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diff --git a/37429-h/37429-h.htm b/37429-h/37429-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5e60510 --- /dev/null +++ b/37429-h/37429-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12399 @@ +<!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" > +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> + <meta content="Polly and Her Friends Abroad" name="DC.Title"/> + <meta content="Lillian Elizabeth Roy" name="DC.Creator"/> + <meta content="en" name="DC.Language"/> + <meta content="1922" name="DC.Created"/> + <meta name="generator" content="ppgen (1.22) generated Sep 15, 2011 02:36 AM" /> + <title>Polly and Her Friends Abroad</title> + <style type="text/css"> + body {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%;} + p {margin-top:1ex; margin-bottom:0; text-align:justify;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size:x-small; text-align:right; text-indent:0; + position:absolute; right:2%; padding:1px 3px; font-style:normal; + font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:none; + background-color:inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color:silver;} + h1 {text-align:center; font-weight:normal; + font-size:1.4em; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2em;} + h2 {text-align:left; font-weight:normal; + font-size:1.2em; margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2em;} + h3 {text-align:center; font-weight:bold; + font-size:0.9em; margin-top:1.5em; margin-bottom:1em;} + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none; border-top:thin dashed silver; clear:both;} + .sc {font-variant: small-caps;} + .center {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center;} + .larger {font-size:larger;} + .smaller {font-size:smaller;} + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + table.c {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + .caption {font-size: 80%;} + .sc {font-variant:small-caps} + div.center>:first-child {margin: .5em auto 0 auto;text-align:center;} + div.center p {margin: 0 auto; text-align:center;} + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 37429 ***</div> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 37429 ***</div> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Polly and Her Friends Abroad, by Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +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: Polly and Her Friends Abroad + +Author: Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +Illustrator: H. S. Barbour + +Release Date: September 16, 2011 [EBook #37429] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY AND HER FRIENDS ABROAD *** + + + + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from images made available by the HathiTrust +Digital Library.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i001' id='i001'></a> +<img src="images/illus-fpc.jpg" alt="MR. ALEXANDER IS INTRODUCED TO POLLY. Frontispiece—(Page 24)" title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>MR. ALEXANDER IS INTRODUCED TO POLLY. <em>Frontispiece—(Page 24)</em></span> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:1.6em;font-weight:bold;'>POLLY AND HER</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:1.6em;font-weight:bold;'>FRIENDS ABROAD</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>BY</p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:1.2em;font-weight:bold;'>LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'><em>Author of</em></span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>POLLY OF PEBBLY PIT, POLLY AND ELEANOR,</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>POLLY IN NEW YORK, POLLY’S</span></p> +<p><span style='font-size:smaller;'>BUSINESS VENTURE</span></p> +<p> </p> +<p>ILLUSTRATED BY</p> +<p>H. S. BARBOUR</p> +<p> </p> +<p>NEW YORK</p> +<p>GROSSET & DUNLAP</p> +<p>PUBLISHERS</p> +<p> </p> +<p>Made in the United States of America</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY</p> +<p>GROSSET & DUNLAP</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p><span style='font-size:larger;'>CONTENTS</span></p> +</div> +<table class='c' summary='table of contents'> +<tr><td style='font-size:smaller'>CHAPTER</td><td></td><td style='font-size:smaller'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>I</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Alexanders</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chI'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>II</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Dodo Meets Polly’s Friends</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chII'>22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>III</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Tour Is Planned</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIII'>41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>IV</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Tour of Great Britain</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIV'>62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>V</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Love Affairs and Antiques</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chV'>84</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VI</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Polly Takes a Hand To Cure Jimmy</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVI'>106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VII</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Dodo’s Elopement</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVII'>126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>VIII</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Dodo Meets Another “Title”</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chVIII'>148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>IX</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Mr. Alexander’s Surprise</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chIX'>166</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>X</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Dangerous Pass on the Alps</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chX'>184</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XI</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>The Plot in Venice</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXI'>205</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XII</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Escaping an Earthquake</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXII'>223</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIII</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Unexpected Vicissitudes of Travel</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIII'>238</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XIV</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>A Highwayman in Disguise</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXIV'>255</a></td></tr> +<tr><td valign='top' style='text-align:right; padding-right:1em;'>XV</td><td valign='top' style='text-align:left; padding-right:3em;'><span style='font-variant:small-caps'>Ahoy! for the Stars and Stripes Again</span></td><td valign='top' style='text-align:right;'><a href='#chXV'>267</a></td></tr> +</table> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<h1>POLLY AND HER FRIENDS ABROAD</h1> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_1'></a>1</span><a name='chI' id='chI'></a>CHAPTER I—THE ALEXANDERS</h2> +<p> +Eleanor Maynard left her friend, Polly +Brewster, in the stateroom, cutting the stems of +the gorgeous American Beauty roses, and arranging +them anew in the tall glass of fresh water. +As she was about to close the door behind her, she +turned and said: +</p> +<p> +“Be sure and come up on deck, Polly, as soon +as you are done with the roses.” +</p> +<p> +“All right, run along and I’ll be with you in a +jiffy,” returned Polly, her thoughts engaged with +the flowers. +</p> +<p> +So Eleanor strolled to the upper deck and tried +to find an interest with which to amuse herself +until Polly joined her. +</p> +<p> +Of course, you remember Polly Brewster of +Pebbly Pit, and her chum, Eleanor Maynard, of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_2'></a>2</span> +Chicago? Mr. Fabian, their teacher in interior +decorating, and the Ashbys from New York City, +were escorting the two girls on this trip abroad, +with the idea of visiting famous European museums +and places where antiques of all kinds could +be seen and studied. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor walked part way around the promenade +deck before she was accosted by a decidedly +plump woman of about forty, with decidedly +blondine hair, and flashing—<em>most</em> decidedly—too +many large diamonds from ears, fingers and neck. +</p> +<p> +“Excuse me, but aren’t you one of the young +ladies I met at the Denver railway station last +year when Anne Stewart and her friends were +about to leave for New York?” questioned the +lady. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor turned, glanced at the living representative +of the newly-rich, and smiled delightedly—not +with recognition but at the possibility of having +fun with someone arrayed like a peacock. +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes, I was there! Do you know Anne +Stewart?” said she. +</p> +<p> +“I should think I did! Didn’t we live next +door to the Stewarts when Anne and Paul were +little tots?” +</p> +<p> +“How nice to meet you, now,” returned +Eleanor, noting the quality of the apparel and the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_3'></a>3</span> +approximate value of the gems adorning the lady. +</p> +<p> +“But that was before Ebeneezer struck ‘pay +dirt’ down in Cripple Creek. After that, we +moved from the little house and bought a swell +mansion in the fashionable part of Denver,” explained +the lady, with pride. +</p> +<p> +“Did you say you met us last summer?” ventured +Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, don’t you remember me? I got off the +train coming in from Colorado Springs, just as +you-all stood waiting for the East-bound Express.” +</p> +<p> +“I have a faint recollection of Anne shaking +hands with someone, and introducing Polly and +me, but there were so many in our party that you +must pardon me if I do not recall you now.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh sure! I know how it is,” giggled the +lady, affably. “You <em>did</em> have a crowd waiting +to see you off, I remember.” +</p> +<p> +“And now we meet again on the steamer bound +for Europe! Well, it goes to show how small a +place this world is,” remarked Eleanor, not knowing +what else to say, but feeling amused at the +hackneyed phrase she had to make use of. +</p> +<p> +“How comes it that you are sailing across? +Is your Ma and family with you?” +</p> +<p> +“No, but Polly Brewster—she’s the girl you +saw that day with Anne—and I are going to tour +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_4'></a>4</span> +Europe with some friends, to study more of our +profession.” +</p> +<p> +“Profession! Good gracious—didn’t that +gold mine I read about pan out anything?” exclaimed +the lady, astonished. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor laughed. “Oh yes, I believe it is going +to pay even richer than we at first thought +possible; so Polly and I can use our own money +to improve our education.” +</p> +<p> +“And what are you going to take up?” +</p> +<p> +“We have taken it up—Polly and I have been +studying Interior Decorating for two years, +now.” +</p> +<p> +“Interior Decorating! Good gracious—isn’t +that the sort of work the upholsterers and painters +have to do for you?” gasped the lady. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor laughed again. Here was fun indeed! +So she carefully fed the fuel now beginning +to take fire in her companion’s brain. “I +am afraid it <em>has</em> been their work in the past. +But Polly and I plan to try and uplift the work, +and by investing our money in a first-rate business, +we will try to create a real profession out +of what is merely a paint-brush and a tack-hammer +job, nowadays.” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor glanced about to make sure her friends +were not within hearing of the remarks she had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_5'></a>5</span> +just made to her new acquaintance. The expression +on the lady’s face, as the young aspirant for +a new ideal explained her plans, sufficed Eleanor +for the story she had just told. +</p> +<p> +“And what did you say your name was, +dearie?” asked the lady, finally. +</p> +<p> +“Eleanor Maynard—of the Chicago Maynards, +you know.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, yes, I know of them,” replied the lady, +glibly. “I am Mrs. Ebeneezer Alexander, of +Denver. P’raps you’ve heard how Eben made +a million in a night?” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander’s puckered forehead led +Eleanor to understand what was expected of her +in reply, so she fibbed as glibly as her companion +had. “Oh yes! <em>who</em> has not heard of the Alexanders +of Denver?” +</p> +<p> +The lady smoothed out her steamer-rug and +smiled happily. Then the remembrance of this +banker’s daughter going into a common trade, to +better the conditions and reputation of the work, +rose uppermost in her shallow mind again. +</p> +<p> +“I should think your Ma’d go wild to think +that one of her girls wanted to work instead of +getting married to a rich young man,” remarked +she. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe my mother would object if I gave her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_6'></a>6</span> +time to think about it,” Eleanor said, smilingly. +“But she’s too busy getting my sister Bob ready +to marry, to bother about me.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, by the time your sister is settled down +and having a family, you’ll be ready to turn your +back on work and do as your Ma thinks best,” +declared Mrs. Alexander, knowingly. +</p> +<p> +The very suggestion of Barbara’s having a family +so amused Eleanor that she laughed uncontrollably, +to the perplexity of her companion. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you believe you will grow tired of +work?” asked Mrs. Alexander, thinking her remarks +on that subject had sounded preposterous +to Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“No indeed! Polly and I are tremendously +interested in the study, and as we go into it deeper, +the more absorbing it grows,” replied Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t know you had anything to study, except +how to handle a paint-brush, or tuck in the +furniture covering, before you tack the guimpe +along the edges.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes, there’s a little more than that to learn +first, before you can hang out a sign to tell folks +you are a decorator, and wish to solicit their +trade,” smiled Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“Who are these Ashbys you spoke of? Are +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_7'></a>7</span> +they New York trade people, or do they travel +in society?” now asked Mrs. Alexander, as she +remembered the escort Eleanor had mentioned. +</p> +<p> +“Mr. and Mrs. Ashby, and their daughter +Ruth, are very nice people who know just the sort +of folks Polly and I need to meet to help us in +our business, later on. Mr. Ashby has a large +upholstery and decorating business in New York +City, but his wife goes into society, somewhat,” +explained Eleanor, a twinkle in her eyes that +would have warned one who understood her mischievous +inclinations. But her companion did +not understand. +</p> +<p> +“Oh—I see! Just a tradesman who’s made +some money, I s’pose, and now his wife wants to +climb. Did you ever read that novel about some +‘climbers’?” +</p> +<p> +“No, but I’ve heard of it. The Ashbys are +not that sort.” +</p> +<p> +“But not the sort that can help me with Dodo, +either, I see,” said Mrs. Alexander, thoughtfully +for her. +</p> +<p> +“Dodo?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, she’s my daughter. It’s because of her +that I’m going over to the other side. I’ve heard +say there are titles going begging for American +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_8'></a>8</span> +millionaires since the war. And Dodo isn’t bad +looking, even if she isn’t as prepossessing as I +used to be—and am yet, I can say.” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor could hardly believe she had heard +aright. An American mother from <em>Denver</em> going +to exchange her child for a title! And the +absolute egotism with which she mentioned her +own looks and behavior! +</p> +<p> +“Well!” thought Eleanor to herself, “I was +looking for entertainment, and here I have more +of it than I dreamed of.” +</p> +<p> +“Does your daughter agree with you about +marrying a title?” Eleanor could not help asking. +</p> +<p> +“She doesn’t say anything about it, one way or +another. I told her what she had to do, and +that settles it.” +</p> +<p> +“How old is she?” wondered Eleanor aloud. +</p> +<p> +“Past sixteen, but she looks more like twenty. +If it wasn’t that it would make me look so old, I’d +dress her like twenty-one ’cause I hear the Europeans +prefer a woman of age, and over there +she can’t be her own lawful self ’til twenty-one.” +</p> +<p> +“Sixteen! Why—she isn’t much older than +Polly or I!” gasped Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“No, but I said—she seemed older.” +</p> +<p> +“Nancy Fabian is nineteen and <em>she</em> never thinks +of getting married—not yet. Everyone thinks, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_9'></a>9</span> +nowadays, that twenty-five is plenty young enough +for a girl to think of marriage. That gives her +a chance to see the world and men, and then make +a wise choice.” +</p> +<p> +“Nancy Fabian—who is she?” asked Mrs. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“Nancy is the daughter of Mr. Fabian who +taught Polly and me interior decorating thus far. +He is a wonderful teacher, and Nancy, his only +child, has been studying art in Paris. Her +mother went over with her to chaperone her, while +there, and now we are going to meet them. +Nancy managed to have several of her watercolors +exhibited at the Academy this year, and +one of them took a prize.” Eleanor’s tone conveyed +the delight and pride she felt in Nancy Fabian’s +achievement, even though she had not met +her. +</p> +<p> +“And this teacher is traveling with you?” was +Mrs. Alexander’s rejoinder. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor felt the condescension in Mrs. Alexander’s +tone and resented it. So she decided to answer +with a sharp thrust. +</p> +<p> +“Yes; Mr. Fabian promised Anne and my +mother to take good care of Polly and me, until +he turns us over to his wife and Nancy, who are +visiting Sir James Osgood, of London.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_10'></a>10</span> +</p> +<p> +“Visiting a Sir James!” gasped Mrs. Alexander, +sitting bolt upright for the first time since the +interview began. +</p> +<p> +“Uh-huh! The Fabians and the Osgoods are +very close friends, I hear. Nancy Fabian and +Angela Osgood studied in the same class, in Paris; +and Mrs. Fabian chaperoned Angela when her +mother, Lady Osgood, had to return to England +for the London Season.” Eleanor had her revenge. +</p> +<p> +“Mercy! Then these Fabians must <em>be</em> somebody!” +</p> +<p> +“Why, of course! What made you think they +were not?” +</p> +<p> +“From what you said,” stammered Mrs. Alexander, +humbly. “You said he was a teacher and +that he was an intimate friend of the Ashbys who +were painters and upholsterers.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh no, I didn’t!” retorted Eleanor. “<em>You</em> +said that. <em>I</em> said that Mr. Ashby was an interior +decorator who helped Polly and me a lot, and +that Mr. Fabian was our teacher. There is a +vast difference between decorators and paint-slingers, +you will learn, some day.” