. "This is perfectly elegant," she sighed, "but +it isn't appropriate for any of us to wear." + +Lillian Seldon received the rejected costume with outstretched arms. For +some time she had cherished the belief that she bore a faint resemblance +to the beautiful but ill-fated "Mary, Queen of Scots." Lillian had come +across a picture of the lovely Mary Stuart in an illustrated "Book of +Queens" in Miss Tolliver's school, and had borne the book to her bedroom +and carefully locked her door. There she had gazed thoughtfully at the +picture and then at her own reflection in the glass. Of course, it would +never do for her to mention it, not even to one of the beloved houseboat +girls, but it did appear to Lillian that her own blonde hair grew in a +low point on her forehead in much the same fashion as Mary Stuart's. +Also, she had a similar line to her aristocratic, aquiline nose, and her +chin was almost as delicately pointed. Assuredly Lillian was not vain. +She did not think for a moment that she was beautiful, like Mary Queen +of Scots, still she thought that she bore a faint resemblance to the +ill-fated Queen. + +In the velvet gown lay Lillian's opportunity to impersonate the lovely +Mary, but she blushed as she smoothed it softly. "I wonder if I might +not wear this dress to the party?" she suggested meekly. + +Madge shook her head critically. "It is much too old for you, dear," she +argued. + +"But I have always wanted to wear a black velvet gown so much, Madge, I +mean to buy one as soon as I am really grown-up," she pleaded, "and I +could come to our dance as 'Mary, Queen of Scots.'" + +The three girls surveyed pretty, blonde Lillian thoughtfully. Then three +heads nodded approvingly. + +"Here is a costume for Nellie. It looks like her, doesn't it, girls?" +exclaimed Phyllis, picking up a soft, white silk gown with a Greek +border of silver braid a little tarnished by time. "Isn't it just too +sweet for anything?" + +"It is a love of a frock," sighed Eleanor rapturously, "but I don't +think it suggests any special character." + +Madge frowned thoughtfully. "Oh, it doesn't make so much difference +about representing a particular character, Nellie. You can go as a lady +of King Arthur's time. I imagine the women wore just such gowns in the +days of beauty and chivalry." + +"All right," said Eleanor obediently. "There is a 'King Arthur's +Knights' in the library. I'll get it and read up on the doings of the +King and his subjects. Perhaps I'll find a character that will just suit +me. I'm too dark to ever think of impersonating Elaine." + +"I can't represent a great historical character," declared Madge, +peering into the trunk--"who ever heard of a heroine with red hair and a +turned-up nose?--but I am going to wear this dress." Madge held up a +flowered silk of softest, palest blue, with great pale-pink roses +trailing over it. It was made with a long, pointed blouse, and had +little paniers over the hips. Madge slipped the gown on over her frock. +The dress had a little bag of the same silk hanging at its side and in +it a dainty lace handkerchief, sweet with a far-off fragrance of +lavender. + +David and the three girls gazed admiringly at Madge. + +"Miss Dolly Varden!" exclaimed Phil. "It is just the kind of costume +that Dickens makes Dolly Varden wear in 'Barnaby Rudge.' Only Miss Jenny +Ann must make you a poke bonnet. But what about poor me? I am such a +dreadfully unromantic-looking person. I am not a tall, stately maiden +like our rare, pale Lillian, nor a witch like Madge, nor a dainty little +maid like Nellie. I am just plain Phil!" Phyllis sighed, half in jest +and half in earnest. + +"I know what character I want you to represent, Phyllis, darling," +cried Madge. "There is no costume here that is very appropriate for it, +but I know how to make a helmet and shield out of silver paper and +cardboard. And I am sure we could get up the rest of the costume." + +"Whom do you mean, Madge?" inquired Phil. + +"Guess. My character is a wonderfully brave girl, who sacrificed her +life to save her King and her country. Just lately she has been declared +a saint by her church." + +David glanced up from the floor, where he was amusing little Alice. +"Joan of Arc, you mean, don't you?" he asked. + +"Of course I do, David. How did you guess it? I don't say that Phil +looks just like the pictures of Joan of Arc, but she is like her. She +would do anything in the world that she thought was right, even if she +lost her life in doing it," declared her friend admiringly. "Now, Mr. +David Brewster, having arranged the costumes of four important members +of the Preston household, what character will you represent?" + +"My own humble self," announced David firmly. "Please don't ask me to +'dress up.' I felt like a perfect chump the night I had to rig myself up +as 'Hiawatha.' I rushed up to the house and got the crazy clothes off, +even before I--before I----" David stopped, then continued nervously: +"Remember, the other fellows won't have time to get themselves into +fancy costumes, so please let me off. I'll clear out, now, and let you +girls fix up your costumes." + +To save her life, Madge could not help looking curiously at David. It +was the usual hour in the afternoon when the young man disappeared. +When, late that afternoon, the lad came home he had lost his cheerful +mood of the morning. He was sullen and downcast. David had made up his +mind that his best chance to restore the stolen property to Miss Betsey +Taylor and Mrs. Preston was on the night of the fancy dress ball. The +upstairs part of the house would then probably be empty, and no one +would think of him or notice him. At any rate, he dared not wait longer. +As soon as Tom and the other boys returned, the houseboat party would +start off up the river again in tow of the "Sea Gull," and his +opportunity would be lost. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE INTERRUPTION + + +All afternoon, just before the night of the fancy dress ball, the four +girls took turns watching at the front windows of the Preston house for +the belated boys. In spite of Tom's telegram, plainly stating the day of +their arrival, the motor launch boys had not put in an appearance. Soon +after luncheon David went down to the river bank to watch for them. At +six o'clock he came back to say that he had waited as long as possible +and had seen no sign of the "Sea Gull." It looked as though the boys had +been delayed. + +The girls were in despair. Here they had planned a wonderful surprise +party for the boys, and their guests of honor were not going to be +present. The young people from the nearby country houses had been +invited to the dance, to begin at eight o'clock that evening, so it was +quite impossible to put it off. + +At half-past eight the old Virginia homestead, where belles and beaux +had made merry many long years before, was gay with the voices of the +invited guests. But the dancing had not yet begun. Each time the old +door-bell rang the four girls hoped it meant the return of the four +boys. + +Under the great curved stairway the orchestra of colored musicians was +tuning up. Sam, the colored boy, who had first introduced two of the +houseboat girls to Mrs. Preston, was the leader of the band of six +instruments. If you have never heard old-time colored people play dance +music, you can hardly imagine how delightful it is. To-night Sam's +orchestra was composed of six instruments, a bass violin, which he +played himself, two banjos, two guitars and a tambourine. + +In the long parlors that were to be used for the dancing