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor was about to walk away with that parting +shot, when a very attractive girl came from +a side-door of the Lounge and looked around. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11'></a>11</span> +Catching sight of Mrs. Alexander, she started for +her. She was over-dressed, and her face had been +powdered and rouged as much as her mother’s +was; her lips were scarlet as carmine could tinge +them, and her hair was waved and dressed in the +latest style for adults. As Mrs. Alexander had +said, her daughter looked fully ten years older +than she really was, because of her make-up. +</p> +<p> +She glanced casually at Eleanor, without expressing +any interest in her, and turned to her +mother. “Oh, Ma! I’ve been looking for you +everywhere! Pa says he <em>won’t</em> come out and sit +down, just to watch who goes by.” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor was severely tailored in her appearance, +but her suit represented the best cut and fit +that the most exclusive shop in New York could +provide, and the broad-cloth was of the finest. +Dodo, (whose real name was Dorothy but was +cut to Dodo for a pet name) failed to recognize +the lines and material of the gown, but she passed +it over lightly because she saw no gorgeous trimmings +to claim value for it. +</p> +<p> +“Dodo, dearie, do you remember those two +girls we read about, out west? The ones who discovered +that gold mine just below Grizzly Slide? +Well, this is Eleanor Maynard from Chicago, who +was with her chum Polly, when they sought refuge +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12'></a>12</span> +in that cave on the mountain-top. Isn’t it lovely +for you to meet her, this way?” +</p> +<p> +At mention of the gold mine, and the unusual +circumstances in connection with it, Dodo’s expression +changed. She smiled politely at Eleanor +and said: “So glad to meet you.” +</p> +<p> +“And Dodo being my only child, Miss Maynard, +she is well worth knowing. She will inherit +the million her father made,” added Mrs. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor smiled cynically. “I’m sorry for you, +Dodo. It spoils one’s life to be reminded of +how much one has to live up to, when one is +young and only wants to be carefree and happy.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, do you feel that way, too! I thought it +was only me who was queer. Ma says other girls +would give their heads to be in my place,” exclaimed +the girl, anxiously. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor now took a keener look at the speaker. +It was evident from her words that she was not +what she was dressed up to represent. “You +have a chance to be yourself, in spite of every one, +you know,” said Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I wish to goodness you would show me +how! I hate all this fluffy-ruffle stuff and I wish +we could get back to that time when I could go +with my hair twisted at the back of my neck; and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13'></a>13</span> +a cold water wash to clean my face, instead of all +this cold cream business, and then the paint and +flour afterwards!” declared Dodo, bluntly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh deary! I beg of you—don’t display +your ignorance before strangers like this!” wailed +her mother, fluttering a lace handkerchief before +her eyes. “Eleanor Maynard is one of <em>the</em> Maynards +of Chicago.” +</p> +<p> +“Why not! If Eleanor Maynard is half the +girl I think she is—from what I read, that time +they were lost on the Flat Tops and from what +she just said, then she’ll appreciate me the more +for my honesty,” asserted the girl. +</p> +<p> +“I do, Dodo. I never had much use for make-up, +but I know society condones the use of it all. +So I’m glad to find a real girl who dislikes it as +much as Polly and I do.” +</p> +<p> +“There now, Ma! And I bet these girls will +look at your pet hobby much the same as I do.” +Then Dodo turned to Eleanor and added: +“Ma’s bound to palm me off on some little stick +of a nobleman in Europe, just to brag about my +name with a handle to it. But <em>I</em> say I don’t want +a husband—especially a foreign one. If I have +to marry, let me choose a westerner! The kind +I’m used to.” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor could have hugged the girl for her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14'></a>14</span> +frank honesty so different from what she had +looked for from the daughter of the silly woman +before her. +</p> +<p> +“If only we could persuade Ma to see that this +going to Europe does not mean just buying Paris +dresses and parading them to catch a lord, I’ll be +happy,” concluded Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“Poor child! How she does find fault with +her little mother!” sighed Mrs. Alexander, wiping +her eyes in self-pity. +</p> +<p> +Dodo turned her entire attention to her new +acquaintance, at this. “Are you alone, or is your +family with you?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I forgot to tell you, Dodo dear; Miss +Maynard is going to study decorating in Europe; +and her friend Polly, and their teacher, is with +her. She just told me that the teacher’s wife and +daughter are visiting a real English peer! Think +of it—a teacher’s family stopping with a live lady +of quality!” exclaimed Mrs. Alexander, eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“I hope they are nice English folks,” commented +Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“Naturally they would be, if they belong to +the peerage, Dodo,” returned her mother, innocent +of a “Burke” and the difference between a +baronet and a peer. “But I was thinking, that it +would be quite easy for us to get acquainted with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15'></a>15</span> +dukes and lords, if a mere teacher got his family +invited to one’s house.” +</p> +<p> +Dodo’s lip curled sarcastically, and Eleanor +learned that the daughter had nothing in common +with these empty fads of her mother. Then +Dodo said: “I hope the teacher’s family know +enough to make the lord’s family appreciate a +good old American!” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor laughed, and said: “If Nancy Fabian +and her mother are anything like Mr. Fabian, +you can rest assured that they’ll do full justice +to the United States, and the Stars and +Stripes.” +</p> +<p> +To change the subject from this dangerous +ground that created more resistance for her to +fight than she had to meet, recently, from Dodo, +Mrs. Alexander hastily said: “Do you know, +Dodo, Miss Maynard told me that Polly and she +took up the study of Interior Decorating, in New +York, in order to better the conditions of painters +and upholsterers who work at that trade. <span class='sc'>Not</span> +to make money.” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor frowned. “I think you misunderstood +me, Mrs. Alexander. I said we were studying +the profession and that it took a great deal of +application and perseverance to reach the high +plane which was necessary for a good decorator +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16'></a>16</span> +to stand on. So few who call themselves interior +decorators really know much about the art. And +in order to increase our education and understanding +of the profession, Polly and I are about +to visit the great museums of Europe.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, it is the same thing, isn’t it?” pouted +Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“No, I think your idea of interior decorators +is that any ‘paint-slinger or tack-driver’ is a professional. +Whereas I see that <em>that</em> is the very +error necessary to be reversed by us, before the +public recognises the value of genuine decorators. +In France and other European countries, an interior +decorator has to have a certificate. And +that is what we hope to do in the United States—put +the real ones through a course of studies and +have them examined and a diploma given, before +one can claim title to being a decorator.” +Eleanor spoke with emphasis and feeling. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I don’t know a fig about it, or anything +else, for that matter,” laughed Dodo, cheerfully. +“But I can understand how much more interesting +it must be to trot around hunting up worm-eaten +furniture, or examining ruined masonry, or +admiring moth-holed fabrics, than to do as I have +to—follow after Ma and sit with my hands idly +folded waiting for some old fossil to pass by and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17'></a>17</span> +say: ‘I choose her, because she’s got the most +cash.’” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor laughed outright at the girl’s statement, +but Mrs. Alexander showed her anger by +twisting her shoulders and saying: “Dodo Alexander! +If I didn’t know better, I’d believe you +were trying to make Eleanor believe that you detested +your opportunity!” +</p> +<p> +Dodo tossed her head and said: “Time will +show!” +</p> +<p> +At that crisis in the conversation, another girl’s +voice was heard across the deck. “Nolla! Are +you there?” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor turned and called back: “No, I am +not here!” +</p> +<p> +Then all three girls laughed. The newcomer, +Polly Brewster, skipped lightly across the deck, +and joined the group she had spied from the open +doorway. Eleanor introduced Mrs. Alexander +as an old friend of Anne’s, and Dodo her daughter, +as an independent American who believed in +suffrage and all the rights of American womanhood. +At this latter explanation, Dodo grinned +and her mother gasped in amazement at Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +Then Mrs. Alexander said politely: “How is +Anne Stewart? I haven’t seen her for some +time.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18'></a>18</span> +</p> +<p> +“Anne is married to my brother John, now,” +returned Polly. “And they are going to live +home, with mother, while I am away. Anne’s +mother is to live at the old home in Denver, and +keep house for Paul.” +</p> +<p> +“It seems years and years since I lived next +door to them,” remarked Dodo. “I always +played with Paul Stewart.” +</p> +<p> +“Deary, it can’t be years and years, because I +am not so old as you try to make me appear,” +corrected Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +Polly, understanding from the words, saw how +vain the woman was and stood looking at her in +surprise. But Eleanor heard only Dodo’s speech. +</p> +<p> +“Did you say you always played with Paul +Stewart when you were neighbors?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes indeed!” laughed Dodo, as she remembered +various incidents of that childhood. +</p> +<p> +“We always played we were married, and +Paul’s Irish Terrier and my kitten were our children. +We dressed them up in old dust-cloths and +tried to make them behave, but no parents ever +had such trials with their children as we had when +Terry and Kitty got to scrapping!” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor was deeply interested and Polly smiled +at what she saw expressed in her friend’s face. +Dodo continued her reminiscences. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19'></a>19</span> +</p> +<p> +“Paul used to draw me on his sled when we +went to school, and he always saved a bite of his +apple for me at noon-time. I gave him half of +my cake in exchange. Oh, we had such fun—we +two, in those days!” the girl sighed and looked +out over the billowy sea. +</p> +<p> +“Then Pa struck that vein of gold down at +Cripple Creek and everything changed. Ma got +the social bug, so bad, we had to leave all our old +friends, and move to a strange neighborhood +where Pa never spoke to a soul and I felt out +of place. But Ma said it had to be done to establish +our position. +</p> +<p> +“The Stewarts rented their house and I heard +that Paul went to Chicago to college, while Anne +went to teach a school in New York. Then I +never heard again, of any of them, until Ma met +you-all at the Denver railroad station.” Dodo +smiled at that crumb of comfort. +</p> +<p> +Polly and Eleanor were deeply touched at the +girl’s tale, for they knew how lonely she must have +been away from her old associations, in an atmosphere +where she was not at home. And such a +frivolous mother who could not understand the +true blue of such an honest character as Dodo’s! +</p> +<p> +“Ma sent me to a swell seminary near our new +house, but the girls snubbed me, and I never had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20'></a>20</span> +a pal all the time I was there. When Ma ordered +me to come to Europe with her to stock up +with fine dresses and then try to make a match +for me with some man with a title, I came, but +goodness knows! I just hate the idea.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Dodo! You’ll break my heart, if you +talk like that!” cried Mrs. Alexander, trying to +impress the two other girls with her maternal +sorrow. +</p> +<p> +“Nolla! I almost forgot what I came for,” +laughed Polly, to change the subject. “Prof. +says for you to come to the salon where they have +used Adams period and Louis XIV furniture in +the same room. He wants to show us a bad example +of decoration.” +</p> +<p> +“May I come with you?” asked Dodo, eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“Of course! Come right along,” agreed +Eleanor, thrusting her hand through the new +friend’s arm and starting away with her. +</p> +<p> +The moment they were out of hearing, Eleanor +said impressively to Dodo: “Don’t you ever +give in to that idea of marrying a foreigner! +Your mother will soon get over it if you just keep +on making her see it’s no use. If you pretend to +take up some study like we are doing, she will +see you mean business.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21'></a>21</span> +</p> +<p> +“That’s good advice, and I sure will follow it,” +declared the eager girl. +</p> +<p> +“And Nolla and I will help along all we can,” +promised Polly. +</p> +<p> +“Even if you have to make your mother believe +you are in love with Paul Stewart and won’t marry +anyone else—then do it!” declared Eleanor, in +tones of brave self-sacrifice and renunciation. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, but I’m not! Paul is a dandy boy and +we had good times when we were small, but I’ve +seen other boys I like a heap better’n him, now! +But I really don’t want to marry anyone, yet!” +</p> +<p> +“I shouldn’t think you would!” breathed +Eleanor, in great relief. “So Polly and I will +agree to help you out of all the plots your mother +plans for you. Won’t we, Polly?” +</p> +<p> +“We sure will!” agreed Polly. And that is +how Dodo came to travel about Europe with +Polly and Eleanor. And why the two old friends +felt it a duty to protect and save Dodo from the +wily plans of her mother who wished to own a +title in the Ebeneezer Alexander family. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22'></a>22</span><a name='chII' id='chII'></a>CHAPTER II—DODO MEETS POLLY’S FRIENDS</h2> +<p> +Dorothy Alexander was a good type of the +healthy western girl. She was tall, well-built, +and the picture of splendid health. Her hair was +of a ruddy hue, with copper glints in it. Her +complexion was like “peaches and cream,” and +needed no cosmetic to enhance its charm. Her +form was lithe and supple, and her features were +good. Her bright eyes sparkled with good-humor, +and her smile was contagious in its sweetness. +When she was well-dressed, she would be +a beauty, thought Eleanor, but her present overdressing +depreciated her genuine good looks. +</p> +<p> +“Prof., we bring you a new convert,” laughed +Eleanor, as the three girls approached Mr. +Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“Dorothy Alexander, Mr. Fabian,” added +Polly. +</p> +<p> +The two acknowledged the introduction and +the girl thought: “What a fine face he has! +Such wonderful expression and forehead.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23'></a>23</span> +</p> +<p> +And Mr. Fabian thought: “There’s a great +deal under all that sham.” +</p> +<p> +Shortly after the introduction, Mr. Fabian +spoke of the flaunting mistakes some so-called decorator +had made in the selection and furnishings +of the salon. So they turned their attention to +that interesting subject. Dodo stood by and listened +to it all, as she wondered what these two +good-looking girls could find to interest them in +such a dry subject? But she confessed that both +girls seemed more beautiful and attractive, when +they were thoroughly interested and animated with +the ideas they were exchanging with Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +As they left the room, Mr. Fabian turned his +attention to Dodo, particularly. And soon she +was telling him freely, all about her life in Denver, +and how hard her father had worked and +suffered at Cripple Creek, to amass the fortune +they now enjoyed. When Dodo described her +father’s character and how simple and blunt he +was in everything, her hearers fell in love with +the unknown. She told how generous he was to +every one, and how no one was left in need if he +could help it. +</p> +<p> +“But he has one awful sin that Ma can’t forgive +him,” added Dodo, glancing covertly around +to make sure no one could hear. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24'></a>24</span> +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian shivered at what she was about +to say, and he wished Dodo was not <em>quite</em> so frank +as to reveal family skeletons. But she was +launched and nothing could check her. +</p> +<p> +“Pa has a pet old pipe that’s as black as ink. +He just won’t smoke any of the imported cigars +Ma buys for him, and he won’t let her throw the +old pipe away. He gets away by himself and +smokes it until he feels happy—no matter what +Ma says or does.” +</p> +<p> +All three of her audience bent double in merriment +at what they just heard. Mr. Fabian was +so relieved at the “sin” he feared to hear about, +that he laughed louder than the two girls. +</p> +<p> +“S-sh!” warned Dodo, hurriedly. “Here +comes Pa, now!” +</p> +<p> +Instantly they hushed and turned to watch the +“grand being” they had just heard about. The +shock of beholding the actual man who was the +opposite of what Dodo had pictured him caused +them to mumble confusedly when Mr. Alexander +was introduced. +</p> +<p> +He was a little wiry man of about fifty years. +The top of his head was bald, with a fringe of +grey all about the crown. Right in front, on top, +grew a stiff lock of stubborn hair that generally +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25'></a>25</span> +stood upright. This gave him the funny appearance +that is often portrayed in the comic section +of the Sunday papers. His hands were knotted +with hard work, and his legs were bowed just +enough to make him walk awkwardly. His eyes +were small and merry, and his ears large and fan-like. +But his mouth was the feature that attracted +instant attention and held it wonderingly. +It was a wide, good-natured mouth, and when he +smiled he literally demonstrated that saying: +“His head opened from ear to ear.” He wore +a huge ulster of checks and a tourist cap with ear-tabs +tied on top. +</p> +<p> +“Hello, Dodo! Who’s your friends?” called +he cheerily, as he came up to them. +</p> +<p> +He was introduced, and Dodo followed up the +introduction by saying: “I was just talking +about you—telling my friends what a fine man +you are.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander smiled happily. “It ain’t +every man what has a gal that says that, eh?” +</p> +<p> +“You’re right there, Mr. Alexander,” agreed +Mr. Fabian, glad to speak and express something +worthy of himself. +</p> +<p> +“And Dodo is sure one fine gal, too. I wonder +why she ain’t sp’iled like other gals I see.