Mr. and Mrs. +Preston stood, shaking hands with their guests. Just back of them sat +Miss Betsey in her best black silk dress, and dear Miss Jenny Ann in a +white silk gown, looking as young as any one of her girls. Between them +was little Alice. On the other side of Miss Betsey a stately old +gentleman smiled indulgently on the young people. Mr. John Randolph +could no longer have been mistaken for a ghost. A few days of cheerful +conversation with his old friends, good food and sunshine had revived +him wonderfully. Mrs. Preston explained to her friends that Mr. Randolph +had been living alone and, accompanied by his grand-daughter, had lately +come to make them a visit. + +The four girls walked about the great room, receiving their visitors, +talking to them, trying to entertain them, doing everything in their +power to delay the dancing, in the vain hope that their friends would +still appear. + +In answer to a nod from Mrs. Preston, Madge and Phil hurried to her +side. "It is time to begin the dance, dears," reminded Mrs. Preston. "I +am sorry that your friends have not arrived, but we can't disappoint our +other guests on their account. Tell Sam to begin with an old-fashioned +Virginia reel. It is the way we begin our dances down here in the +country." + +Madge slipped out in the back hall. She noticed David standing alone +near the front door. He seemed shy and ill at ease. He did not know how +to dance, and it was hard to pretend to be cheerful when he had such a +load on his mind. + +A loud ring at the front-door bell and a knock on the door startled +David. He went forward to open it, but a witch of a girl in a pale blue +flowered silk, her blue eyes dancing under her poke bonnet, flitted by +him. "Please let me open the door, David," she entreated. "I feel just +sure Tom and the other boys have come at last." + +Tom Curtis stared blankly. Who was this lovely apparition that had +opened the old farmhouse door for him? Was he dreaming, or had he and +his friends strayed into the wrong house? There were the sounds of music +and strange boys and girls were about everywhere. Tom took off his hat. +With a familiar gesture he ran his fingers through his curly light hair, +making it stand on end. "Who is it, and where am I?" he asked feebly, +pretending to be overcome with emotion, like the hero in a romantic +play. + +"Come into the house, Tom Curtis, this minute, and don't be a goose! You +know perfectly well I am Madge. Only to-night I am appearing in the +character of Miss Dolly Varden. We were giving you boys a surprise +party, but we were afraid you would not get here in time for it. Hello, +everybody!" Madge shook hands first with Tom, and then with the other +three boys. She then took Tom by one hand and her cousin, Jack Bolling, +by the other. With Harry Sears and George Robinson following her, she +escorted them proudly across the room to Mr. and Mrs. Preston. Lillian, +Phil and Eleanor hurried to join them, tendering the belated guests an +enthusiastic welcome. + +"Here the young men are, at the last minute, Mrs. Preston," exclaimed +Madge triumphantly. "Now our dance can really begin." + +Tom leaned over to whisper in Miss Dolly Varden's ear, "You'll dance +with me, won't you, Madge, for old time's sake?" + +Madge nodded happily. "I have waited for you," she answered. "I felt +perfectly sure you wouldn't disappoint us." + +Jack Bolling asked Phyllis to dance with him, Harry Sears and Lillian +were partners and Eleanor and George Robinson. + +"Get your places for the Virginia reel!" Sam shouted. + +Mr. and Mrs. Preston stood, each one of them at the head of a long line. +Miss Jenny Ann came next, with her partner, a man from the next farm. +The four girls were hurrying off with the motor launch boys when Madge +stopped suddenly. Old Mr. John Randolph smiled at her. It was hard not +to smile at Madge when she was happy. + +The little captain whispered something in the old man's ear. "Do, +please," she urged, "it will be such fun." + +Mr. Randolph rose and bowed low to Miss Betsey Taylor, with his right +hand over his heart in the manner of half a century ago. "Miss Betsey, +will you do me the honor to dance this reel with me?" he asked, almost +with a twinkle in his eye. + +"My gracious, sakes alive!" exclaimed Miss Betsey nervously. "I haven't +danced in half a lifetime. I am sure my bones are much too stiff." +Nevertheless, frivolous Miss Betsey allowed her old admirer to lead her +to her place in the line. + + "The Camels are coming, Ho, ho, ho, ho! + The Camels are coming from Baltimo'," + +piped up Sam's orchestra, and jolly Mr. and Mrs. Preston swept down the +long line of the dancers with the energy of boy and girl. + +David Brewster watched the scene for a minute from the open doorway. He +tried to still the feeling of jealousy that swept over him; but he could +not help but have a sore feeling in his heart. The girls, who had been +so friendly with him in the last few days, had forgotten his very +existence, now that the other boys had returned. Also, not one of the +motor boys had stopped to speak to him as they passed him in the hall. +Poor David! + +Well, it was just as well that he had been forgotten for to-night, at +least, for he had work to do. Now was the appointed time for the return +of Miss Betsey's money and Mrs. Preston's silver. The servants were busy +downstairs; the guests were dancing. He would try to accomplish his +purpose. + +[Illustration: David was Kneeling Before the Open Box.] + +David slipped quietly up the steps and went into his own small room. The +Preston house was divided by a long hall, with four large bedrooms on +either side. David's room was on the same floor, but at the back of the +house. He dragged a big wooden box out from under his bed and silently +went to work to open it. He had already got together the tools that were +necessary for the purpose. The box lid came off and on top of a pile of +silver was Miss Betsey's money bag. It contained all the money that +David had been able to persuade the thief to leave behind him. + +David emptied his own pockets of every cent he had earned from Tom +Curtis during the summer, and postponed the dearest ambition of his life +as he did it. Then he crept out into the hall--like a thief, he thought +bitterly. The hall was deserted--not even a servant in sight. It was the +work of a moment for David to slip into Miss Betsey's bedroom and place +her money bag under her pillow. + +But to return the silver to the Prestons was a far more difficult +matter. The burglar, on the night of the fire, had swept the old +mahogany sideboard clean. He had taken away dozens of solid silver +knives, forks, spoons and some large, old-fashioned goblets. It was +impossible for David to return the silver to its rightful place in the +dining room. He gathered up a load in his arms and ran to the front +bedroom, where Mr. and Mrs. Preston slept. His cheeks were flaming from +shame and nervousness. He hated, with all the hatred of a passionate, +honest nature, the task he was engaged in, but he knew of no other way +to do what he believed to be right. + +David made his first trip with the silver in safety. But there were +still a few pieces remaining in the box. He could hear the music and the +merry laughter downstairs. In a few seconds his task would be +accomplished. He would bear in silence whatever came afterward. + +The lad was kneeling on the floor before the open box. He had just +reached down to gather the last handful of silver. His door was partly +open; in his hurry David neglected to close it. + +"Hello, old chap! How are you?" a cheerful voice called out. Tom +Curtis's frank, friendly face appeared at the now open door. "I did not +have a chance to speak to you downstairs when I first came in, but Madge +sent me up here for her fan, and I thought I'd take a peep in here to +see if you could be found. What have you got there?" Tom stared with +open curiosity at David's box of silver; then he looked puzzled and +unhappy. + +David had sprung to his feet with a muttered exclamation of anger. + +Neither boy spoke for a moment. Some one was coming up the steps. +"Couldn't you find my fan, Tom? It is almost time for our dance," +called Madge. "Why, here you are gossiping with David." Madge was now at +the open door. She, too, stared at the open box of silver. Then her face +turned white. "O David! what does it mean?" she pleaded. "I simply can't +believe my own eyes." + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +MADGE MORTON'S TRUST + + +David would make no reply to either Madge's or Tom's questionings. He +was sullen, angry and silent. After a while his two friends gave up in +despair. But Madge and Tom decided that it would be better not to tell +their dreadful secret to any one until the party was over. They did not +wish to spoil the evening for the others. + +The two friends went back among the dancers and Madge danced the rest of +the evening as though nothing had happened. Yet all the time she felt +sick at heart. She had trusted David and looked on him as her friend, +while he had done her many kindnesses and she was grateful for them. In +spite of the evidence of her own eyes she told herself that she still +trusted him. + +For the rest of the long evening David Brewster never left his own +chamber, where Tom had found him. He did not even trouble to take the +rest of the silver in to Mrs. Preston. He just sat, staring miserably in +front of him, looking old and haggard. The worst had happened. He had +been found with the stolen goods in his possession and he had +absolutely no explanation to make to his friends. + +It was after one o'clock in the morning when the last guest had departed +from the Preston home. + +"Dolly Varden looks tired," said Mrs. Preston kindly to Madge, who was +lingering near her. "You had better run upstairs to bed, my dear." + +"O Mrs. Preston!" cried Madge brokenly, "something +strange--has--happened. Won't--you--make--David explain--it to--you?" +Then she threw her arms about the good woman's neck and began sobbing +disconsolately. + +"What's the matter, little girl?" asked Mr. Preston in alarm. He had +come upon the scene just in time to witness Madge's outburst of grief. + +But all Madge would say was: "Ask David. Make him explain. He isn't +guilty; I know he isn't. He didn't steal the silver and Miss Betsey's +money; I am sure he didn't." + +While Madge was sobbing forth her defense of David, Ned, the old butler, +came hurrying in with an excited, "Won't you please come into your bed +room, sah; de silver am all back again." + +Mr. Preston hurried after Ned. Sure enough, there was the silver, spread +out on the sidetable. David was nowhere to be seen, however, and Mr. +Preston decided not to ask the boy any questions that night concerning +the mysterious fashion in which the lost silver had suddenly been +returned. Neither would he discuss the situation with any member of the +household, and for this Madge was secretly very thankful. + +David did not come down to breakfast with the family. Soon after Mr. +Preston went upstairs to his room. The household was strangely divided +in its feeling. Jack Bolling, Harry Sears and George Robinson were all +against David. Tom was silent and depressed. Miss Betsey Taylor had not +closed her eyes all night, and was extremely cross. She hated to admit +it, but her own judgment told her that David was a thief. Though Phil +was bitterly sorry and would have done anything in the world she could +to help David out of the scrape, she was forced to agree with Miss +Betsey. + +The young people openly discussed the question of David's guilt. Only +Madge was absolutely silent. She would give no opinion one way or the +other. But poor David found an unexpected champion in Eleanor. She did +not believe that David had taken the money and silver. If he had, he +must have meant it for a joke, or he had had some other good reason. +Nellie felt perfectly sure he would explain later on. + +The entire party was out on the veranda that led from the dining room +when Mr. Preston came back from his interview with David. Mr. Preston's +face was very grave, and sterner than any one of his young guests had +ever seen it. "The boy refuses to give me any explanation of his strange +behavior," announced Mr. Preston to his wife in a voice that they could +all hear. "He begs only that I let him leave the house at once. He says +that the silver is all safe, and that he will pay Miss Betsey back the +rest of her money as soon as he is able to earn it." + +"What answer did you make to him, William?" asked Mrs. Preston +nervously. Her kind face was clouded with sympathy and regret. + +"I told David that he most certainly should not leave us," returned Mr. +Preston severely. "I insisted that he come among us, as he has before, +and remain here until Mr. Curtis wishes to take his friends away. He +will then do what he thinks wisest with the boy. But David shall _not_ +escape the penalty of his own act. I have no desire to punish him by +law. He has returned the stolen property, so I presume that he has had a +change of heart; but his refusal to explain why he committed the theft, +or to say that he is sorry for his deed, makes it hard for me to have +patience with him. He is very trying." + +The gloomy morning went by slowly. The motor launch boys took Phil, +Lillian and Eleanor down the river bank. Madge would not go. The young +people wished to see that the houseboat was set in order for sailing, +and Tom suggested that they eat their luncheon aboard the "Sea Gull." +Only Madge guessed that generous-hearted Tom Curtis wished to spare +David the embarrassment of meeting his former friends so soon after his +disgrace. + +David came down to Mrs. Preston's luncheon table. His face looked as +though it were cut from marble; only his black eyes burned brilliantly, +and his mouth was drawn in a fine, hard line. He bowed quietly as he +entered the room, but spoke to no one during the meal. Miss Betsey +talked to him kindly, and asked him to come to her room some time during +the afternoon. + +David shook his head firmly. "It wouldn't do any good, Miss Taylor," he +said in a firm tone. "I am willing to let you do anything to me that you +like, but I have absolutely nothing to say." + +After leaving the dining room, David hurried toward his retreat in the +woods. Madge had gone upstairs and was watching the lad from her open +window. As she saw him disappear down the road she ran quietly after +him. + +David had the start of her and he strode on so rapidly that it was +difficult to catch up with him. Then, too, Madge did not wish David to +see her until they were both well away from the Preston house. + +But once the boy had vaulted the fence into the field, Madge called +after him softly: "David, please stop a minute, won't you? I only wish +to speak to you." + +David marched straight on. If he heard Madge, he did not turn his head. +She climbed the fence into the field after him and ran on. "David, don't +you hear me?" she panted, for David was walking faster than ever. + +She was now so near to David that she knew there was no possibility of +his not knowing that she had called to him. When he did not turn his +head or show any sign of answering her, she stopped still in the center +of the field, with an involuntary exclamation of hurt surprise. Then she +turned her back on the boy and began to slowly retrace her steps toward +home. + +David had heard every sound that Madge made, even to her last little +admission of defeat. As she moved away from him he stopped still. He +then swung himself around and gazed wistfully after her retreating form. +"If she asked me the truth, I think I would have to tell it to her," he +murmured to himself. "I don't dare trust myself. It is better that she +should think me the rude boor that I am. But I am not a thief; I wish I +could tell her that, at least." + +Madge's eyes were full of tears as she stumbled back across the fields. +She was hurt, angry and disappointed. Somehow, in spite of everything, +she had believed that David could explain his mysterious possession of +the stolen property. She would not try again to tell him that she still +had faith in him, she thought resentfully. + +The field was full of loose rocks and stones, but Madge was apparently +oblivious to this. Suddenly a stone rolled under her foot, giving her +ankle an unexpected wrench. With a little cry of pain she sank down on +the ground to get her breath. In an instant David Brewster was at her +side. + +"I am afraid you have hurt yourself," he said humbly. + +"No," she returned coldly. "I wrenched my ankle for a second; it is all +right now." + +"Do let me help you home," offered David miserably. + +Madge shook her head. "No, thank you; I wouldn't trouble you for +worlds," she protested icily. + +"But you wouldn't trouble me; I should dearly love to do it," replied +David so honestly that the little captain's heart softened though her +severe manner never changed. "See here, Miss Morton," David burst out +impetuously, "if you won't let me take you home, do let me help you to +that old tree over there. You can't stay here in the broiling sun; it +will give you a dreadful headache. I know you don't want to speak to me, +and I will go right away again." + +"I _did_ want to speak to you very much, David," returned Madge gently; +"only you would not let me." + +"I know," answered David. "I did hear you call to me. I am not going to +lie to you, too. I didn't answer because I didn't dare." + +Madge put her hand on David's arm and let him assist her across the +field to the tree. Her ankle was really well enough by this time for her +to have walked alone, but Madge was not quite ready to walk alone. + +David sat down abruptly beside his companion under the shadow of a +mammoth tulip tree, staring moodily in front of him. + +Madge said nothing. A minute, two minutes of silence passed. + +"I don't believe you stole the things, David," she avowed simply. + +David's eyes dropped and his face twitched. "How can you fail to believe +that I stole them?" he questioned doggedly. "I had them in my +possession. You know that." + +Madge turned her sweet, honest face full on the boy. "I don't know why I +think so, David, but I do. I trust you, and I _know_ you are honest. Do +you dare to look me squarely in the face and say: 'Madge Morton, you are +mistaken. I _did_ steal Miss Betsey's money and Mr. Preston's silver'? +If you will say this, I promise never to betray you and I will never +trouble you with questions again. But if you don't, David Brewster, I am +going to work until I come to the bottom of this mystery." + +David Brewster covered his face with his hands. "I can't say it, Madge," +he faltered; "it is too much to ask of me." + +The little captain's face broke into happy smiles. "Never mind, David," +she comforted him, "I believe I understand." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE LITTLE CAPTAIN'S STORY + + +David Brewster rose to his feet. + +"If your ankle is all right now," he suggested hurriedly, "I had better +go." + +"Why?" asked Madge innocently. + +"I have some work to do," returned David. + +"The same work that you do every afternoon?" + +David bowed his head. "Yes," he replied. "See here, Miss Morton, there +isn't any reason why I shouldn't tell you what I do when off by myself +every afternoon. I don't want you to think that I am always up to some +dishonest kind of business." David flushed hotly. "I am only studying +when I hide off here in the woods. You see, I have always had to work +awfully hard; I never have had much time for schooling. But I don't want +the other fellows to get too far ahead of me, for I am going to college +some day, even if I am a grown man, when my chance comes." + +"Good for _you_, David!" cried Madge, clapping her hands softly. "Of +course you will go to college if you have set your mind upon going. I +don't believe you are the kind of boy that gives up. You'll do most +anything you want to do some day." + +David's face flushed under Madge's enthusiasm. "Oh, no, I won't," he +answered miserably. "There are some things a fellow can't live down." + +"You mean this theft?" inquired Madge. + +"Yes," nodded the boy. "Everyone believes me to be a common thief." + +"But you didn't steal the things. I believe I know who took them," +hazarded Madge; "that man and the old woman who were hiding in the +woods." + +Madge saw at a glance that her guess was true. David gazed at her +helplessly. Then he shook his head. "Those people must have been far +away from this neighborhood when the things were taken," he replied. + +"Oh, no, they weren't," retorted Madge. "The old woman was at the farm +the night of the fire, dressed up as 'Old Nokomis.' I wondered, at the +time, if she was not up to some kind of mischief. Then, later on, when +Nellie was lost, she saw the same man and woman. I believe they changed +their hiding place for fear they might be suspected of the theft, and +that we would send the sheriff to look for them." + +"But why should I try to shield _them_, Miss Morton?" asked David +obstinately, "and how could I have the stolen goods if other people +took them?" + +It was Madge's turn to flush and be silent. "Don't make me tell you why +I think you are trying to shield them, David, by taking the shame on +yourself," she pleaded. "You see, I believe I have guessed what those +people are to you." + +"You can't have guessed," protested David hoarsely. "You don't know +anything of me or my people." + +"Girls are good at guessing," explained Madge apologetically. "You see, +Miss Betsey told us that your father wasn't a very good kind of man, and +that he sometimes went away from home and wandered around the country +for a long time. And, and----" Madge hesitated. "At first when you spoke +to the man and old woman, I was just surprised at your knowing such +curious people. Then I began to think. The man looked something like +you, David. So I have just worked it out in my own mind that the man +took the things, and that you made him let you return them to Miss +Betsey and Mrs. Preston, and that you are willing to take the blame on +yourself because--because----" Madge hesitated again and looked down. +"Because the man is your father!" she said gently. "Am I right, David? +Please tell me." + +David's face turned red, then white, then red again. "You think that +thief is my father, because I look like him, and because I am willing to +bear the burden of his guilt?" David was not conscious that he had at +last confessed to Madge that the man she suspected was the actual +robber! + +"He is not my father," continued David passionately. "My father is good +for nothing; he comes of bad people, and he has dragged my mother down +with him. But he is not a thief! The man who stole the money from Miss +Betsey and the silver from the Prestons is my first cousin. He is a +great deal older than I am. His father was my father's eldest brother. +Hal used to live with us when I was a little boy, and I was fond of him +then. But he got too bad, even for us to stand, and he has since been +tramping around the country, stealing, or living any way that he could. +He would not give me back the things until I promised to take the blame +if anybody was suspected. He threatened to implicate me in the robbery +if I told any one, so I thought the best thing to do was to return the +things and let him go." + +Madge's face was burning and her hands quite cold. "I am sure I beg your +pardon, David, with all my heart," she said humbly. "I know that you +never can forgive me for insulting your father. I ought not to have +tried to find out your secret. Once, long ago, a girl told my friends a +story about my father. She said that he had been disgraced when he was a +captain in the Navy, and had been dismissed from the service. It wasn't +true," faltered Madge, "but most people believed it. I had to try +awfully hard to forgive that girl when, later on, she asked me to pardon +her. So I don't even ask you to forgive me, David," she insisted +mournfully; "only you will believe me when I say that I am awfully sorry +for my mistake." + +David was staring at her intently. "Forgive you," he replied. "Of course +I won't--because there is nothing to forgive. You have been the best +friend I ever had. To think that, even when you thought my father was a +thief and a tramp, you were still willing to believe in me and to be my +friend! You are simply great! Some day I am going to do something +splendid that will make you feel glad to know David Brewster." David +shook Madge's hand warmly, his eyes clear and untroubled for the first +time in their acquaintance. This girl had thought the worst of his +family and still had trusted him. No one with a faithful friend need +ever be discouraged. + +Madge and David walked slowly back to the Preston house, across the +August fields. It was late afternoon. The boy and girl had talked +together for a long time under the old tree. They had confided to each +other many of their hopes and ambitions. They were not to see each other +alone again for a long time. But neither one of them was to forget that +summer afternoon. + +At the front gate Madge turned and faced David squarely. Her charming +face wore an expression of stubborn determination. + +"David Brewster, I have not promised your cousin to keep his secret, or +to let you be suspected of his crime. I am going to tell Mr. and Mrs. +Preston and Miss Betsey that you did not steal their property, and that +just as soon as I get inside the house." + +David shook his head resolutely. "I thought I could trust you, Madge." + +"You can," urged Madge. "Only, please, don't be so stubborn. It can't +hurt your cousin for me to tell what he has done. Mr. Preston and Miss +Betsey have never seen him and they will both promise never to try to +punish him for the theft. They have their things back, so they are not +hurt, except by----" + +"By what?" asked David unsuspiciously. + +"By their lack of faith in you, David," answered Madge convincingly. "It +hurts awfully to be deceived in people. Miss Betsey cried all night, and +Mr. Preston ate hardly any breakfast or luncheon, they have been so +unhappy over you." + +The little captain thought she saw signs of relenting in David's face. +"Do let me tell," she pleaded. "I really can't bear it, if you don't," +she ended in characteristic Madge-fashion. + +David smiled and nodded. + +Without waiting to give him a chance to change his mind she ran into the +house and up the front steps. The three girls and the motor launch boys +had returned and were wondering what had become of her. Madge swept them +all before her into the Preston library. Then, summoning her host and +hostess, Miss Betsey and Miss Jenny Ann, Madge told David's story. +Perhaps she made him a hero in explaining how he was willing to take his +cousin's crime on his own shoulders, rather than have Miss Betsey and +Mrs. Preston lose their property, but at least, after she had finished, +there was no one present who did not have a feeling of admiration for +David, who had tried to do his duty even at the expense of his good +name. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +"GOOD LUCK TO THE BRIDE" + + +"Do you think it is very funny, Tom?" inquired Phil. She and Madge, +Lillian, Eleanor and the four motor launch boys were on the deck of the +"Sea Gull." They were gliding down the Rappahannock toward the great +Chesapeake Bay. Moving gracefully behind the motor boat was the familiar +form of the "Merry Maid." A group of older people sat out on her deck, +gazing along the sun-lit shores of the river. The cruise of the +houseboat was almost over. + +Tom Curtis hesitated at Phil's question. "I ought not to say it is +funny," he returned, "but I really think it is." + +"Don't any of you dare to let Miss Betsey know you think so," warned +Madge. + +Eleanor looked aggrieved. "I am sure I don't know what there is funny +about it," she protested. "I think it is lovely. Only it wasn't nice in +Miss Betsey not to let us be her bridesmaids." Eleanor gazed across the +little space of water to where Mr. and Mrs. John Randolph sat together +on the deck of the "Merry Maid" with the blind child, Alice. + +Madge laughed softly. "Miss Betsey said she felt enough like a fool, +being married at her age, without having a lot of young girls standing +around to laugh at her. But John Randolph wouldn't let her take care of +him unless she did marry him, and she had no idea of separating him from +his grandchild," concluded Madge. + +"What a lot of things have happened this summer," remarked Lillian. "Who +would have thought that we should leave David Brewster in Virginia! Mr. +Preston says that if David will work for him he will help him go to +college." + +"David is a bully fellow!" declared Tom. "I don't think we understood +him just at first." + +"Yes, and Tom Curtis is another," teased Madge; "only he won't blow his +own horn, unless it is his fog-horn. Tom offered to pay David's expenses +at college if he would come home with us, but David said he thought it +would be better for him to earn his own way." + +Miss Jenny Ann waved frantically from the deck of the houseboat. + +"Tie up along shore, Tom; it is growing late. Remember, this is our last +supper party together this summer," she called out. + +It was the first week in September. The evening had grown unexpectedly +cool when Tom ran the two boats up by the river bank. In the morning +they were to put into shore at a nearby town, and the little company of +friends would disband to travel to their homes in various parts of the +country. So for to-night they had planned to have a wonderful feast on +land, and to make it their good-bye memory of their summer cruise. + +Tom had selected a line of open shore, with a grove of chestnut trees +just back of it. + +Each member of the party went on land, bearing boxes, lunch-hampers and +baskets of fruit. Tom staggered under a particularly large box that was +very tall and round, as though it contained a new Easter bonnet with +feathers standing straight up on it. + +Madge and Phil marched behind him, urging him to be careful every foot +of the way. + +"Girls!" cried Miss Betsey excitedly, coming up beside them with her +bonnet over one ear and her long cape flying out behind her, "I have a +confession to make to you; I had better out with it before I forget it. +You remember those small sums of money that I vowed I had lost when we +were first aboard the houseboat?" + +Both girls nodded, though their faces clouded at the recollection. + +"Well, they were not stolen at all," announced Miss Betsey shamefacedly. +"I am an old woman, children, in spite of my present performances. I had +tucked that money away in the little table drawer in my cabin on the +houseboat; I suppose I meant to use it for something, and then forgot +it. I have a short memory for some things and a long one for others," +Miss Betsey's eyes twinkled as her husband came up to join her. + +Harry Sears and George Robinson made a huge campfire near the spot where +the voyagers had chosen to have their supper. Miss Jenny Ann got out the +big coffee pot. The rest of the party started in to spread the feast on +a big damask table cloth that Miss Betsey had arranged on the grass. + +"Madge, you and Tom Curtis go off to some place to find water for the +lemonade," ordered Miss Betsey. Madge and Tom each seized a large tin +bucket. Not far off they could see a funny little log house that must +belong to one of the river men, it was set so close to the river. They +would find water there. + +"I have something important to tell you, Madge," said Tom. He began +searching diligently in his coat pocket for something, pulled out half a +dozen letters, his knife and pocket-book, then with a blank look he +exclaimed, "Jiminy! I hope I haven't lost it. Mother will never forgive +me if I have." + +"Lost what?" demanded Madge. + +"Why, Mother sent you a present, and I have forgotten to give it to +you. Now I am afraid I have lost it somewhere." + +"Tom Curtis, put down that wretched bucket and hunt for it until you +find it," insisted Madge. "What's that sticking out on the front pocket +of your coat?" + +Tom smiled in a relieved fashion as he handed Madge a box about four +inches square. "It's Mother and it's a beauty," he announced. + +Madge opened the box to find an exquisite miniature of her friend, Mrs. +Curtis. It was painted on ivory and was about the size of a locket. +Around it were exquisite pearls, and it hung on a slender gold chain. + +The little captain's eyes filled with tears as she looked at it. "I +would rather have it than anything in the world," she murmured. In the +lining of the box Madge found a note, written on a card: "For my Madge," +it read, "whom I shall never cease to wish to have for my daughter." + +"I have something to tell you, too," added Tom. "My sister, Madeleine, +is going to be married." + +Madge nearly dropped her gift in her excitement. "Married! Madeleine! +What do you mean? Whom is she going to marry? Why didn't you tell me +before?" she demanded, all in one breath. "Do hurry and tell me." + +Tom laughed. "You'll never guess. She is going to marry the Judge +Hilliard who rescued you and Phil the night that that wretched Mike +Muldoon put you out of his sailboat. Judge Hilliard has always been a +friend of ours, you know. At first Madeleine was just grateful to him +for what he did for her. Afterward"--Tom colored--"I suppose she fell in +love with him. I am not quite sure as to what it means to 'fall in +love.' But Madeleine isn't going to be married for a year. Then she +wants the four houseboat girls to be her bridesmaids." + +Madge clasped her hands in rapture. "Won't it be fun!" she exclaimed. +"But do hurry on, Tom, or we shall never get the water for the +lemonade." + +They were almost back with their other friends when Tom had finished his +mother's message: "When Madeleine is married, Mother means to ask you +again to be her adopted daughter, Madge," continued Tom; "and you know +how much I want you." + +Madge shook her auburn head, her face pale with emotion. "It is too soon +to talk about it, Tom," she answered. "You see, when I finish school I +am going first to hunt for my father." + +"Madge and Tom, do hurry here this minute!" scolded Phil from her seat +on the grass. "The lemonade is all ready, except pouring on the water, +and we are waiting supper for you." + +The two boat parties were in a great circle about the big table cloth, +with Mr. and Mrs. John Randolph at the head as the guests of honor of +the feast. + +It was growing dark, but the bushes and trees nearby were strung with +lanterns borrowed from the two boats. The feast was almost over when +Madge whispered something in Tom's ear and Phil nodded emphatically. + +Tom slipped away, to return bearing the big box which he had carried so +tenderly up from the houseboat. + +Between them Madge and Phil lifted out a mammoth wedding cake and placed +it, with a flourish, in the center of the feast. "You wouldn't have a +wedding supper at Mrs. Preston's, Miss Betsey--Mrs. Randolph, I mean," +announced Madge, "so we have made you have it here." Madge handed her a +knife, saying, "You must cut your own wedding cake." + +"I can't cut it," protested Mrs. Randolph; "it is too lovely." On top of +the cake was an exquisite frosted ship, made to represent the houseboat. +Six tiny dolls danced about it, Phil, Lillian, Eleanor, Madge, Miss +Jenny Ann and Miss Betsey! On it was written in icing: "Good luck to the +Bride." + +It was too dark to see the bride's radiant old face as she cut into her +wedding cake, but her hand trembled. + +A minute later Eleanor gave a little cry of surprise. In biting her cake +she had come across a small gold ring. + +"Eleanor will be married first, but I shall be the richest," announced +Lillian, as she held up a bright silver dime. "Who will be the old +maid?" + +Nobody spoke, but Madge produced a small, bent thimble. "I am going to +be the old maid, of course. Haven't I always said so?" she inquired. + +"_Not_ if I know it!" whispered Tom into Madge's unheeding ears. + +"Come on, children, to the boats," ordered Miss Jenny Ann, a little +later. "Night has come on. We must say good-bye. We won't have any +farewells, even in the morning. They are too dismal. But pleasant dreams +on the houseboat and the motor launch. And may we meet again!" + +Miss Jennie Ann's wish was prophetic. There were other happy times in +store for the four girls and their teacher on board their beloved "Ship +of Dreams," the "Merry Maid." What happened to them during a summer at +Cape May and how Madge kept her vow to find her father are fully set +forth in "MADGE MORTON'S VICTORY," the record of another summer +vacation spent at the seashore which no friend of the little captain and +her chums Lillian, Phyllis and Eleanor, not to mention Miss Jenny Ann +Jones, can afford to miss reading. + + +THE END. + + + + +HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY'S + +CATALOGUE OF + +The Best and Least Expensive Books for Real Boys and Girls + + * * * * * + +Really good and new stories for boys and girls are not plentiful. Many +stories, too, are so highly improbable as to bring a grin of derision to +the young reader's face before he has gone far. The name of ALTEMUS is a +distinctive brand on the cover of a book, always ensuring the buyer of +having a book that is up-to-date and fine throughout. No buyer of an +ALTEMUS book is ever disappointed. + +Many are the claims made as to the inexpensiveness of books. Go into any +bookstore and ask for an Altemus book. Compare the price charged you for +Altemus books with the price demanded for other juvenile books. You will +at once discover that a given outlay of money will buy more of the +ALTEMUS books than of those published by other houses. + +Every dealer in books carries the ALTEMUS books. + + * * * * * + +Sold by all booksellers or sent postpaid on receipt of price + +Henry Altemus Company + +1326-1336 Vine Street, Philadelphia + + + + +The Motor Boat Club Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +The keynote of these books is manliness. The stories are wonderfully +entertaining, and they are at the same time sound and wholesome. No boy +will willingly lay down an unfinished book in this series. + + 1 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OF THE KENNEBEC; Or, The Secret of + Smugglers' Island. + + 2 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT NANTUCKET; Or, The Mystery of the + Dunstan Heir. + + 3 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB OFF LONG ISLAND; Or, A Daring Marine Game + at Racing Speed. + + 4 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AND THE WIRELESS; Or, The Dot, Dash and + Dare Cruise. + + 5 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB IN FLORIDA; Or, Laying the Ghost of + Alligator Swamp. + + 6 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB AT THE GOLDEN GATE; Or, A Thrilling + Capture in the Great Fog. + + 7 THE MOTOR BOAT CLUB ON THE GREAT LAKES; Or, The Flying + Dutchman of the Big Fresh Water. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The Range and Grange Hustlers + +By FRANK GEE PATCHIN + + +Have you any idea of the excitements, the glories of life on great +ranches in the West? Any bright boy will "devour" the books of this +series, once he has made a start with the first volume. + + 1 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE RANCH; Or, The Boy + Shepherds of the Great Divide. + + 2 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS' GREATEST ROUND-UP; Or, Pitting + Their Wits Against a Packers' Combine. + + 3 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS ON THE PLAINS; Or, Following the + Steam Plows Across the Prairie. + + 4 THE RANGE AND GRANGE HUSTLERS AT CHICAGO; Or, The Conspiracy + of the Wheat Pit. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +Submarine Boys Series + +By VICTOR G. DURHAM + + + 1 THE SUBMARINE BOYS ON DUTY; Or, Life on a Diving Torpedo + Boat. + + 2 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' TRIAL TRIP; Or, "Making Good" as Young + Experts. + + 3 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE MIDDIES; Or, The Prize Detail at + Annapolis. + + 4 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SPIES; Or, Dodging the Sharks of + the Deep. + + 5 THE SUBMARINE BOYS' LIGHTNING CRUISE; Or, The Young Kings of + the Deep. + + 6 THE SUBMARINE BOYS FOR THE FLAG; Or, Deeding Their Lives to + Uncle Sam. + + 7 THE SUBMARINE BOYS AND THE SMUGGLERS; Or, Breaking Up the New + Jersey Customs Frauds. + + + + +The Square Dollar Boys Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + + 1 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS WAKE UP; Or, Fighting the Trolley + Franchise Steal. + + 2 THE SQUARE DOLLAR BOYS SMASH THE RING; Or, In the Lists + Against the Crooked Land Deal. + + + + +The College Girls Series + +By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A.M. + + + 1 GRACE HARLOWE'S FIRST YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE. + + 2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SECOND YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE. + + 3 GRACE HARLOWE'S THIRD YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE. + + 4 GRACE HARLOWE'S FOURTH YEAR AT OVERTON COLLEGE. + + 5 GRACE HARLOWE'S RETURN TO OVERTON CAMPUS. + + + + +Dave Darrin Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + + 1 DAVE DARRIN AT VERA CRUZ; Or, Fighting With the U. S. Navy in + Mexico. + + * * * * * + +All these books are bound in Cloth and will be sent postpaid on receipt +of only 50 cents each. + + + + +Pony Rider Boys Series + +By FRANK GEE PATCHIN + + +These tales may be aptly described the best books for boys and girls. + + 1 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE ROCKIES; Or, The Secret of the + Lost Claim.--2 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN TEXAS; Or, The Veiled + Riddle of the Plains.--3 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN MONTANA; Or, + The Mystery of the Old Custer Trail.--4 THE PONY RIDER BOYS + IN THE OZARKS; Or, The Secret of Ruby Mountain.--5 THE PONY + RIDER BOYS IN THE ALKALI; Or, Finding a Key to the Desert + Maze.--6 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN NEW MEXICO; Or, The End of + the Silver Trail.--7 THE PONY RIDER BOYS IN THE GRAND CANYON; + Or, The Mystery of Bright Angel Gulch. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The Boys of Steel Series + +By JAMES R. MEARS + + +Each book presents vivid picture of this great industry. Each story is +full of adventure and fascination. + + 1 THE IRON BOYS IN THE MINES; Or, Starting at the Bottom of the + Shaft.--2 THE IRON BOYS AS FOREMEN; Or, Heading the Diamond + Drill Shift.--3 THE IRON BOYS ON THE ORE BOATS; Or, Roughing + It on the Great Lakes.--4 THE IRON BOYS IN THE STEEL MILLS; + Or, Beginning Anew in the Cinder Pits. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The Madge Morton Books + +By AMY D. V. CHALMERS + + + 1 MADGE MORTON--CAPTAIN OF THE MERRY MAID. + + 2 MADGE MORTON'S SECRET. + + 3 MADGE MORTON'S TRUST. + + 4 MADGE MORTON'S VICTORY. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +West Point Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +The principal characters in these narratives are manly, young Americans +whose doings will inspire all boy readers. + + 1 DICK PRESCOTT'S FIRST YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Two Chums in + the Cadet Gray. + + 2 DICK PRESCOTT'S SECOND YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Finding the + Glory of the Soldier's Life. + + 3 DICK PRESCOTT'S THIRD YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Standing Firm + for Flag and Honor. + + 4 DICK PRESCOTT'S FOURTH YEAR AT WEST POINT; Or, Ready to Drop + the Gray for Shoulder Straps. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +Annapolis Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +The Spirit of the new Navy is delightfully and truthfully depicted in +these volumes. + + 1 DAVE DARRIN'S FIRST YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Plebe + Midshipmen at the U. S. Naval Academy. + + 2 DAVE DARRIN'S SECOND YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Two Midshipmen as + Naval Academy "Youngsters." + + 3 DAVE DARRIN'S THIRD YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Leaders of the + Second Class Midshipmen. + + 4 DAVE DARRIN'S FOURTH YEAR AT ANNAPOLIS; Or, Headed for + Graduation and the Big Cruise. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The Young Engineers Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +The heroes of these stories are known to readers of the High School Boys +Series. In this new series Tom Reade and Harry Hazelton prove worthy of +all the traditions of Dick & Co. + + 1 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN COLORADO; Or, At Railroad Building in + Earnest. + + 2 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN ARIZONA; Or, Laying Tracks on the + "Man-Killer" Quicksand. + + 3 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN NEVADA; Or, Seeking Fortune on the Turn + of a Pick. + + 4 THE YOUNG ENGINEERS IN MEXICO; Or, Fighting the Mine + Swindlers. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +Boys of the Army Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +These books breathe the life and spirit of the United States Army of +to-day, and the life, just as it is, is described by a master pen. + + 1 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE RANKS; Or, Two Recruits in the United + States Army. + + 2 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS ON FIELD DUTY; Or, Winning Corporal's + Chevrons. + + 3 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS AS SERGEANTS; Or, Handling Their First Real + Commands. + + 4 UNCLE SAM'S BOYS IN THE PHILIPPINES; Or, Following the Flag + Against the Moros. + + (_Other volumes to follow rapidly._) + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +Battleship Boys Series + +By FRANK GEE PATCHIN + + +These stories throb with the life of young Americans on to-day's huge +drab Dreadnaughts. + + 1 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS AT SEA; Or, Two Apprentices in Uncle + Sam's Navy. + + 2 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS' FIRST STEP UPWARD; Or, Winning Their + Grades as Petty Officers. + + 3 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN FOREIGN SERVICE; Or, Earning New + Ratings in European Seas. + + 4 THE BATTLESHIP BOYS IN THE TROPICS; Or, Upholding the American + Flag in a Honduras Revolution. + + (_Other volumes to follow rapidly._) + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The Meadow-Brook Girls Series + +By JANET ALDRIDGE + + +Real live stories pulsing with the vibrant atmosphere of outdoor life. + + 1 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS UNDER CANVAS. + + 2 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ACROSS COUNTRY. + + 3 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS AFLOAT. + + 4 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS IN THE HILLS. + + 5 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS BY THE SEA. + + 6 THE MEADOW-BROOK GIRLS ON THE TENNIS COURTS. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume 50c. + + + + +High School Boys Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +In this series of bright, crisp books a new note has been struck. + +Boys of every age under sixty will be interested in these fascinating +volumes. + + 1 THE HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN; Or, Dick & Co.'s First Year Pranks + and Sports. + + 2 THE HIGH SCHOOL PITCHER; Or, Dick & Co. on the Gridley + Diamond. + + 3 THE HIGH SCHOOL LEFT END; Or, Dick & Co. Grilling on the + Football Gridiron. + + 4 THE HIGH SCHOOL CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM; Or, Dick & Co. Leading + the Athletic Vanguard. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +Grammar School Boys Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +This series of stories, based on the actual doings of grammar school +boys, comes near to the heart of the average American boy. + + 1 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS OF GRIDLEY; Or, Dick & Co. Start + Things Moving. + + 2 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS SNOWBOUND; Or, Dick & Co. at Winter + Sports. + + 3 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN THE WOODS; Or, Dick & Co. Trail Fun + and Knowledge. + + 4 THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER ATHLETICS; Or, Dick & Co. + Make Their Fame Secure. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +High School Boys' Vacation Series + +By H. IRVING HANCOCK + + +"Give us more Dick Prescott books!" + +This has been the burden of the cry from young readers of the country +over. Almost numberless letters have been received by the publishers, +making this eager demand; for Dick Prescott, Dave Darrin, Tom Reade, and +the other members of Dick & Co. are the most popular high school boys in +the land. Boys will alternately thrill and chuckle when reading these +splendid narratives. + + 1 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' CANOE CLUB; Or, Dick & Co.'s Rivals on + Lake Pleasant. + + 2 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS IN SUMMER CAMP; Or, The Dick Prescott Six + Training for the Gridley Eleven. + + 3 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' FISHING TRIP; Or, Dick & Co. in the + Wilderness. + + 4 THE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' TRAINING HIKE; Or, Dick & Co. Making + Themselves "Hard as Nails." + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The Circus Boys Series + +By EDGAR B. P. DARLINGTON + + +Mr. Darlington's books breathe forth every phase of an intensely +interesting and exciting life. + + 1 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE FLYING RINGS; Or, Making the Start in + the Sawdust Life. + + 2 THE CIRCUS BOYS ACROSS THE CONTINENT; Or, Winning New Laurels + on the Tanbark. + + 3 THE CIRCUS BOYS IN DIXIE LAND; Or, Winning the Plaudits of the + Sunny South. + + 4 THE CIRCUS BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI; Or, Afloat with the Big + Show on the Big River. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The High School Girls Series + +By JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A. M. + + +These breezy stories of the American High School Girl take the reader +fairly by storm. + + 1 GRACE HARLOWE'S PLEBE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Merry + Doings of the Oakdale Freshman Girls. + + 2 GRACE HARLOWE'S SOPHOMORE YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Record + of the Girl Chums in Work and Athletics. + + 3 GRACE HARLOWE'S JUNIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, Fast Friends + in the Sororities. + + 4 GRACE HARLOWE'S SENIOR YEAR AT HIGH SCHOOL; Or, The Parting of + the Ways. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +The Automobile Girls Series + +By LAURA DENT CRANE + + +No girl's library--no family book-case can be considered at all complete +unless it contains these sparkling twentieth-century books. + + 1 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT NEWPORT; Or, Watching the Summer + Parade.--2 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS IN THE BERKSHIRES; Or, The + Ghost of Lost Man's Trail.--3 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS ALONG THE + HUDSON; Or, Fighting Fire In Sleepy Hollow--4 THE AUTOMOBILE + GIRLS AT CHICAGO; Or, Winning Out Against Heavy Odds.--5 THE + AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT PALM BEACH; Or, Proving Their Mettle + Under Southern Skies.--6 THE AUTOMOBILE GIRLS AT WASHINGTON; + Or, Checkmating the Plots of Foreign Spies. + + Cloth, Illustrated Price, per Volume, 50c. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + Page 14 Yet is was impossible to _changed to_ + Yet it was impossible to + + Page 26 Phillis was a little girl _changed to_ + Phyllis was a little girl + + Page 63 as she re-appeared on deck _changed to_ + as she reappeared on deck + + Page 137 fullstop removed after chapter heading + ELEANOR GETS INTO MISCHIEF + + Page 234 David found an unexpected champon _changed to_ + David found an unexpected champion + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Madge Morton's Trust, by Amy D. V. Chalmers + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MADGE MORTON'S TRUST *** + +***** This file should be named 31719.txt or 31719.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/1/31719/ + +Produced by Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/31719.zip b/31719.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba01411 --- /dev/null +++ b/31719.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3bb402 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #31719 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31719) |