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26'></a>26</span> +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps her father’s example is before her,” +ventured Eleanor. And forever after that, +Dodo swore allegiance to Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“I’m right glad you-all met Dodo, ’cause I was +fearin’ the missus might get her to give in to them +foolish notions about gettin’ a furriner. Did you +tell ’em, Dodo?” said her father. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, Pa, and the girls are going to help me +cure Ma of that fad.” +</p> +<p> +“That’s the best news, yet! I hope you kin +do it!” said he, slapping his knee. “You must +be real gals, too, like mine, here.” +</p> +<p> +Polly laughed, and Eleanor said: “We like to +ride and hike, and have good times, but we’re not +out hunting for husbands. If we ever reach that +place where we want to marry, we’ll take a man +we know by heart, and not one who is buying a +doll made up at a hair-dresser and beauty-doctor’s.” +</p> +<p> +“You’re the right sort, all right!” chuckled the +little man, transferring the slap from his knee to +Eleanor’s back. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor gasped for breath but she considered +the sharp commendation a compliment that any +<em>man</em> might be glad to get. Mr. Fabian had to +smile at Eleanor’s sudden gasp and instant recovery, +but Polly laughed outright, for she was accustomed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27'></a>27</span> +to such pleasantries from the ranchers +at home. +</p> +<p> +“Poor Pa. He’s so glad to meet some sensible +folks, that he doesn’t stop to think how hard his +hand is, with all the mining and picking at gold +ore, out west,” added Dodo, smiling sympathetically +at Eleanor, and then at her father. +</p> +<p> +“Right again! This traipsing to U-rope fer a +title, isn’t my kind of work. But I jus’ couldn’t +let Ma run off with Dodo and all my cash, when +I knew Dodo diden’ want to. So I says, ‘Onless +you lug me along wherever you go, my cash stays +behind in America.’ You-all know, ‘cash makes +the mare go,’ so I was included in the trip.” +</p> +<p> +The little man chuckled and caused the others +to laugh at his amusing expression. Then he +leaned forward and said confidentially: “But I’ll +confess, all this tight-fittin’ clothes, and a boiled +shirt with stiff collars and cuffs ain’t to my likin’! +I have to pinch my feet into shiny tight shoes, and +use a tie that has to be knotted every day, ’stead +of a ready-made one that I can hook on to my +collar-button.” +</p> +<p> +At that admission, the girls laughed merrily +and Mr. Fabian simply roared, for he understood +collar-buttons and the agony Mr. Alexander must +endure. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28'></a>28</span> +</p> +<p> +The little man felt that he was making fine +headway in his conversational powers, so he continued +to practice the art. +</p> +<p> +“But say! let me tell you-all—when Ma carted +me to Noo York and made me take dancing lessons +to get graceful, I tried it twicet—then I +balked! ‘No more of them monkey-shines for an +old miner,’ says I. And I never did it again, did +I, Dodo?” +</p> +<p> +Dodo laughed and shook her head, and the +others renewed their mirth. Mr. Alexander was +now encouraged to proceed. +</p> +<p> +“Ma went to a Madam Something-er-other fer +to learn how to act in polite society and how to +not do the wrong things at the right time, and +vice versy, but she coulden get <em>me</em> to go there! +I spent that time at the Movies or ridin’ on the +Fifth Avenoo bus, and laughin’ at folks—the way +they rushed around like ants. +</p> +<p> +“But here I am, mixin’ in as good comp’ny as +I want, and it ain’t costin’ me a cent to sit in a +little room and listen to a fat old woman who +charges a dollar a throw.” As he concluded his +speech, a group of people standing directly back +of Mr. Fabian and the girls, joined the circle. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander instantly froze up and felt uncomfortable +lest they had heard him speak. Then +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29'></a>29</span> +Mr. Fabian eased his mind by saying: “Now +you can meet the Ashbys, Mr. Alexander. Miss +Dodo, this is Mrs. Ashby, and Ruth, and Mr. +Ashby. And this is a new friend, Mr. Ashby, +but an old acquaintance of Polly and Eleanor’s +from Denver—Mr. Alexander and Miss Dodo.” +</p> +<p> +The introductions over, Mr. Ashby quickly +smoothed the way for the nervous little man from +the west; but Dodo wondered why her mother +had the impression that these people were inferior +because they were in business in New York. She +had never met any one more refined, or who +showed truer gentility than these people. +</p> +<p> +After an exchange of words, Mr. Alexander +whispered to his daughter: “Dodo, do you +think we’d better go out to Ma? She might get +huffy, you know, when she finds out we’ve been +meetin’ all the nice people and leavin’ her in the +cold.” +</p> +<p> +“We’ll all go out, Mr. Alexander,” suggested +Eleanor, seeing how much better it would be for +the two culprits if Mrs. Alexander had to entertain +a number of new-comers instead of her own +people. +</p> +<p> +They started to go on deck, but Mr. Alexander +hastily surveyed himself in a mirror as he +passed. Then he pulled at Mr. Fabian’s sleeve. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30'></a>30</span> +</p> +<p> +“I reckon I’d better take off the ulster before +the Missus sees me in it. She can’t bear it, ’cause +she thinks it looks like a workin’-man’s coat.” +</p> +<p> +So saying, the wrap was slipped off and Mr. +Alexander straightened the cap on his shiny head. +He brushed a speck from his pale grey spats, and +tugged at his tie to have it correctly placed. Then +he hurried after the others. In that time, Mr. +Fabian saw how hen-pecked the poor little man +must be, and he resolved to stand by him in his +troubles. Thus Dodo won two allies, and her +father unconsciously acquired a splendid friend +for times of need. +</p> +<p> +“Have you ever been abroad before?” asked +Mr. Ashby, as Mr. Alexander caught up with +him. +</p> +<p> +“Not on your life! The States is good enough +for me, but Dodo had to be saved, you see, and I +come along.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Ashby knew nothing of Mrs. Alexander’s +hopes and aspirations, and he was in the dark +about the little man’s words. +</p> +<p> +“You have a great treat awaiting you, if you +have never visited the famous old cities of Europe, +before,” added Mr. Ashby. +</p> +<p> +“Most folks go over for other things than to +see the fine towns,” remarked Mr. Alexander. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31'></a>31</span> +</p> +<p> +“I hear the women-folk mostly go to get clothes +in Paris.” +</p> +<p> +Everyone laughed; then the group crossed the +deck to the steamer-chair occupied by Mrs. Alexander. +Dodo introduced her mother to the strangers; +she smiled loftily at the Ashbys, but was +very effusive over Mr. Fabian. So much so, that +he wondered at it. +</p> +<p> +But in a few moments she unconsciously showed +her reason for it. “I hear you are going to visit +at an English Peer’s, in London, Mr. Fabian.” +</p> +<p> +“My wife and daughter are visiting at Sir +James Osgood’s, I believe, but my visit there all +depends on whether the Ashbys and my girls are +included in the invitation. If they are not, of +course I will have to decline, also.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, you wouldn’t miss such a chance, would +you?” cried the surprised woman. +</p> +<p> +“I’m missing nothing that I know of,” replied +Mr. Fabian; then Polly came to his rescue and +changed the conversation. +</p> +<p> +In the next few days, Mr. Alexander and Dodo +became great favorites with the Ashbys and Mr. +Fabian, while Polly and Eleanor declared that +the girl was splendid! She had dropped all pretence +and make-up, and had donned the simplest +gowns she had in the trunk, much to her mother’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32'></a>32</span> +disapproval, and to the girls’ smiling approval. +</p> +<p> +In constant association with the quiet Polly, +the well-bred Ruth Ashby, and the thoroughbred +Eleanor, Dodo soon acquired better form in every +way. She was quick and bright enough to recognise +her shortcomings and eager to improve herself. +</p> +<p> +The last morning of the trip, after the English +shore had been sighted, Mrs. Alexander suddenly +changed her plans about going to Havre, +and decided to land in England when the others +did. This change of plan she confided to no one +at the time. But she awaited a chance. +</p> +<p> +“Have you really decided to leave us, Mr. Fabian?” +said she coyly, when she met that gentleman +in the morning at breakfast. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, we take the lighter that comes off shore +at Dover, and takes on those who wish to land.” +</p> +<p> +“Dodo tells me that you got a wireless that +your wife and daughter would meet you at the +wharf, in Dover,” continued Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and the invitation from Sir James, includes +my party, I hear, so it is all right. We +are all going there for an informal dinner-party +and to spend the night. Then we will hire an +auto and continue on our trip in the morning,” +explained Mr. Fabian. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33'></a>33</span> +</p> +<p> +“Dear, dear! I am so upset,” sighed the amateur +actress. “I find <em>my</em> car—it was shipped +over before we left Noo York—was left in London +instead of going on to France. So we have +to get off when you do, and go to London just +to get our car.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, really! I didn’t know you had sent a +car across,” said Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“Dear yes! You might as well, when you +have one, you know. But I expect to buy myself +a new French car whiles I am in Paris. Just for +myself, and a friend or two, to use, you know; +and that lets Pa drive his own touring car, ’cause +he is crazy about motoring.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander had not mentioned a car, nor +had Dodo said anything about the trouble in the +delivery of a car to the wrong port, so Mr. Fabian +mistrusted the truth of the statement made +by Mrs. Alexander; but he forbore saying anything +about the matter to any of his companions. +</p> +<p> +Evidently the lady’s husband and daughter had +just previously been warned about the car, also, +for they looked troubled and made no comment +when Mrs. Alexander surprised everyone by saying: +“We find we have to land at Dover, also, +as our car went astray during shipment and we +have to see about it in London.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34'></a>34</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, how nice! Then Dodo can remain with +us a bit longer,” said Ruth, guilelessly. +</p> +<p> +“And her mother, of course,” said Mrs. Alexander +pointedly, lifting her shoulders as well as +her eye-brows. +</p> +<p> +“And her old man, too,” chuckled Mr. Alexander, +causing everyone who heard him to laugh. +</p> +<p> +His spouse sent him a most disquieting look, +however, and he subsided in his chair. But +Eleanor, who sat beside him at the table, nudged +him encouragingly when Mrs. Alexander was not +looking. +</p> +<p> +So, when the lighter touched at the Dover dock, +the entire party got off, and soon Mr. Fabian +was encircled by four arms, while two heads were +pressed close to his face. A younger woman +stood a bit aside, smiling sympathetically at the +reunion. +</p> +<p> +Then she was introduced to the Americans as +Angela Osgood, Nancy Fabian’s friend. And in +turn, Mr. Fabian introduced his two protegées, +Polly and Eleanor, and the Ashbys, and the +Alexanders. +</p> +<p> +When Mrs. Alexander really found herself +face to face with the daughter of an English +Baronet, she was speechless with joy. Now she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35'></a>35</span> +could write home and tell everyone she ever knew +about meeting Sir James Osgood’s daughter! +</p> +<p> +But Angela never dreamed of the disturbance +she had caused in the breast of this unusual-looking +woman. +</p> +<p> +“Now, how shall we dispose of all the passengers, +Nancy?” laughed Angela, counting the +heads of the party she expected to drive to the +town house for dinner. +</p> +<p> +“The car only holds seven, you see,” explained +she, turning to the Ashbys. “I counted on +Nancy’s father and two girls driving with me, +and the three Ashbys taking the seat in the road-car +where the luggage will be placed. The +groom drives that. Or we can rearrange it any +way you say.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander instantly pushed herself forward +and said: “Oh, how very kind of you to +include us in your party! I really can’t accept a +seat in the car if anyone else must be crowded.” +</p> +<p> +Dodo looked like a thunder-cloud and pulled +at her mother’s arm, but Mr. Alexander spoke +out bluntly. +</p> +<p> +“I ain’t invited to nobody’s house, so I’m going +on to London to get that car you told me about. +Dodo can come with me.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36'></a>36</span> +</p> +<p> +His spouse instantly silenced him with a glowering +look, and Angela hoped to smooth matters +out by what she now said. +</p> +<p> +“Mother and father will be delighted to have +all of you come, and I’m sure they will feel <em>dreadfully</em>, +if anyone is left out. We never stand on +ceremony, you know, and this is an occasion where +you all must come without formality.” +</p> +<p> +“We’re delighted, I assure you, Miss Osgood, +and I will accept for my family and myself. The +only question now, is, how shall we manage about +the cars. If only my seven-passenger car was +here instead of in London!” exclaimed Mrs. Alexander, +eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“Why, the ladies will use this car, of course,” +said Mr. Fabian, “while we men go in the baggage-car. +You may be uncomfortably crowded, +but I see no other way.” +</p> +<p> +So Mrs. Fabian, Mrs. Ashby and Mrs. Alexander +sat in the back seat while Polly, Eleanor, Ruth +and Dodo had to crowd upon the folding seats in +the middle of the car. Nancy sat in front and +Angela drove the car. The groom with the baggage +and the three men followed directly after +in his car. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander certainly was a general when +she wanted to win a battle of wits, but it was a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37'></a>37</span> +pity she had no better ambitions than the mere +forcing a way into society and marrying her +daughter to a title. +</p> +<p> +As they started for London, she leaned back +in the seat and said: “If only the company +hadn’t mistaken the directions about my car. It +is such a great roomy affair, that everyone could +have traveled in it with the utmost comfort.” +</p> +<p> +“But it wouldn’t have been here at all, for us to +travel in, if they had sent it as you directed—to +Havre, instead of London,” said Mrs. Ashby. +</p> +<p> +“Oh true! But I meant—if it had been left +over at Dover instead of going on to London,” +quickly corrected the lady. +</p> +<p> +The conversation drifted to other topics but +was switched back again when Mrs. Alexander +remarked: “I was just thinking how nice it would +be for the Fabians and Ashbys to tour Great Britain +first instead of Europe; then they could use +my big car whiles Dodo and I go in my new runabout +that I expect to buy immediately.” +</p> +<p> +“Why, Ma! you know you’re talking—” began +Dodo, from the seat in front of her mother, but +Mrs. Alexander interrupted instantly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes, deary, I know what you would say! +That I must try a new car, first, and get acquainted +with it. But I can select a make similar +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38'></a>38</span> +to our big one, can’t I? and that is quite familiar +to me.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes, if you want to duplicate our old car, +you can do it. But you said you wanted an up-to-date +car with all the latest equipment, this time, +and such a car won’t seem familiar to you, +be——” +</p> +<p> +“Never mind, Dodo! Our friends are not interested +in our old cars, or what we have done +with them,” cut in Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +So Dodo subsided for the time, while her +mother continued: “So there will be ample room +for you to tour in my large car, ladies, while Dodo +and I use the roadster and follow you.” +</p> +<p> +“We cannot say, one way or another, Mrs. Alexander, +because nothing has been said about a +change in the itinerary. It all depends upon Mr. +Fabian and Mr. Ashby,” replied Mrs. Ashby, +politely. +</p> +<p> +But Mrs. Alexander was satisfied with the progress +she had made by mentioning the tour, and so +she left the rest to time. +</p> +<p> +After a long drive through the highly cultivated +countryside that spread out between Dover +and London, Angela drove up in front of an imposing +mansion on one of the avenues of England’s +great city. As a uniformed man came +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39'></a>39</span> +down the wide marble steps to take orders from +Angela, Mrs. Alexander sat breathless with pleasure +at the success of her maneuvering. +</p> +<p> +The baggage-car came up shortly after the +ladies had alighted from the first automobile, and +the servants carried the bags indoors, then waited +to be directed to the proper rooms. +</p> +<p> +Sir James and his wife welcomed the party of +Americans, but Mrs. Alexander felt disappointed +when she saw a plain little lady dressed in grey +taffeta, and found Sir James to be a short fat man +with a genial expression, but a horsy manner. +The others seemed quite at home with these English +people and all were soon exchanging opinions +about the recent problems in politics. +</p> +<p> +Not a word or look from either Sir James, or +his lady, led anyone to think that three extra visitors +were thrust upon the hospitable family, nor +did any hint escape them that the unexpected +guests were other than socially their equals. Mrs. +Alexander was looking for some sign of this superiority +in them because of the title, and felt most +uneasy because she detected none of it; but finding +she and her family were accepted on the same +standard as the Fabians and Ashbys, she recovered +her wonted habit of pushing a way to the +foreground in everything. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40'></a>40</span> +</p> +<p> +As the group separated to go to their separate +suites, Sir James reminded them: “Quite informal +dinner, you know. We are only tarrying in +town a few days, before going on to Osgood Hall, +so we make no pretence at dressing formally.” +</p> +<p> +The Ashbys and Fabians knew this to be a +courtesy extended them because of their lack of +baggage, but Mrs. Alexander thought Sir James +meant that their own trunks had gone to the country +and so they were not able to dress in dinner +clothes. But she determined to show how <em>she</em> +could dress, with her money. +</p> +<p> +Before Dorothy could lock the door of her +room, her mother entered and handed her the +dress she was to wear for dinner. +</p> +<p> +“Why, Ma! we were told <em>not</em> to dress!” exclaimed +she. +</p> +<p> +“That’s only bluff. You put this on and show +folks that we know what’s what, even if we haven’t +a title!” declared her mother. +</p> +<p> +Reluctantly Dodo took the beaded georgette +evening dress and then closed the door after her +mother’s commanding figure. As she went to the +toilet-table she thought: “I wonder what poor +Pa will have to wear tonight!” But she was to +learn about that sooner than she thought for. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41'></a>41</span><a name='chIII' id='chIII'></a>CHAPTER III—THE TOUR IS PLANNED</h2> +<p> +“Ma, why did you speak of your car bein’ in +London? You know durn well it ain’t!” exclaimed +Mr. Alexander, as he soaped his head +and gurgled in the water, then he ducked it up and +down in the basin. +</p> +<p> +“That’s my business! If I plan it that way to +get acquainted with a lot of fine folks, why should +you care?” +</p> +<p> +“<em>I</em> don’t care, but I diden’ know you thought +these folks so fine. I heard you say they was +only decorators,” argued her spouse. +</p> +<p> +“Ebeneezer, there are times when I could just +choke you—you are so thick!” exclaimed Mrs. +Alexander, impatiently. +</p> +<p> +“Mebbe I’m thick, Ma, but I can’t see how +you can drive a party across England when your +old car is on second-hand sale out in Denver!” +</p> +<p> +“That proves you’re thick—if you can’t see +how! I am going straight to a shop, in London, +tomorrow, where I can <em>buy</em> a car exactly the same +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42'></a>42</span> +as mine—only it will be up-to-date with self-starter +and all. Then you can drive it back here +and we will show the folks a seven-passenger car +that we owned long ago.” +</p> +<p> +As Mr. Alexander swabbed his dripping face +and hair on a damask towel, he shook his head +dubiously. “Well, these days, a hull lot of stuff +goes, but I always said such a game as you’re +playin’ was fibbin’ and that’s callin’ it by a polite +name, too.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander humped her shoulders angrily +and said: “You are the most aggravating man! +I s’pose you’ll tell everyone we know, all about my +plan to get a car in a hurry.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh no, I won’t tell no one, ’cause I don’t want +folks to believe you ain’t as honest as you pretend +to be,” said he meekly. +</p> +<p> +After that he wondered what he had said to +anger his wife so that she would not speak to him; +and when he asked her to help him with his collar-button, +she ignored him entirely. Later, when +he had trouble with his neck-tie and dared not ask +assistance of his mate, he was amazed that she +caught hold of the two ends and began to tie it. +</p> +<p> +But she had a subtle reason for helping him. +As she tied and untied it, she dinned into his ears +all the rules and reminders he had heard often +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43'></a>43</span> +before—about his behavior at the table. At last, +desperate with the nagging, he snatched the tie-ends +from her hand and rushed from the room. +</p> +<p> +“Ebeneezer! Ebeneezer—I say! come back +here!” called she. +</p> +<p> +But the little man fled down the stairs and +dodged into the first room he found. It happened +to be the library where Mr. Fabian was +conversing with Sir James. Both men arose at +the perturbed appearance of Mr. Alexander, as +he ran breathlessly into the room. +</p> +<p> +“Why—what has happened?” asked Sir James, +fearfully. +</p> +<p> +“Nothin’ much. My wife made me so nervous +a-fussin’ over my manners and this tie, that I just +had to run!” explained he. +</p> +<p> +“Allow me to help you, Mr. Alexander,” said +Sir James, and his voice was so kindly and gentle, +that Mr. Alexander decided that for true democracy +you had to meet an English baronet. +</p> +<p> +As Sir James was adding the last touch to the +tie, Mrs. Alexander swept into the room in search +of her escaped husband. When she beheld him +facing the host, who was adjusting the tie, she +was speechless. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander caught the reflection of herself +in a long mirror opposite where she stood, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44'></a>44</span> +immediately forgot, in admiring herself, her concern +over her husband’s shortcomings. She waved +her feather fan to and fro slowly and seemed absorbed +in the vision seen in the glass. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian smiled to himself, and Sir James +engaged Mr. Alexander in conversation to make +him feel more at ease. Then Dodo peeped +around the corner of the portière, and saw her +mother very much preoccupied, so she beckoned to +Mr. Fabian without being seen by the others. He +quietly moved over to the doorway. +</p> +<p> +“Just look at me, Mr. Fabian! Ma made me +dress up like a monkey, just to show folks that +she knew what’s what!” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian felt sorry for Dodo, for he knew +she wished to appear rational to the others at the +dinner-party. So he hinted: “It is still very +early for the others to appear. You’d have time +to change your mind, Dodo.” +</p> +<p> +They both laughed at that, and the girl replied: +“I will! I’ll run up and change my +dress, at the same time.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps you’ll feel better in a simple little +silk,” suggested he. +</p> +<p> +Dodo nodded understandingly and disappeared. +Just as Mr. Fabian turned to walk back +to the fireplace, Mrs. Alexander finished the contemplation +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45'></a>45</span> +of her satisfying appearance—satisfying +to herself. +</p> +<p> +Sir James immediately came over and took +such a deep interest in his guest that she had no +opportunity, thereafter, to harass her poor little +husband. The others came in, one by one, and +finally, Dodo reappeared in a modest pale-blue +taffeta silk. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander gasped at what she considered +rank insubordination, but Lady Osgood managed +to engage so much of her attention that Dodo escaped +further persecution that night. +</p> +<p> +Just as the butler threw open the doors of the +dining-room to announce dinner, Mrs. Alexander +noticed her husband’s lack of gems which she had +insisted upon his wearing that night. +</p> +<p> +“Ebeneezer! What did you do with those +shirt-studs and the scarf-pin you were told to wear +tonight? They are diamonds of the purest quality, +and that stud weighs, at <em>least</em>, four carats!” +</p> +<p> +Even the butler looked shocked at the guest’s +lack of tact, and everyone wondered what little +Mr. Alexander would say. It was a tense moment +for all. +</p> +<p> +“Well, this time I speak out even if I lose my +head for it!” retorted the badgered man, in a +voice that plainly signified he expected to be tortured +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46'></a>46</span> +forever afterwards. “I saw that Mr. Fabian +and Sir James diden’ have no jooels of any +kind shinin’ around ’em, and I am as good as +them, any day. Why should I look like pawn-shop, +when I don’t feel that way!” +</p> +<p> +It was hard work for the grown-ups to keep a +straight face, but Dodo set the younger members +the example of laughing outright. In a moment, +the young folks were all enjoying the blunt +repartee. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Pa!” sighed Dodo, finally. “What would +our life be without you to entertain us!” +</p> +<p> +“Miss Dodo is right, there, Mr. Alexander. +You certainly are a valuable member to any party +on a pleasure trip,” added Mr. Ashby. And Mrs. +Alexander smirked and nodded her head approvingly, +so that everyone breathed easier, knowing a +catastrophe had been averted for the little man. +</p> +<p> +Sir James now turned the conversation into a +different channel. As they enjoyed the excellent +dinner, he told about the new car he had presented +to his son Jimmy, on his twenty-first birthday, +two weeks previous. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, have you a grown-up son?” asked Mrs. +Alexander, eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“Yes indeed! And a very fine young man we +think him, too,” returned Lady Osgood. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47'></a>47</span> +</p> +<p> +“He is not at home, is he?” asked Mrs. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“He is dining with his latest love, this evening,” +laughed Angela. “He has a new one +every other week, but this one has lasted since +Nancy refused him some time ago.” +</p> +<p> +“Refused him! Nancy Fabian refused Sir +James’s son,” gasped the unbelieving hunter for +a title. +</p> +<p> +The girls laughed, and Nancy shrugged her +shoulders nonchalantly. Mrs. Alexander stared +from her to each one about the table, as if the +truth of the statement would not sink into her +mind. +</p> +<p> +Again Sir James entered the breach and bridged +over the yawning chasm in the conversation. “I +gave Jimmy the car—which is a fine seven-passenger +affair—with the understanding that he was +to take Angela and the Fabians on a summer tour +through England, but he spoiled all that by falling +madly in love with Nancy and then being refused. +Of course, he had no desire after that, to join any +party. We are giving him ample opportunity, +now, to recover from his broken heart. Then he +and his car will be ours, again.” +</p> +<p> +Jimmy’s family did not express much concern +over his damaged heart, and the guests considered +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48'></a>48</span> +that pity or sympathy for him would be useless. +However, Mrs. Alexander began to feel an intense +interest in the absent heir and, as usual, she +suggested a plan which others would have weighed +carefully before mentioning. +</p> +<p> +“If your son has a seven-passenger car and I +have mine, wouldn’t it be just <em>too</em> lovely for anything, +if we took all this party on the tour of England. +He can drive his motor, and Pa can drive +mine.” +</p> +<p> +Her very audacity caused sudden silence with +everyone, although the younger members of the +party felt that the plan would be perfectly wonderful +if it could be carried out. Sir James finally +answered. +</p> +<p> +“If Jimmy could be induced to join such a party, +it certainly would be fine for all. But Lady Osgood +and myself have to go down to our country +house, in a few days, as there are so many things +an owner of a large estate has to take charge of, +in summer.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps Miss Angela will join us, and we can +divide the party accordingly,” persisted Mrs. +Alexander, eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes, I’d love to be one of the touring +party,” said Angela. “But what do the others +say about this idea?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49'></a>49</span> +</p> +<p> +“If we could make the trip and get me back +to London in two weeks’ time, so I can keep the +appointments with several men I agreed to see, +I’d like it immensely,” said Mr. Ashby. +</p> +<p> +“As for us—we planned to tour England, anyway, +and traveling with a party of friends will +make it all the pleasanter,” added Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, how grand! Then it is all settled, isn’t +it?” cried Mrs. Alexander, clasping her be-ringed +hands estatically. +</p> +<p> +“That depends on Jimmy,” remarked Angela. +</p> +<p> +“Jimmy will agree to do anything, the moment +he meets this new bevy of pretty girls,” laughed +Sir James. +</p> +<p> +“You don’t seem to worry much over his susceptible +heart,” ventured Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“No, because ‘there is safety in numbers,’ you +know,” said Lady Osgood. “And Jimmy falls +out of love quite as safely as he falls in.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander listened intently whenever anyone +spoke of the heir, and she made up her mind +that that son must fall in love with Dodo if she +had to take him by the neck and shake him into +it. And once he was in love, she would see that +Dodo accepted him and gave him no excuse to +fall out again. +</p> +<p> +“What do you think of this touring plan, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50'></a>50</span> +Angie?” asked Nancy Fabian of her friend +Angela. +</p> +<p> +“Why I like it, Nan; don’t you think it will +be heaps of fun? Much nicer than doing as we +first planned, you know. With a large party of +young folks there is always more sport.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, I agree with you.” Then Nancy turned +to her father: “Have we arranged about the +expenses of the trip? Of course the guests will +want to entertain the owners of the two cars.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh decidedly!” agreed Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“Indeed not!” objected Mrs. Alexander. +“What do you think of me, with all my money, +letting others pay any of the bills?” +</p> +<p> +This shocked her hearers and she actually realized +that she had committed a social error that +time. So she hoped for some opening by which +she could mend matters. Sir James gave it to +her. +</p> +<p> +“It would seem better, if financial arrangements +were left to the men, to settle. Ladies are +seldom experienced enough to assume such responsibilities. +So, if all agree, the cost and payment +of bills will be attended to by the four gentlemen.” +</p> +<p> +That smoothed matters out agreeably for the +time being, and the subject of the itinerary was +taken up and discussed. Dinner passed with no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51'></a>51</span> +other breach of etiquette by the Alexanders, and +they all went to the drawing-room to complete +the plans for the trip. +</p> +<p> +Dodo and her father were unusually quiet that +evening, but Mrs. Alexander seemed the more +pleased at it. In fact, she did so much talking +about the car and how they all loved to drive it, +that Dodo finally silenced her with a strange +remark. +</p> +<p> +“Ma, suppose you wait until you find whether +your car can be driven this summer. It may have +disappeared from the garage in London, where +you <em>say</em> it is waiting.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander then remembered a very grave +situation. “Did anyone remember that there +would be thirteen in this party? Someone must +drop out, or we’ll have to add an extra +passenger.” +</p> +<p> +The others laughed, believing she was joking, +and Sir James said: “Oh, that sort of superstition +never worries one, these days.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you mean to say, you wouldn’t hesitate +to do anything when there were thirteen in it?” +wondered Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“Of course not! Thirteen really ought to be +a lucky number because it is made up of one and +three—both very lucky numerals,” returned Sir +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52'></a>52</span> +James. “It is only the fear of a thing that gives +it any power. And the sooner you overcome the +fear of thirteen being unlucky, it turns out to be +favorable for you.” +</p> +<p> +As long as a wise man like Sir James said so, +Mrs. Alexander thought it must be so, and nothing +more was said about the thirteen in the party. +</p> +<p> +Jimmy had not come in that night when the +guests said good-night to their host and hostess +and retired. But what Sir James and his wife +said to him when he did let himself in in the ‘wee +sma hours’ about the bevy of very wealthy girls +who were waiting for him to choose a wife from, +had due effect on the young man. +</p> +<p> +“And remember, Jimmy,” added his sister Angela. +“These four girls have money by the bag! +Nancy Fabian is a dandy girl, but she hasn’t a +cent to bless her husband with.” +</p> +<p> +In the morning, when Mr. and Mrs. Alexander +appeared in street costumes ready to go to the +garage where they believed their automobile +would be awaiting them, Jimmy said he would go +with them. +</p> +<p> +“Oh dear no! I couldn’t think of such a +thing,” declared Mrs. Alexander, anxiously, +“Why, I am not even taking Dodo. But leaving +her here for you to entertain.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53'></a>53</span> +</p> +<p> +Jimmy grinned and thought to himself: “If +Dodo is anything like her parents she’ll entertain +<em>me</em>, not <em>me her</em>.” But he said aloud: “I really +feel that your husband and I ought to get the car +out, Mrs. Alexander, and spare you that trouble.” +</p> +<p> +“No trouble whatever, my dear boy, as I propose +looking at a new roadster for myself, at the +same time,” said the lady. +</p> +<p> +To escape further explanations, she managed to +get her husband out of the house before the others +came down to the morning meal. +</p> +<p> +As one girl after another appeared and was introduced +to Jimmy, he thought: “Angie was +right! here is as delightful a bouquet of lovely +buds as I ever saw.” +</p> +<p> +And Nancy Fabian saw, to her satisfaction, +that he had quite forgotten his broken heart that +was caused by her refusal. Angela was nineteen +in years, but older in experience than Jimmy +who was twenty-one. She generally advised her +brother in family problems that he would have +shirked, had it not been for his sister. +</p> +<p> +With all the display of wealth and the semblance +of riches that had to be carried on by Sir +James in order to maintain his new position, the +Osgood estate was in sore need of help. The +loss of much money invested in war speculations +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54'></a>54</span> +and the heavy taxes imposed since the war, had +impoverished his estate. But the Osgoods +bravely kept up appearances while their feet were +marking time on a tread-mill that Jimmy could, +and would have to, work for them by marrying +money. +</p> +<p> +So it was with a sense of tremendous relief +that both Sir James and his wife saw such pretty +American girls descend upon them, that day, and +the fact that each girl had a fortune coming to +her, was no obstacle in the way of their welcome +of them. +</p> +<p> +Because of this fact, and also because Mrs. +Alexander plainly showed her hand to the Englishman, +he overcame many scruples to herself and +seconded her plan of the touring party. To Angela, +he confided the hope that she would return +home with Jimmy securely engaged to one of the +rich girls—for Jimmy had to obey his family in +this matter. +</p> +<p> +The first girl Jimmy met that morning was +Polly, who was always an early riser. She came +downstairs in a slow dignified way, and Angela introduced +her to Jimmy, who was standing in the +library. He thought he had never seen such +wonderful eyes, and such a mass of bronze-glinting +hair. He attended her to the breakfast room +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55'></a>55</span> +and watched every motion and manner of her +perfectly poised form. +</p> +<p> +Before he could quite lose himself in her charm, +however, Eleanor bounced into the room. Here +was a bright merry girl, full of mischief, and +dearly delighting to flirt and tease anyone who +would give her the opportunity. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor was attractive and pretty in a different +way from Polly. And now Jimmy found it +hard to choose which of the two girls he preferred. +Then before he could decide, Dodo came in. +</p> +<p> +Dodo was domineering in her grand beauty. +She was so frank and sincere, too, that everyone +liked her, but Jimmy felt afraid of her. The fact +that she was the richest one of the girls, also +caused him to fear to try his luck with her. +</p> +<p> +While he was considering all these facts, sweet +pretty Ruth came in. Here was a type Jimmy +fully understood. She was pensive and alluring, +and her round baby-blue eyes appealed to his gallant +heart. Her wavy chestnut hair and her +dainty figure would look well when she received +with Lady Osgood, thought he. And Ruth also +had a fortune awaiting her because she was an +only child. So he finally chose Ruth for his bride-to-be. +And straightway he turned all his attention +to her. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56'></a>56</span> +</p> +<p> +The young folks thoroughly enjoyed that morning +while growing better acquainted with each +other; and by noon, when the purr of an engine +came to them from the driveway, they rushed to +the front windows and crowded their pretty heads +together, in order to see who was stopping at the +house in this unusual season for London. +</p> +<p> +“My goodness! if it isn’t Ma in a splendiferous +car!” exclaimed Dodo, laughing uncertainly at +the sight. +</p> +<p> +Little Mr. Alexander sat behind the wheel, perfectly +happy, there, with a black pipe between his +lips. He was smoking like a factory chimney and +his wife was not saying a word in protest. She +sat beside him, trying to impress upon his mind +some new rule or remembrance of etiquette that +he had ignored. +</p> +<p> +“Now don’t forget, Eben,” she was heard to +say. “We had it all done over for this very +tour!” +</p> +<p> +And her husband grinned self-complacently as +he looked at her, but he never admitted that she +had any further authority to command him. He +actually seemed to have gained some power over +his wife that she dared not question. +</p> +<p> +The groom ran down the stone steps of the +house and held open the door of the automobile +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57'></a>57</span> +while the lady got out, then Mr. Alexander locked +the engine and followed her. +</p> +<p> +“No use talking, Ma is a wizard when she +makes up her mind to do a thing,” said Dodo +to her companions. “There’s a car, and there’s +Pa driving it, so that shows it is just like our old +one, or he couldn’t handle it so cleverly.” +</p> +<p> +The excitement caused by the appearance of the +car that was to carry half of the party on the +proposed tour, was the only thing that saved the +Alexanders from discovery of the little plot. But +Angela had taken notice of Dodo’s surprise and +unconscious admission, and she soon ferreted out +the fact that the Alexanders purchased the handsome +large touring car that very morning. That +it was up-to-date and of a sporty appearance, went +without saying, for Mrs. Alexander would see to +that, all right. And the fact that a fabulous price +was paid for the new car solved the discovery +made by Angela, for the price paid proved, to +her satisfaction, that the Alexander fortune could +easily stand a check like the one paid to the motor +company. +</p> +<p> +At luncheon that day, Mrs. Alexander led the +conversation without interruption. Sir James had +gathered from his daughter that the car was a +recent purchase, and he could approximate the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58'></a>58</span> +sum paid for it. Now he felt relieved to find +this American lady so willing to be the victim of +his carefully-laid plans. +</p> +<p> +“I saw just the kind of roadster I want,” said +she, “but I guess I won’t buy it until we get back +from the tour. Ebeneezer says it will keep a couple +of weeks, and I agreed with him. We’ll go +on with the old car, now, and I’ll buy the new one, +for myself, when we return.” +</p> +<p> +Sir James and Angela exchanged glances when +they heard this woman speak of buying high-priced +cars as glibly as she would mention buying +a new glove. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I won a point out of this business, too,” +chuckled Mr. Alexander. Everyone paid strict +attention to what he was about to say, for he generally +caused a general laugh with his remarks; +and everyone liked him so genuinely that they +would have listened eagerly whether he was amusing +or contrariwise. +</p> +<p> +“Ebeneezer, remember what I told you just before +we came in!” warned his wife. +</p> +<p> +“Yeh, but I’m not alone with you now, Maggie,” +said he. +</p> +<p> +“<em>Please</em> don’t call me ‘Maggie,’ Eben. You +know my name is ‘Margaret’,” cried Mrs. Alexander, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59'></a>59</span> +beside herself at her husband’s shortcomings. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t worry, Maggie. Us folks know it is +a pet name,” chuckled the little man. “But what +I was goin’ to say, is: I won a hard fight whiles +I was out this mornin’ with my wife. She’s +promised to let me smoke my old pipe if I agree +to drive the car just like she wants.” +</p> +<p> +His happy laugh was echoed by his friends, especially +by the men who felt in sympathy with +him. They say that a woman can never understand, +because she cannot appreciate, the solace +of an old pipe. +</p> +<p> +Then the interesting part of the programme of +the tour began—the arrangement of the members +of the party for the two cars. +</p> +<p> +“I say, let the girls go in my car, Pater, and let +Mr. Alexander drive the adults,” suggested +Jimmy, eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, that sounds very good, if the youngsters +will agree to follow our advice carefully, and behave +as if a chaperone was in the car with them,” +added Sir James. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, so many chaperones in the second car will +suffice,” laughed Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“You arrange matters so independently in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60'></a>60</span> +America, that I suppose it will be all right, from +your point of view,” admitted Lady Osgood, +glancing at Angela for her opinion. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and one young man with so <em>many</em> girls, +must behave himself, you know. So everyone +will see it is quite proper for us to travel without +an older woman in the car.” +</p> +<p> +All this fuss about “Mrs. Grundy” made Dodo +laugh, and she freely confessed how silly it all +really was to a sensible girl. +</p> +<p> +The plans were perfected that they were to +start on the tour early the following morning, +driving southward from London and following +the coast as far as Brighton. On the northward +route they would travel as far as Holyhead and +then cross to Ireland; then tour to the farthest +northerly point on the Irish coast and cross over +again to Scotland. And lastly, follow the automobile +route to Edinburgh and southward again +to London. +</p> +<p> +They figured that two weeks ought to be sufficient +for this trip, but a few days more would not +really make much difference, as Mr. Ashby could +leave them at any time, if necessary, and go on +to London by train. +</p> +<p> +That afternoon they used the two cars to drive +about the city of London and visit the parks, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61'></a>61</span> +other famous sights. The exterior of The Tower +of London, Nelson’s Monument in Trafalgar +Square, the Houses of Parliament, the Museums +and Art Galleries, and other noted places were +seen on this drive, but the visiting of these individual +buildings and their contents, was left +until the return from the trip. +</p> +<p> +That night, Jimmy was carefully instructed as +to his cue and part in this trip. Before he returned, +he was to have proposed and been accepted +by one of the rich girls he would have +to choose from on the drive. There was not +much difference between them, said his parents, +but of the four girls, it was probable that Dodo +had the most money and could be more agreeably +handled, as her parents would prove to be easily +influenced by the title. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62'></a>62</span><a name='chIV' id='chIV'></a>CHAPTER IV—THE TOUR OF GREAT BRITAIN</h2> +<p> +Early the following morning, the two large +cars were in front of Osgood House, ready for +the start. Jimmy managed to get Ruth to occupy +the front seat beside him, as he preferred +her company to that of the other girls. His car +was to lead the way, because he knew the roads +quite well; the second car would follow with Mr. +Alexander driving it. +</p> +<p> +They drove through the suburbs of London to +Guildford, and then southward. As they went, +the English Channel could be glimpsed from the +knolls, every now and then, with the lovely rolling +country on all sides except in front. +</p> +<p> +“Jimmy,” called Mr. Fabian at one of the stops +made to allow the girls to admire the view, “if it +will not take us too far out of the way, I’d like +to visit Hastings where the historical ruins can be +seen. My students will there see several unique +lines of architecture that can never be found elsewhere +in these modern days.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63'></a>63</span> +</p> +<p> +“All right, Prof.; and after that I can take +you to see Pevensky Castle, another historic ruin,” +returned Jimmy. +</p> +<p> +So they turned off, just before coming to +Brighton, and visited the ruins of the castle said +to have been built by William the Conqueror. +Cameras were brought forth and pictures taken of +the place, and then they all climbed back into the +automobiles. +</p> +<p> +“Now for Pevensky Castle, near which William +is said to have landed in 1066,” announced +Jimmy, starting his car. +</p> +<p> +Fortunately, this day happened to be one of the +visiting days at the old ruins, and they had no +trouble in securing an entrance. Mr. Fabian and +his interested friends found much to rejoice their +hearts, in this old place; but Jimmy had persuaded +Ruth to remain in the car with him, so +that he could have her companionship to himself. +</p> +<p> +As Mrs. Alexander was the last adult to leave +her new car, she saw Jimmy hold to Ruth’s hand +and beg her to stay with him. This was contrary +to her scheme of things, but she had to follow +the rest of the party at the time. While she went, +she planned how to get back immediately and +frustrate any tête-à-tête of Jimmy’s, unless Dodo +was the girl. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64'></a>64</span> +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander had settled himself down in +his car for a nice little smoke with his pipe, as +per agreement with his spouse, so he was not interested +in the lover-like scene Jimmy was acting +in the other car. But all this was changed when +Mrs. Alexander suddenly returned from the ruins, +and joined the two young people in Jimmy’s car. +</p> +<p> +“It’s so very tiresome to climb over tumbled +down walls and try to take an interest in mouldy +interiors,” sighed she, seating herself on the running-board +of Jimmy’s car. +</p> +<p> +That ended Jimmy’s dreams of love for the +time being, but in his heart the youthful admirer +heartily cursed Dodo’s mother. She sat unconcernedly +dressing her face with powder and rouge, +then she lined up her eye-brows, and finally +touched up her lips with the red stick. When +the toilet outfit was put away in her bag, she sat +waiting for the others to reappear from the castle, +feeling that she had done her duty by her +family. +</p> +<p> +At Chichester, the next stopping place on the +route, Mr. Fabian led his friends to the old cathedral; +as before, Jimmy had Ruth wait with him +while the others went to inspect the old place. +This time, Mrs. Alexander made no pretence of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65'></a>65</span> +leaving, but remained on guard beside the young +people. Jimmy gritted his teeth in baffled rage, +but he could say nothing to the wily chaperone. +</p> +<p> +After the tourists got back in the motor-cars, +Portsmouth, Porchester, Southampton and Christ +Church were reeled off speedily. At Christ +Church they stopped long enough to see the carved +Gothic door at the north entrance, and the Norman +architecture of the interior of the Priory—a +famous place for lovers of the antique and +ancient. +</p> +<p> +Ruth jumped out and went with her friends +when they visited the Priory, and Jimmy had to +console himself with a cigarette. Mrs. Alexander +endeavored to enter into conversation with +him, but he was too surly for anything. +</p> +<p> +That evening they reached Exeter, and stopped +for the night at the New London Inn, a veritable +paradise for the decorators of the party. Its +public-room and bed-rooms were furnished with +genuine old mahogany pieces centuries old. Settles, +cupboards, and refectory tables stood in the +main room downstairs, while old Sheraton tables, +Chippendale chairs, ancient, carved four-posters, +and highboys or lowboys, furnished the guest-chambers. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66'></a>66</span> +</p> +<p> +“Nolla, did you ever see so many lovely old +things!” exclaimed Polly, as they admired one +thing after another. +</p> +<p> +“I wish we could steal some of them,” ventured +Eleanor, laughingly. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe the owner will sell some,” suggested +Polly. +</p> +<p> +But Mr. Fabian learned later, that the inn-keeper +was as great an enthusiast and collector of +antiques as the Americans, and would not part +for love or money, with any piece in his collection. +</p> +<p> +In the morning Mr. Fabian escorted his friends +to the cathedral of Exeter, explaining everything +worth while, as he went. +</p> +<p> +Jimmy had ascertained, the night previous, that +Ruth purposed going with her friends, so he refused +to get up in the morning, sending down +word instead, that he felt bad. He hoped this +might induce Ruth to remain and comfort him, +but he learned later that she had gone gayly with +the others, when they started out for the old +edifice. +</p> +<p> +Shortly after the party left, a knock came upon +Jimmy’s door and he gruffly called out: “Come +in!” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander tip-toed in and immediately +began to condole with him. “Poor Jimmy! I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67'></a>67</span> +feel so concerned over you. Just let me mother +you, if you are ill!” +</p> +<p> +Jimmy growled: “I’m not ill—just sleepy!” +</p> +<p> +“All the same, you dear boy, something must +be troubling you to make you feel so ill-natured,” +said she, pointedly. +</p> +<p> +“I should think it would!” snapped he, the +patch-work quilt drawn up close about his chin +so that only his face showed. +</p> +<p> +“Then do tell me if I can help in any way. +My purse and heart are both wide open for you +to help yourself, whenever you like.” +</p> +<p> +Jimmy was young, and had not yet realized +that independence was a great privilege. But he +had learned that poverty was not the virtue people +called it. It meant doing without pleasant +things, and constantly sacrificing what seemed +most desirable. He knew Mrs. Alexander would +buy her way into his good graces if she could, and +he was just angry enough, and sulky at fate, to +tempt him to take advantage of her offer. Even +though he might regret it shortly after. +</p> +<p> +“Well, to confess—as I would to my own +mother—I’m broke! And it’s no pleasant state +of affairs on a long trip like this one, with a lot +of pretty girls wanting to be treated to candy, +and other things,” growled Jimmy. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68'></a>68</span> +</p> +<p> +“Poor dear boy!” sighed Mrs. Alexander, seating +herself on the edge of the great antique bed, +and patting his head. “Don’t I understand? +Now let me be your other mother, for a while, +and give you a little spending money. When it is +gone, just wink at me and I will know you need +more. If there were a <em>number</em> of young men to +assume the expenses of treating the crowd of girls +with you, I wouldn’t think of suggesting this. +But I remember that you are but one with a galaxy +of beauties who look for entertainment from you.” +</p> +<p> +Thus Mrs. Alexander cleverly managed to induce +Jimmy to believe he was justified in taking +her money, and as she got up to go out, she said: +“I’ll leave a little roll on the dresser. If you feel +able to get up and come out, you will see that you +will feel better for the effort and the air.” +</p> +<p> +So saying, she left a packet under the military +brushes on the dresser and, smiling reassuringly +at the youth, went out. But she did not leave the +closed door at once; she waited, just outside, until +she heard him spring from the bed and rush +over to the place where the money had been left. +Then she nodded her head satisfactorily, and +crept downstairs. +</p> +<p> +Jimmy counted out the notes left for him, and +gasped. He hadn’t seen so much money at one +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69'></a>69</span> +time, since the war began! And he felt a sense +of gratitude, then repulsion, to the ingratiating +person who thus paid him for his good-will. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian and his party were examining the +old cathedral, with its two Norman towers and +the western front rich with carvings, without a +thought of the two they had left at the Inn. Having +completed the visit to the edifice, they all returned +to see the old inn known as “Moll’s Coffee-house.” +</p> +<p> +“It was at this famous place that many of England’s +noted people used to gather,” said Mr. Fabian, +as they crossed the green. “Sir Walter +Raleigh was a frequent visitor here, as well as +many historical men.” +</p> +<p> +As they came to the place, they found Mrs. +Alexander and Jimmy seated on a worm-eaten +bench, chatting pleasantly about the ancient room +they were in. But no one knew that the conversation +had been suddenly switched from a personal +topic, the moment the sight-seers appeared to interrupt +the tête-à-tête. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander got up and crossed the room +to meet the other members in the party, saying as +she came: “I hear how folks used to come here +and drink coffee—and a record is kept of who +they were. It must be nice to have folks remember you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70'></a>70</span> +after you are gone. I wish someone +would say, years after I am dead, ‘Mrs. Alexander +was in this house, once’.” +</p> +<p> +“A lot of good that would do you, then!” +laughed Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“I was just telling Jimmy that it would be a +lot of satisfaction to us all if he became famous +and this trip of ours was spoken of in years to +come. He’s got a title in the family, you know, +and the English think so much of that! The inn-keeper +across the green might be glad to remember +how Sir Jimmy stopped here when he toured +England with his friends from America.” +</p> +<p> +Everyone laughed at the silly words but Mrs. +Alexander was really in earnest. Her imagination +had jumped many of the obstacles placed in +her way, and she saw herself as Jimmy’s mother-in-law +and revered as such by the English public. +</p> +<p> +During their tête-à-tête at Old Moll’s Coffee-house, +she had impressed it upon Jimmy’s mind, +that not a soul was to know about the money. +And she extracted a promise that he would call +upon her for more if he needed it. Feeling like +a cad, still he promised, for he was in dire need +of money to be able to appear like a liberal host. +</p> +<p> +“Well, Jimmy—are you ready to start along +the road?” asked Angela, suspicious of this sudden +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71'></a>71</span> +change of front in Jimmy for the obnoxious +rich woman. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, if Mrs. Alex and everyone else is,” +agreed he. +</p> +<p> +“Mrs. Alex?” queried his sister, pointedly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes, folks! Dodo’s mother says ‘Alexander’ +is such a lot to say, that she prefers us to +cut it to Mrs. Alex. Every one else has nicknames, +so why not nick Alexander?” said Jimmy. +</p> +<p> +The others laughed, and Mr. Alexander said +quaintly: “I always liked that name Alexander +’cause it made me feel sort of worth while. I +might be no account in looks, but ‘Alexander’ +gives me back-bone, ’cause I only have to remember +‘Alexander the Great’!” +</p> +<p> +His friends laughed heartily and Mr. Fabian +said: “What’s in a name, when you yourself are +such a good friend?” +</p> +<p> +“Mebbe so, but all the same, I’ll miss that +name. ‘Alex’ looks too much like a tight fit for +my size. But I s’pose it’s got to be as the missus +says!” +</p> +<p> +Now the cars sped through the charming country +of rural England, with its ever-changing +scenes, than which there is nothing more beautiful +and peaceful. Cattle browsed upon the hillocks, +tiny hamlets were spotlessly neat and orderly, the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72'></a>72</span> +roads were edged with trimmed hedges, and even +in the woods, where wild-plants grew, there was +no débris to be found. It was all a picture of +neatness. +</p> +<p> +On this drive, the girls were made happy by +being able to buy several pieces of old Wedgwood +from the country people. Polly also secured a +chubby little bowl with wonderful medallions upon +its sides, and Eleanor found a “salt-glaze” +pitcher. +</p> +<p> +“I believe lots of the people in the country, +here, will gladly sell odd bits if we only have time +to stop and bargain,” said Polly, hugging her +bowl. +</p> +<p> +“And lots of them will swear their furniture is +genuine antique even if they bought it a year ago +from an installment firm,” laughed Jimmy. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, they wouldn’t do that!” gasped Polly. +</p> +<p> +“Wouldn’t they! Just try it, and see how they +rook your pocket-book,” retorted Jimmy. +</p> +<p> +“Why James Osgood! Where ever did you +learn such words—‘rook’ and the like?” gasped +his sister. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I’m going to be a thorough American, +now,” laughed Jimmy, recklessly. “Mrs. Alex +has agreed to take me West with her on her return, +and let me run a ranch in Colorado.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73'></a>73</span> +</p> +<p> +“What will mother say to that?” wailed Angela, +as this was not what she had hoped for. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t worry, Angela dear,” quickly said Mrs. +Alexander, soothingly. “Jimmy is only joking. +I told him about our ranches but I have no idea +of taking him away from England.” Neither +had she. +</p> +<p> +At Glastonbury the tourists stopped to see the +“Inne of ye Pilgrims” which proved to be very +old and most interesting. Here King Henry the +VIII and Abbot Whiting’s rooms are maintained +with the old furnishings as in that long-past day. +</p> +<p> +Pictures were taken of the quaint Gothic carving +on the front of the building, and then Mr. +Fabian led them to inspect the ruined abbey which +King Arthur favored above all other spots. +</p> +<p> +As the cars sped over the good hard roads, +past little cottages with the most attractive +thatched-roofs whose dormer windows were set +deep back in the thatch, the tourists were delighted. +</p> +<p> +“Such lovely little places,” sighed Ruth, as she +admired the rose-vines climbing high upon the +roof of a place. +</p> +<p> +“Just big enough for two!” whispered Jimmy, +for his “heart’s desire” was beside him on the +front seat, once more. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74'></a>74</span> +</p> +<p> +“I wonder why American architects do not copy +these lovely thatched roofs for us, more generally,” +wondered Polly. +</p> +<p> +“Our climate would not permit them,” explained +Mr. Fabian. “In England, the damp +warm climate seldom changes to bitter cold, and +the inmates of these cottages live in comparative +comfort in the winter. In the States, they’d be +frozen out in no time.” +</p> +<p> +Bath was the next stop, and Mr. Fabian sought +out the famous Abbey, at once. But Ruth had +come under the spell of Jimmy’s ardor again, and +remained with him when the others walked away. +Mrs. Alexander sensed the plot and also remained +behind. But Mr. Alexander called to her when +she would have joined the two young ones. +</p> +<p> +“See here—don’t you go interferin’ there. If +them two want to keep comp’ny why should you +care?” whispered he. +</p> +<p> +“They won’t, that’s all. That young man is +for Dodo!” +</p> +<p> +“Huh! Is that so? Well, don’t you think <em>I</em> +got something to say in that case? Dodo takes +who she wants, and no one else!” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t say a word! All you’ve got to do is +to pay the bills! I’m doing this match-making +and you needn’t help!” snapped his wife. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75'></a>75</span> +</p> +<p> +As she walked away, the little man nodded his +head briskly and muttered: “We’ll see! We’ll +see, missus!” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander found she could not beguile +the two young folks into doing anything that included +her, so she went towards the Abbey to meet +Dodo upon her return. When they all came out, +Dodo was with Polly and Eleanor, but her mother +drew her away to one side and had her say. +</p> +<p> +“What do you s’pose I brought you over here +for, Dodo? Not to gaze at tumbled down +churches or to go nosing about musty old places +where queer things are stuck up for folks to admire. +No sir! I brought you here to find a +peer, and now, with the one all ready-made and +at hand, you leave him to Ruth Ashby—a girl not +half as good-looking, or rich, as you!” +</p> +<p> +“See here, Ma,” retorted Dodo angrily; “I +told you, before, that I didn’t want to marry anyone. +Now that I’ve met Polly and Eleanor, and +I know how fine a career will be, I am going to +go in business, too.” +</p> +<p> +“Not if I know it! And your Pa worth a million +dollars!” exclaimed the irate woman. +</p> +<p> +“Polly and Eleanor are worth a lot of money, +too, but that makes work all the pleasanter. You +don’t have to worry about bread and butter; and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76'></a>76</span> +you can travel, or do all the things necessary to +perfect yourself in your profession,” explained +Dodo. +</p> +<p> +At that, the mother threw up her hands despairingly, +and wailed: “To think I should live to see +this day! An only child turning against her fond +mother!” +</p> +<p> +“Pooh! You’re angry because I won’t toddle +about and do exactly as you say about Jimmy and +his title,” Dodo said, scornfully. +</p> +<p> +“But he loves you, Dodo, and you are breaking +his heart.” +</p> +<p> +Dodo laughed. “He acts like it, doesn’t he? +Now if you go on this way, Ma, I’ll run away and +go back to the States. Once I am in New York, +I’ll stay there and earn my own living.” +</p> +<p> +That silenced her mother. “Oh, Dodo! I +never meant you to feel like that. I’ll never mention +Jimmy again, if you’ll promise me you won’t +speak of business in front of anyone else?” +</p> +<p> +“I’ll only promise to do what any sensible girl +would do under the same circumstances, so there!” +agreed Dodo. And her mother had to be content +with that crumb of comfort. +</p> +<p> +After a good dinner at Bristol, Mr. Fabian sat +poring over a road-map, deciding where next to +go. While the elders in the party listened to him, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77'></a>77</span> +the young folks followed Jimmy’s beckoning hand +and crept away. They all jumped into the car and +he drove off to celebrate the runaway. +</p> +<p> +That evening Jimmy spent money lavishly, and +Angela’s suspicions were convinced: he had borrowed +or taken it from Mrs. Alexander at one +of their tête-à-têtes. But the girl said nothing; +she was sorry for herself and James, and felt +that these despicable rich westerners could easily +part with some of their wealth. +</p> +<p> +It was past midnight when the merry party returned +to the hotel, where mothers sat up to scold +their daughters for such an escapade. Youth +laughed at all such corrections, however, and then +ran off to bed. +</p> +<p> +In the morning, no young member of the party +was willing to get up and start on the road. +Hence it was quite late when they got into the cars +preparatory to touring again. Just as the signal +was given for Jimmy to lead off, an old man ran +up, wildly gesticulating. +</p> +<p> +“E’en hear’n say you folks like odd bits of old +stuff. Coom with me and see my shaup daown +in the lane.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian conversed with the old man for a +few moments, and then asked the others if they +cared to stop at the shop as they drove past. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78'></a>78</span> +Everyone agreed, and the old man was asked to +step up on the car and direct them where to go. +</p> +<p> +Finally they drew up before a place in the outskirts +of Bristol—a veritable picture of a place. +The one-story structure had its walls panelled in +sections and the plaster of these sections was +white-washed. The usual thatched roof and dormer +windows topped the building, but the roses +rambled so riotously up over the thatch, and +greenish moss grew in spots, that the old place +had a beautiful appearance. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Maxton rubbed his hands in delight, as +he stood by and heard the cries of admiration +from his visitors. He loved the old place and +took a great pride in keeping it looking well. +</p> +<p> +Then they went indoors, leaving Jimmy and +Mr. Alexander in the cars. The front room was +crowded full of old china, lamps, silver and other +curios, but Mr. Maxton led them directly to the +rear room where the furniture was kept. +</p> +<p> +“Here be a rale Windsor chair you’ll like,” +said he, moving forward a piece of furniture. +</p> +<p> +“My, Fabian! It must date back as early as +1690 to 1700,” whispered Mr. Ashby, as he examined +the crown center of the flat head-rest that +finished the comb-top at the back. +</p> +<p> +“It has the twisted upright rails at the back, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79'></a>79</span> +and the turned rungs that go with that period,” +admitted Mr. Fabian, down upon his knees to +examine the chair. +</p> +<p> +“Girls, see that seat—scooped out to fit the +body, but it is worn thin with age along its front +edge; and even the arms and legs are splintered +down from centuries of hard usage,” remarked +Mr. Ashby. +</p> +<p> +While the two men and the dealer were bargaining +over the chair, Mrs. Alexander wandered +back to the front room. There she found Ruth +upon her knees examining a wonderful, old carved +chest. +</p> +<p> +“Isn’t this a darling, Mrs. Alex?” exclaimed +the girl. +</p> +<p> +“What is it?” asked the woman, hardly interested. +</p> +<p> +“Why, it’s a fine old wedding-chest with exquisite +panels on its front and sides. The carving, +alone, is unusual.” +</p> +<p> +“A wedding chest, eh. What would you use +it for?” asked Mrs. Alexander, taking a deeper +interest in the article since the girl explained what +the object was. +</p> +<p> +“Why, any girl would be glad to start a hope-chest +with this,” laughed Ruth. “I’m going to +ask Daddy to buy it for me, if it isn’t too costly.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80'></a>80</span> +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander’s fears took fire at that suggestive +word, “hope-chest,” from Ruth, and she +turned instantly to rejoin the dealer in the back +room. He had just finished writing the directions +for the shipping of the chair he had sold, +when she hurried across the room. +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Maxton, you have a carved chest in the +front room. I want to buy it—how much is it?” +As she spoke, Mrs. Alexander took a purse out +of her bag and displayed a roll of bills. +</p> +<p> +The clever dealer saw this opportunity to drive +a good bargain, and he named his figure. Without +demur, the lady counted down the money and +asked for a receipt. +</p> +<p> +Meanwhile the others had gone to the front +room to see the purchase Mrs. Alexander was +making. She had shown no interest in antiques +before, so this must be an exceptional piece to +lure her money from her. +</p> +<p> +“Daddy, do come here and tell me if I may +have this old chest?” called Ruth, still waiting +beside the carved piece. +</p> +<p> +Then it became apparent that Ruth had wanted +it for herself, but that Mrs. Alexander secured +it. Everyone wondered why? +</p> +<p> +Well pleased with her purchase, the new owner +of the chest came from the rear room and smiled +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81'></a>81</span> +complacently. Then she spoke to her daughter: +“Dodo, when we go to Paris you can fill that old +wedding chest with a trooso.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes? Whose is it, Ma?” asked the girl. +</p> +<p> +“Why yours, of course! That’s why I got it.” +</p> +<p> +“My very own! for keeps? Or are you only +<em>lending</em> it to me?” +</p> +<p> +“Your very own, deary! I hope you’ll pass it +along to the noble children I long to call my grandchildren, +some day,” said Mrs. Alexander, +sentimentally. +</p> +<p> +“I thank you, Ma, and I’ll put it to the best +use I can think of. And I’ll pass it along—oh +yes! but I doubt if grandchildren of yours ever +see it,” laughed Dodo, with a queer look. +</p> +<p> +“I’m glad you got it, Dodo, because it is a +lovely thing,” said Ruth to the fortunate owner, +trying to hide her disappointment behind a smile. +</p> +<p> +“But you paid an outrageous price for it, Mrs. +Alex,” said Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“Twice as much as he would have taken,” +added Mr. Ashby. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t care what it cost. I’d have given ten +times the price to have it for Dodo,” snapped +Mrs. Alexander, not feeling the delight she had +anticipated in the purchase. +</p> +<p> +Just then Mr. Alexander poked his bald head +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82'></a>82</span> +in at the doorway and said: “Ain’t you folks +most ready to go on?” +</p> +<p> +“Come here, Ebeneezer! I want you to give +that address of the hotel in Paris to this Mr. Maxton. +I bought a chest for Dodo and he is to ship +it there, so’s I can fill it when I arrive,” said Mrs. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“Have I got the address?” stammered her +husband. +</p> +<p> +“Of course! In that red-covered leather memorandum +book.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander searched in his pockets and +finally brought out a little book from his inside +coat-pocket. He fumbled the pages as he sought +for the needed address, and murmured so that +the others could distinctly hear. +</p> +<p> +“H—um, what’s this? ‘Go to the barber’s for +a clean shave every day—don’t forget.’ It ain’t +that.” Then he turned to the next page, and +squinted at the writing. +</p> +<p> +“‘Ne—ver use a knife at table when you eat—only +to cut.’ It ain’t that page, nuther.” +</p> +<p> +His wife remonstrated, and he suddenly said: +“Wait now—here it ’tis: ‘Don’t go in front of +others unless you say ‘excuse me.’ Don’t sit down +with ladies standing.’ Wall now, it ain’t on that +page, either,” he remarked, but Mrs. Alexander +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83'></a>83</span> +grew annoyed when she saw the sympathetic smiles +of their companions. +</p> +<p> +They recognized the “teacher’s” rules for their +friend, and they felt sorry for his lot in life. Then +she snapped out: “Can’t you find it in there, +Eben?” +</p> +<p> +“No, b’ gosh! It ain’t down. All’s I can find +is ‘don’ts and do’s’ what you told me.” +</p> +<p> +“Give me the book—I’ll find it,” demanded his +wife. “You never <em>could</em> read your own writing.” +And she took the book and quickly turned to the +last page. Then she read off the address to the +waiting dealer. This done she thrust the book +back at her meek spouse. +</p> +<p> +“Well now! I never thought to look backwards +first! I begun in the front of the book like I was +taught at school,” said Mr. Alexander to his companions, +in apology for his blunder. +</p> +<p> +The tourists finally got away from Bristol but +they were too late to make Birmingham that +night. So they planned to stop at Gloucester or +Worcester, which ever was most convenient. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84'></a>84</span><a name='chV' id='chV'></a>CHAPTER V—LOVE AFFAIRS AND ANTIQUES</h2> +<p> +While the cars were speeding over the long +flat country that stretched away after leaving +Bristol, Dodo entered into a confidential chat +with Ruth who sat in the back seat beside her. +Although it was against Jimmy’s wishes, Angela +managed to get in the front seat beside him, in +order to give him some sound advice about his +future. +</p> +<p> +“I just heard, Ruth, that you would have a +birthday, shortly,” began Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, but who told you so?” returned Ruth. +</p> +<p> +“Polly mentioned it, and I said that I hoped +we would all be with you to help celebrate. When +is it?” +</p> +<p> +“Not for three weeks yet, Dodo. And I expect +to be at Uncle’s, then. They’ll give me a +party, I suppose,” said Ruth. +</p> +<p> +“Well, that’s too bad—that we won’t be together—as +I have a little gift for you and I hope +you’ll like it.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85'></a>85</span> +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Dodo! How nice of you. I really did +not look for anything from anyone, you know,” +cried Ruth, delightedly. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe not, dearie; and this isn’t much—not +what you deserve, but it is a little remembrance, +as you will find when you get it. I’m not going +to give it to you until the day arrives, but when +you open it you’ll understand everything that I +can’t explain to you, now,” explained Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“Whatever it is, little or big, I will like it, Do, +as coming from your generous heart. Even a +flower from my friends is more than a jewel from +someone who doesn’t mean it,” said Ruth. +</p> +<p> +“I know that, Ruth, and that’s why I want to +give you something you’ll like. You are true +blue, and you deserve all the joy one can give +you.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s awfully good of you, Dodo, to say that,” +smiled Ruth, although tears of pleasure welled +up in her eyes. +</p> +<p> +The other girls had overheard the conversation +and now they chimed in. “Dodo’s right, +Ruth. You’re just fine!” +</p> +<p> +Later in the afternoon, Jimmy stopped his car +at a tiny farmhouse with the spoken intention of +getting a drink of water. But his subtle reason +was to get Angela <em>out</em> of the front seat and Ruth +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86'></a>86</span> +<em>in</em> it. “Who wants a drink?” called he, as he +jumped out and started for the cottage. +</p> +<p> +“I do!” cried Polly, getting out to go after him. +</p> +<p> +At the open door of the humble dwelling, the +two looked in and saw the house-wife bending +over a cook-stove, turning some doughnuts in a +pan of hot fat. Jimmy waited until she had finished +and then said: “May we have a drink, if +you please?” +</p> +<p> +His smile and manner were very pleasing, and +Polly saw how people fell before his winsome +way. “Just a minute—I’ll draw some fresh cold +water for you,” said the woman. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, do let me help you!” exclaimed Jimmy, +whipping off his cap as he hurried through the +room to carry the pail the woman had taken. +</p> +<p> +The two of them went out to the back-shed +where the water ran, and filled the pail. Meanwhile, +Polly gazed about the interior of the little +house. She saw several objects which might be +old pieces, so she wondered how she could get +Mr. Fabian there to judge. +</p> +<p> +As Jimmy came in, carrying the pail, and +the woman held a tin dipper for the tourists, +he remarked as he passed the cook-stove: +“My, how good those doughnuts smell.” And +he sniffed. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87'></a>87</span> +</p> +<p> +“You shall hov some!” declared the woman, +laughingly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh no! I couldn’t think of it,” objected +Jimmy, hoping all the time to be persuaded into +taking some. +</p> +<p> +“I knows what young boys’ appetites is like,” +chaffed the woman, taking a large platter from +the corner cupboard and piling a heap of doughnuts +upon it. +</p> +<p> +Jimmy laughingly protested, but she waved him +out and followed at his heels. When they reached +the cars, she proffered the platter to the <em>gentlemen</em> +first. Polly tried to get Mr. Fabian’s eye to tell +him about the furniture in the cottage. +</p> +<p> +But his eyes were rivetted on the old Staffordshire +platter that held the refreshments. He +nudged Mr. Ashby and both men eagerly took +the dish. As they gazed at it, and then passed it +on to the ladies to help themselves first, they exchanged +opinions. +</p> +<p> +“It’s the rare old blue that seems etched on the +ivory glaze,” whispered Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“Where that came from, there may be more,” +added Mr. Ashby, eagerly. +</p> +<p> +The platter had reached Mr. Alexander on its +return trip to the men, when the little man took +two doughnuts, one in each hand. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88'></a>88</span> +</p> +<p> +“Ebeneezer Alexander! How can you? Don’t +you know what your red book says?” scolded his +wife. +</p> +<p> +“I dun’t care, Maggie! I’m good and hongry +and dunnits always was my temptation. These +smell like your’n ust to before we got too rich for +you to cook.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander tried to hide the smile of satisfaction +that tried to creep up into her face. She +reached out her hand for one of his doughnuts, +without saying a word. But Mr. Alexander +moved away out of her reach. +</p> +<p> +He hurriedly held at arm’s length the hand that +held one doughnut, while he took several great +bites from the tidbit held in the other hand, lest +his wife compel him to give up his treasure trove. +The others laughed at him, and Mr. Ashby +said: +</p> +<p> +“I don’t blame you, Mr. Alex. If our wives +would cook, as once they did, we wouldn’t have +to act so childishly when we travel.” +</p> +<p> +The platter was emptied and when the farmer’s +wife turned to go back to her work, Mr. Fabian +and Mr. Ashby insisted upon carrying the pail +and dipper, to the amazement of those in the car. +Polly understood and nudged Eleanor to follow, +too. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89'></a>89</span> +</p> +<p> +“This is a very fine old dish, madam,” remarked +Mr. Ashby. +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes, it’s a bit of old blue I’ve had in the +kitchen for years. I remember how mother used +to heap up this same plate with scones, for us chillern,” +replied the woman, smiling at the platter. +</p> +<p> +“Are there many such pieces of blue in this +section of the country?” asked Mr. Fabian, while +Polly and her companions listened eagerly for the +reply. +</p> +<p> +“Summat; but my gude mon stacked our’n up in +the back-shed when us wanted to use the front +cupboard for my new chiny.” +</p> +<p> +“Would you like to sell it?” was Mr. Ashby’s +tense query. +</p> +<p> +“D’ye think it would be wuth summat? I’ do +be thinking of laying by a few bits, this year, to +buy us a wool carpet.” +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps we will buy some pieces and pay you +as much as anyone else you might meet,” +suggested Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +As they entered the low-ceiled room of the cottage, +the woman said: “Come out back and we +won’t have to carry so far to the front room.” +</p> +<p> +She went through a tiny door that opened to +the small lean-to, and then began taking all sorts +of old dishes from the corner cupboard that her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90'></a>90</span> +husband had constructed to hold the accumulation +of generations. As the collectors saw choice +pieces so carelessly handled they held their breaths +in dread. +</p> +<p> +“Now this old blue belonged to my gran’faither +afore it come down to us. He, and my faither +after him, lived on this same farm. Us had no +son so the home come to me as eldest of the +family.” +</p> +<p> +As she spoke, the woman carried armfuls of +dishes out to the table in the middle of the room. +Some was worthless trash, but there were several +pieces of rare Staffordshire, and some fine bits of +old lustre-ware. In the last armful she carried +to the table, were some valuable Wedgwood jugs +and bowls. +</p> +<p> +“Us got an old pink set, in the front room, but +us don’ use it now that us got a fine new chiny +set,” said the woman, turning to go for a sample +of the pink ware. +</p> +<p> +“You pick out what you want here, and I’ll go +and see if the pink is genuine pink Staffordshire,” +whispered Mr. Ashby. +</p> +<p> +So Mr. Fabian soon set aside all the real good +pieces on the table, and in so doing noticed the +table itself. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91'></a>91</span> +</p> +<p> +“Why!” gasped he to Polly, “I verily believe +this is the real Hepplewhite!” +</p> +<p> +Instantly he began a close examination of it, +and smiled as he examined. “With careful restoring +you would have as fine a Hepplewhite as +any in America,” he said to Polly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, then do let us take it!” exclaimed Polly, +eagerly. +</p> +<p> +The table started them examining other broken +down, or criminally painted, objects of furniture +in the shed, and when Mr. Ashby returned, carrying +a plate of pink Staffordshire, those who had +remained behind in the shed were greatly elated +over something. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Mr. Ashby! just see what we found!” +cried Polly. +</p> +<p> +“While you were away I discovered a Hepplewhite +table, Ashby,” explained Mr. Fabian. +“And Polly got the girls to help remove all the +paint-pots and trash from this bureau to make +sure it was what she thought. Look!” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Ashby was taken over to the little bureau +which had been used for a catch-all for years. +Its drawers were over-flowing with rags and garden-tools, +but nothing could hide the true lines of +a genuine Sheraton piece. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92'></a>92</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well I never! To think such a gem should +be so treated!” murmured Mr. Ashby. +</p> +<p> +The others laughed delightedly at his amazement. +But the owner now joined them again, and +Mr. Fabian began bargaining. +</p> +<p> +“Are you satisfied with the prices paid you for +the old china?” asked he, as an introduction to +further dealing. +</p> +<p> +“Oh my! Us begin to see that wool carpet,” +laughed she. +</p> +<p> +“Would you sell this old table and bureau?” +continued he. +</p> +<p> +“Them! I should say so!” retorted she, emphatically. +</p> +<p> +Instantly a price was offered and eagerly accepted +between the two, and the table and bureau +became the property of Polly and Eleanor. As +Mr. Ashby said: “The basis of your business-to-come.” +</p> +<p> +Dodo had found some old brass candlesticks +and a china group that proved to be old Dresden. +These she hugged tightly as they all left +the cottage followed by the blessings of the +woman. +</p> +<p> +“My goodness! see what’s coming?” laughed +Jimmy, as he watched the five collectors file down +the pathway, each one loaded with china. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93'></a>93</span> +</p> +<p> +“Where do you expect us to sit?” added Mrs. +Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“On the running-board, to be sure,” retorted +her husband. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, because this fine blue takes precedence +over modern objects, even though they be mortals,” +chuckled Mr. Ashby. +</p> +<p> +“You-all just ought to see the pink set Mr. +Ashby got!” exclaimed Dodo, intensely interested +in this quest of the antique. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander noted the bright eyes and +flushed face, and determined to keep Dodo away +from such dangerous interests. +</p> +<p> +“And the old table and bureau that Nolla and +I got for a song!” cried Polly, also highly pleased +with the purchases. +</p> +<p> +“Best of all, that good woman is so happy to +know she is able to get the ‘wool carpet’ she has +wanted for years, that her blessings will travel +with us for many a year to come,” added Mr. Fabian, +turning to wave his hand at the farmer’s +wife as she stood in the doorway waving her +apron at the tourists. +</p> +<p> +After the dishes were safely stowed away, Angela +was induced to give her place, in the first +car, to Mr. Fabian, so that he could talk to the +other girls about the relative values of china. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94'></a>94</span> +</p> +<p> +Angela took no interest in these matters, so she +willingly climbed in with the elders in the second +car; and Mr. Fabian began a dissertation on +blue, pink and brown Staffordshire; gold, silver, +and bronze, or copper lustre-ware; Wedgwood, +Derby, and Worcester ware, and salt-glaze—which +was finest of all when it was genuine antique. +</p> +<p> +Jimmy had grown very impatient while waiting +at the farmhouse and when Angela exchanged +seats with Mr. Fabian to permit him to lecture +the girls on china, the young man frowned. +Finally he became so irritated at what he considered +“bally mush,” and not being able to flirt +with Ruth who sat in the back seat, he ran the +car through all the ruts and over all the rocks he +found in the way. This shook up the passengers +uncomfortably and interrupted the flow of eloquence +from Mr. Fabian. But he and his girls +were so absorbed in the subject that they never +dreamed the roughness of the road could have +been avoided by discontented Jimmy. +</p> +<p> +Angela, sitting beside Mrs. Alexander, made +the most of her opportunity. She managed to +ferret out just how much money Dodo would inherit, +and what Mrs. Alexander might be persuaded +to do for an acceptable husband for the +girl. So cleverly was this information secured +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95'></a>95</span> +that the informer failed to realize she was being +“put through the third degree.” +</p> +<p> +Angela was a sweet pretty girl but had experienced +so many unpleasant sacrifices since her +father’s tremendous losses that she had grown +callous to all higher feelings. Her sole ambition, +now, was to secure <em>her</em> future either by +Jimmy’s marriage to money, or by her own escape +from the bondage of poverty by marriage. +</p> +<p> +She fully realized that most desirable young +men in England were in the same position as her +father and brother, hence she had not much choice +of escape that way. But with Jimmy—upon him +rested the salvation of the family and its debts. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian was still talking “antiques” when +the cars reached Gloucester, so Jimmy steered +through, by way of side streets, and then drove +through the famous cotswolds, on the way to +Worcester. +</p> +<p> +A few miles this side of Worcester, Polly spied +a very old-looking house standing under a group +of giant trees which must have been hundreds of +years old. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I just know there will be old pieces in that +place!” exclaimed she, leaning forward eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“Stop, Jimmy! Oh, do make him stop, Prof!” +cried Eleanor. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96'></a>96</span> +</p> +<p> +“Do!” added Dodo. “We are almost in Worcester, +anyway, so a few minutes more won’t +matter.” +</p> +<p> +“Everyone is so tired with the drive, I don’t +see why we must halt again,” complained Mrs. +Alexander, impatiently. +</p> +<p> +“Suppose your car drives on, then, and we will +stop to inquire if we can secure any old things,” +suggested Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +But no one wanted to do this, so both cars +stopped while the two men and the girls went to +the house. This time no subterfuge was used, +but the question was plainly asked: +</p> +<p> +“Do you happen to have any old dishes for +sale?” +</p> +<p> +“And furniture?” added Polly, anxiously. +</p> +<p> +The surprised woman laughed at the unusual +query, but she nodded and said: “I got some +black china, and several queer bowls and pots that +I might sell—if you make it wuth while.” +</p> +<p> +The collectors all filed into the cottage, then, +and the impatient travellers left in the cars had +to cool their tempers well, before they saw their +friends appear again. When they did come forth, +however, they brought with them several old +tobys, a few bowls, a number of pieces of black +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97'></a>97</span> +Staffordshire, an old knife-box of fine inlaid work, +a mahogany dressing-mirror exquisitely stencilled +and a knitted bed-coverlet with raised roses and +scalloped edges. +</p> +<p> +“Oh now! This is expecting too much of Job!” +called Mrs. Ashby, when she saw the consternation +expressed on Jimmy and his sister’s faces. +</p> +<p> +“When we started on this tour you never said +a word about founding a second-hand business,” +added Mrs. Fabian, secretly amused at the collectors, +and the chagrin so evident on the faces +of their two “English cousins.” +</p> +<p> +“One never can tell what will happen when you +take fanatics on a trip,” retorted Mr. Ashby, depositing +his burden on the ground beside the car. +</p> +<p> +Then began another exodus of the passengers +until a complete readjustment of all the various +purchases could be made. While the two men +were carefully packing away the precious objects, +Polly said: “We had to leave behind the best +piece of all—a chair of satin-wood with daintily +turned legs and rungs. But they were splintered +and the rush seat was broken through.” +</p> +<p> +“Don’t forget, Polly, that the thing that counted +most—the beautifully stencilled back slats with +their fruit and roses as clear as the day they were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98'></a>98</span> +done, was in good preservation,” added Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“Then why didn’t you buy it?” snapped Angela, +angrily. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, we did!” replied Dodo. “At least, I +did. But I couldn’t carry it out, so it will have +to be shipped home when the other things go.” +</p> +<p> +“You got it?” cried her mother. “What for?” +</p> +<p> +“For my shop, of course. I’m going into decorating, +too, and open a fine place of business,” +giggled Dodo, tantalizingly. +</p> +<p> +“Not on <em>my</em> money! You’ve got to make a +good match over here,” commanded her mother. +</p> +<p> +Little Mr. Alexander had not had much chance +to speak during the day, as antiques and talks on +such subjects were not in his line. But now he +scented battle on his own preserves, and he threw +out his chest and thrust his hands deep into his +trouser pockets—a habit he had when he wished +to impress his wife. +</p> +<p> +“Well, now, mebbe Dodo can’t open shop on +your money, Maggie, but she can on <em>mine</em>! If +she wants to do that ruther’n get spliced to a furriner, +who’s going to stop her, I’d like to know!” +</p> +<p> +That effectually ended the tirade for the time +being, and when everybody was seated again, +Jimmy was made supremely happy to find Ruth +beside him, once more. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99'></a>99</span> +</p> +<p> +The only subject that interested the majority +of the tourists that evening, after dinner, was the +discussion of the various pieces purchased that +day, and the examination of them. Mr. Ashby +and Mr. Fabian knew so much about collections +of antiques that the stories they told were most +interesting to the girls. +</p> +<p> +But Jimmy and Mrs. Alexander were bored to +death by the conversation, so that they soon made +their way out of the hotel, in search of distraction. +Not long after they had escaped from the company +of the others, another packet of bills passed +from Mrs. Alexander’s hands to the young man’s +pockets. But it was a personal matter that concerned +no one but themselves, said she, and Jimmy +anxiously agreed to the condition. +</p> +<p> +“Of course you know, Mrs. Alex, that nothing +on earth could make me accept this gift from you, +if matters with the Pater were not awfully tangled, +this year,” explained Jimmy, hurriedly. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t mention it, dear boy! I’m so glad I +can give it to one I think so highly of. Some day +you will be able to do a good turn for me,” replied +Mrs. Alexander, affably. +</p> +<p> +Jimmy understood too well, both from Angela +and Mrs. Alexander, what was expected of him, +but he hadn’t a thought for Dodo, because he was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100'></a>100</span> +infatuated with Ruth. And she, nice little girl, +hadn’t a fortune to bless him with. So he forced +the future still further into the background, and +took the money that was offered him, the while +he basked in Ruth’s sunny smiles. +</p> +<p> +In the morning the cars started for Birmingham, +which was on the road to Lichfield. But +the city was smoky and uninviting because of its +factories and filth, so they chose a side-road that +would bring them to the beautiful edifice that +makes Lichfield a Mecca for lovers of the ancient +and rare. +</p> +<p> +The cathedral, from a distance, looks like a +fret-work of finest lace. And as one draws +nearer, its patterns show up clearer, until one is +quite close, when the outlined designs on the front +of the building compel even the indifferent to +stand and gaze in admiration. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian pointed out the marvellous sculpturing +of the arch, the tiers of niches with their protected +figures, the two spires and other beauties, +then he led his friends inside the cathedral. Here +they saw the ancient Bible with its illuminated and +designed pages, and then they visited the Chapter +House. +</p> +<p> +Upon seeing the others follow Mr. Fabian indoors, +Mr. Alexander remarked jocularly: “I’m +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101'></a>101</span> +afraid of visitin’ so many churches, ’cause the +good I get will cure me smokin’ my old pipe. And +I woulden’ go back on that old pal for all the +cathedrals in this wurrold.” +</p> +<p> +They left him sitting on the running-board, contentedly +puffing at the black “evil” aforementioned; +but when they all came forth, again, Mr. +Alexander was nowhere to be seen. +</p> +<p> +After shouting and searching for ten minutes, +or more, he was still absent and the natives could +not say that they had even seen him about. +</p> +<p> +“I knew how it would be if Ebeneezer came +to Europe!” exclaimed Mrs. Alexander, impatiently. +</p> +<p> +“Pa is able to take care of himself, never +worry,” added Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“But he is always cutting such capers,” complained +his wife. “One minute he’s here, and the +next he isn’t!” +</p> +<p> +The remark caused a general smile and Mrs. +Alexander thought she had said something very +clever, so she smiled, too. Perhaps the smile +made her feel better-natured, for she joined the +men when they resumed their search for the missing +man. +</p> +<p> +Jimmy went to the authorities to question what +had best be done about the matter of finding Mr. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102'></a>102</span> +Alexander; the other two men had gone in opposite +directions to ask natives if they had seen +such a man as they described and the women +walked about, calling aloud or poking under +shrubs, and back of cottages, where he might have +taken a nap. +</p> +<p> +Finally a little man sauntered from the cathedral +and stood gazing about in surprise at the +ladies—they acted so queerly. He began loading +his pipe from the old tobacco pouch and as he +called out to his friends who were scattered far +and wide, they looked up and started for him. +</p> +<p> +“Where <em>have</em> you been? You’ve made the +most trouble—losing yourself in this ridiculous +way!” scolded his wife. +</p> +<p> +“Why, I wasn’t lost! I kind’a thought it was +wicked in me to sit with my pipe when I oughter +be seeing that church, so I tucked away my old +friend and follered you-all. I hunted most an +hour for you-all, but I diden’ see hide ner hair +of anyone I knew. But I did see a lot of figgers +stuck up in the walls, and a lot of folks starin’ at +’em. So I come along out again.” +</p> +<p> +His description made everyone, but his wife, +laugh. She shook her head despairingly at such +behavior, and refused to look at her spouse for +the rest of the day. But that seemed not to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103'></a>103</span> +dampen his feelings a whit. Rather he felt relieved, +he said. +</p> +<p> +From Lichfield the cars turned due west and +drove to Wolverhampton. While driving +through Wales, the tourists found great entertainment +in trying to converse with the Welshmen +they met along the road. +</p> +<p> +The country was beautiful with its rugged hills +and heather-clothed fields. The road to Bangor +ran through the most picturesque section of all +this scenic beauty, and the girls took many snapshots +of the artistic views. +</p> +<p> +The route planned led to Bangor, where the +tourists stayed over-night. No one cared to cross +St. George’s Channel and arrive in Dublin at +night, for they had been hearing too much about +the Irish riots, to deliberately choose to stay at +any hotel where bricks and shot might strike innocent +heads at any time. +</p> +<p> +It was during the evening spent at Bangor, that +Jimmy beheld Eleanor Maynard with different +eyes. Ruth had suddenly palled on him, and his +heart grew cold towards her charm and beauty. +But Ruth paid no attention to his change of tactics. +She had smilingly accepted homage, and +she as smilingly waived it again. Jimmy’s ardent +protests of enduring faith and love were empty +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104'></a>104</span> +words to her. The candy and tokens were tangible +delights. +</p> +<p> +What opened Jimmy’s “love-eyes” to Eleanor’s +apparent value was her remark about butterfly +lovers. +</p> +<p> +“I never could stand a man who buzzed about +from one blossom to another like a butterfly,” +commented Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“Nor I. But then, you and I, Nolla, always +knew real <em>men</em>,” added Polly. +</p> +<p> +“If other girls had the advantages we western +girls have, of knowing great big heroes of the +plains, they’d soon sicken of society idiots,” declared +Dodo. +</p> +<p> +Ruth and Nancy were the audience to these +remarks, but Angela was having a tête-à-tête with +Mrs. Alexander. Jimmy stood eagerly watching +the five girls, comparing notes on each other. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I never was west, so I only know the +kind of a beau that Jimmy Osgood represents,” +giggled Ruth. “As long as they are not serious, +and are useful in giving you candy and flowers, +they answer a certain purpose.” +</p> +<p> +Ruth had been so cloyingly sweet and responsive +to all his (Jimmy’s) advances, that this speech +from her suddenly broke the spell he had been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105'></a>105</span> +under. From that moment on, Jimmy had no +eyes for a girl who could be so unkind. +</p> +<p> +“Poor Jimmy! Ruth, you will break his heart +if he ever hears of what you said,” remarked +Eleanor, and that sympathetic rejoinder to Ruth’s +heartless chatter drew Jimmy to a new star in +the firmament of his hopes. +</p> +<p> +No one knew that Jimmy had been accidentally +eaves-dropping, so when they began to climb into +the cars the next morning, to go to Dublin, +everyone was surprised to find how carefully Jimmy +assisted Eleanor to the front seat—the place he +considered a seat of honor. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106'></a>106</span><a name='chVI' id='chVI'></a>CHAPTER VI—POLLY TAKES A HAND TO CURE JIMMY</h2> +<p> +Quite unabashed, and giggling at the incident, +Ruth took a back seat with Polly and Dodo. +But Polly felt jealous of Jimmy’s demands on +Eleanor’s time. She felt that her chum and dear +friend should divide her thoughts and attentions +with others, and not sit in front listening to a +boy’s foolishness, all day long! +</p> +<p> +The road from Dublin, northwards, was rutty, +and with wild vines over-growing the steep banks +on both sides. But the blossoms seemed paler +than those in England, and their perfume much +less sweet. Even in size, they appeared poorly-nourished, +when compared to their large robust +English brethren. +</p> +<p> +The cottages they passed on this ride bore all +the marks of neglect, poverty and dirt. Pigs +were as much at home inside the house, as were +the tenants, while troops of dirty children rolled +around in front of the houses, mingling with the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107'></a>107</span> +chickens, dogs, pigs and other domestic live-stock, +in cases where the owner could afford them. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, let’s get away from this part of Ireland,” +cried Angela, with disgust. +</p> +<p> +“It seems a waste of valuable time to have come +here at all,” declared Polly, holding a handkerchief +to her nose as they passed a dreadful hovel +where unkempt children played and fought. +</p> +<p> +The roads were so bad, however, that the cars +could not speed very fast, so they had to stop at +Belfast, that night, and resume the journey in the +morning. The second day in Ireland they managed +to travel as far as Port Rush, merely going +aside before reaching that place, in order to see +the “Giant’s Causeway” and its rugged cliffs along +the coast-line. +</p> +<p> +Another night was spent in Port Rush, as the +boat for Scotland had left before the tourists +reached the port. Jimmy had gone headlong into +the new affair with Eleanor, and apparently had +continued his love-making where he had suddenly +terminated it with Ruth. There were no romantic +beginnings for Eleanor, in his approaches to a +declaration. So that when they were crossing +from Ireland to Androssan, in Scotland, the infatuated +lover managed to get Eleanor away +from the others and hide her in a steamer-chair, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108'></a>108</span> +found in a nook, where he could give full expression +to his gift of romance. +</p> +<p> +The others in the party saw the Giant’s Causeway +and the famous cliffs, from the sea, as they +passed by in the steamer, but Eleanor never saw +the least bit of them, because of Jimmy’s screening +form and his refusal to permit her to leave +him. +</p> +<p> +Angela was delighted to find her brother had +finally appreciated the recklessness of his attachment +to Ruth, when there were far richer girls in +the party. She would have selected Dodo or +Polly, had he asked <em>her</em> to decide for him, but +Eleanor was better than Ruth. So she seconded +all her brother’s attempts to kidnap Eleanor +whenever the entire party wished to go anywhere +or do a thing. +</p> +<p> +“It’s a wonder your brother did not fall in love +with these four pretty girls at one time—and save +trouble,” said Nancy Fabian, laughingly to +Angela. +</p> +<p> +“Now, Nancy, don’t show your jealousy,” returned +Angela. +</p> +<p> +“Me—jealous! Why, Angie, you know I refused +Jimmy three or four times before these girls +ever put in an appearance. To accuse me of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109'></a>109</span> +jealousy when I hail the deliverance from his attentions +is ridiculous of you.” +</p> +<p> +Polly overheard these remarks and determined +that she would spare her friend any further annoyances +from Jimmy. “Here Nolla was losing +all the wonderful sights they came expressly to +Europe to see, and a foolish boy was using that +time for a flirtation.” Polly mentioned this to +Eleanor the first time she got her away from +Jimmy. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, but he heaps such good candies on one, +Poll,” laughed Eleanor, apologetically. “Let +his love die a natural death, and then there will +be no danger of its ghost ever bobbing up to +frighten me.” +</p> +<p> +“But you’re giving this precious time to a bally +fool, and missing Mr. Fabian’s rare lessons on information +you’ll need to know,” declared Polly, +angrily. +</p> +<p> +“I can’t help it, Poll. You’ll see how it is when +your turn comes with Jimmy,” laughed Eleanor, +teasingly. +</p> +<p> +Polly’s eyes snapped fire. Then she threatened +something that had been alluded to before, between +Eleanor and herself. “I plan to write letters +home tonight when we stop at Glasgow. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110'></a>110</span> +I’m going to tell Paul Stewart what a dreadful +flirt you have turned out to be!” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor gasped, but was brave. “Oh yes, and +also tell him what a wonderful girl his old playmate, +Dodo Alexander, is, and how, with all her +money, he can easily win her and live in ease the +rest of his life!” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor turned away shortly after that, and +Polly felt like crying. This was the first time, in +years, that Eleanor and she had had words, and +that horrid little fop was the cause of it! +</p> +<p> +But Polly’s threat, although vain, served to +startle Eleanor in her passive acceptance of +Jimmy’s attentions. She sat in the same seat on +the road to Edinburgh, it is true, but she was a +dull companion and never as much as glanced at +her admirer. +</p> +<p> +Polly and she had not spoken to each other +since the words they had had, but both girls revenged +themselves on Jimmy—the cause of their +quarrel. And he, unaware of what had caused +the sudden change in Eleanor’s feelings for him, +tried all the more to win her back to that former +sweet companionship with him. +</p> +<p> +At Edinburgh, Mr. Fabian conducted his party +through the fifteen famous castles and numerous +other places of interest to lovers of the antique, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111'></a>111</span> +and Eleanor was a member of the group in every +instance. In order to be near his heart’s desire, +Jimmy had to trail along, too, sighing in anguish +and rolling his eyes in desperation, when Eleanor +ignored him completely. +</p> +<p> +“He acts and looks like a comedian in the +Movies,” said Nancy, impatiently. +</p> +<p> +Angela smiled wisely and tossed her head when +she heard the remark. Nancy cared naught for +that, but turned her attention to Polly who was +flushing and fuming to herself. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter, Poll dear?” asked Nancy, +softly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, he makes me so mad! I could just slap +his face for him! There’s your father giving us +all this wonderful information on architecture and +antiques, and poor Nolla not hearing a word of it, +because of that fortune-hunting fool!” +</p> +<p> +“S-sh! Not so loud, dear! I feel as you do +about him, but I have learned that it is best not +to interfere in the matter. Let Jimmy and his +sister ‘have rope enough.’ You know the rest.” +</p> +<p> +“Why, Nancy! I thought you were devoted +to Angela?” gasped Polly. +</p> +<p> +“I was—once, dear, but don’t speak of it to +anyone else. I thought Angie the most wonderful +girl in the world until these past few days +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112'></a>112</span> +when I found that her entire heart and mind is +set on getting wealth by some means or other. +Her art, her friends, and her very self-respect, +are being sacrificed to that one ambition. Hence I +have had to crucify my friendship, too, and try +to feel indifferent to the past.” +</p> +<p> +“Dear Nancy!” condoled Polly. “I know +just how I would feel if Nolla proved to be unworthy +of my love and friendship.” +</p> +<p> +“But she won’t—she is a true American, Polly, +and that makes a difference. Much depends on +the way you have been trained to think, and poor +Angie thinks society and wealth mean heaven.” +</p> +<p> +Having visited the principal points of interest +in Edinburgh, Mr. Fabian took his party to Abbotsford, +the home of Sir Walter Scott. Here +the collection of wonderful objects and the interest +created in them by the names of the donors to +the famous novelist, gave the tourists much +pleasure. +</p> +<p> +Polly saw that Jimmy still tormented Eleanor +and kept her from enjoying the visit to Abbotsford +as she should have done. So she waylaid the +young man, as he followed Eleanor from the +place. +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i002' id='i002'></a> +<img src="images/illus-112.jpg" alt="“I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT OUGHT TO DO YOU GOOD!” SAID POLLY." title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>“I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT OUGHT TO DO YOU GOOD!” SAID POLLY.</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113'></a>113</span></div> +<p> +“James Osgood! What do you suppose Nolla +Maynard came to Europe for? To amuse <em>you</em> +with silly-mush, or to study art and try to become +experienced against the time we go into business?” +fumed Polly, striding in front of Jimmy and facing +him so that he had to stop short. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor was surprised at first, then she began +to enjoy the encounter. Jimmy was too amazed +to answer, but he stared at Polly and her blazing +eyes, as if she were an apparition. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I’ll tell you something that ought to do +you good!” continued Polly, cracking her fingers +under Jimmy’s nose. “There isn’t a man outside +of Colorado, who can ever touch Eleanor Maynard’s +heart, because she left it out there long +ago! And what’s more—there isn’t a man like +<em>you</em>, that can get one cent of American money +from any girl who has sense to know what you’re +after! Now take yourself and your love-making +off, to a girl who doesn’t know better!” +</p> +<p> +The cutting scorn and fire with which Polly +drove home her speech, caused Jimmy to shrink +momentarily, but he also saw the glorious beauty +of the girl with the flushed face, blazing eyes, +and quivering form, and his impressionable heart +took fire. +</p> +<p> +Polly had left him speechless, and Eleanor had +hurried away to the other girls, lest she burst out +laughing in sheer enjoyment of the bout between +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114'></a>114</span> +the two. But Jimmy stood lost in thought. He +had never in his life, had anyone speak so to him, +and never had he seen such marvellous beauty as +that which Polly scintillated as she fired her sparks +of fury at him. +</p> +<p> +Then he suddenly recovered and shot ahead to +reach his car. He waited at the side, where one +who would sit beside him, had to enter. He +waved Nancy, Ruth, and Eleanor on to the back, +and bowed low when Polly came up. +</p> +<p> +“Humph!” was all she granted him, and +flounced along to the other seats. Thus it happened +that Angela had to sit beside her brother +that day, much to the annoyance of both of them. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter with Nolla?” whispered +she, as the car started. +</p> +<p> +“Nothing. She’s nice enough, but I’m going +to get Polly Brewster if I have to kidnap her!” +he hissed through his teeth. Meantime he made +the car tear along at such a rate that the girls +could hardly breathe. +</p> +<p> +“D-o—n’t kill—us—in—the—me-an—time!” +gasped Angela. +</p> +<p> +“Better all dead, than let her get away!” +</p> +<p> +“I al-wa-ys kn-ew you—had co-ot-tton wh-ere +br-rains ought—to—be-e——” Angela managed +to jerk forth. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115'></a>115</span> +</p> +<p> +Jimmy made no reply to this stigma but tore +along the road until a constable arrested him. +That calmed him somewhat, for he had to pay a +fine, and it took all the money Mrs. Alexander +had recently given him. +</p> +<p> +When the second car caught up with Jimmy’s, +Mr. Alexander shouted gleefully: “That was +some race, Jimmy, old boy! I used to eat up +the road that way, in Colorado, but they won’t +stand for it over here, will they?” +</p> +<p> +As Jimmy had just transferred his little roll of +bills from his pocket, to the constable’s hand, he +grunted and started on slowly. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian called out, however: “You rushed +past all the towns I had planned to stop at and +explore. Now shall we go back!” +</p> +<p> +“No, never mind, Prof! let’s get back to London +and end this awful trip!” shouted Polly, +anxiously. +</p> +<p> +Her friends laughed, but the tourists in the second +car could not understand why the drive was +so awful to Polly. +</p> +<p> +At Penrith the travellers stopped, as they +planned to go cross country to visit some fine old +places located at Ripon. And they also wished +to visit York, which was a few miles from Penrith. +</p> +<p> +That night, the moment Jimmy was washed and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116'></a>116</span> +brushed, he took up his post at the foot of the +stairs where the girls would have to come down. +One after another of the party descended but +Polly failed to appear. Eleanor smiled and took +his arm to lure him away, but he shook off her +hand just as a petulant child might. +</p> +<p> +Still smiling, Eleanor walked away and joined +her friends in the parlor. Soon after that, they +went to the dining-room for dinner, leaving Jimmy +still on guard waiting for Polly. +</p> +<p> +It was a merry party that enjoyed dinner that +evening, but Jimmy took no interest in it, as he +still watched for the coming of his lady—as he +called her to himself. During a lull in the conversation +in the dining-room, Jimmy distinctly +heard a voice telling of exploits in the Rocky +Mountains, when Eleanor spent the Summer at +Pebbly Pit. +</p> +<p> +Jimmy started! It was Polly’s own voice! +But how did she get down while he stood watching +so carefully? +</p> +<p> +He hurried to the door of the room and looked +in. There she sat, entertaining the whole assembly, +with her stories—and he had been left out in +the hall all that time! He could have wept! +</p> +<p> +When he took a seat at the table, everyone expressed +the deepest concern for him. “Was he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117'></a>117</span> +ill?” “Did he feel badly about the fine for speeding?” +and many other questions to which he gave +no reply. +</p> +<p> +When they left the room, Jimmy jumped up +also, and just as Polly was leaving, he caught her +hand. +</p> +<p> +“Won’t you let me see you alone this evening—please?” +</p> +<p> +Polly lifted her head a bit higher—if that were +possible—and deigned to glance at him. “What +for?” snapped she. +</p> +<p> +“I—I want to tell you—oh, just give me a +moment!” +</p> +<p> +“Very well—one moment right here! Let the +others leave.” +</p> +<p> +“No—no, not in this public room. Somewhere +where I can speak——” begged Jimmy. +</p> +<p> +“Here or nowhere!” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, Polly, Polly! Why are you so cruel?” +began Jimmy, as he forced a look of agony into +his eyes. +</p> +<p> +“Come now—that will do from you, little boy! +If that is what you have to say, then just keep +it. I’ve no time to throw away,” said Polly, in a +voice like steel, and then she drew aside her dress +and walked away. +</p> +<p> +Jimmy stood disconsolate, wishing he dared +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118'></a>118</span> +commit suicide before her eyes, and make her repent +those unkind words. But he was awfully +hungry, and he thought better of suicide so he +went back to finish his late dinner. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor saw him, later, as he left the dining-room +and, with the imp of mischief uppermost in +her mind, waylaid him and spent the evening talking +of nothing but Polly—her beauty, her accomplishments, +and her tremendous wealth that no +one as yet, had been able to compute. +</p> +<p> +Had Jimmy any doubt of who his soul-mate +was, before, that talk settled it. He was now determined +to have Polly, even if he had to steal her +and keep her locked up until she consented to his +offer of marriage. +</p> +<p> +The farce now amused everyone but Angela +and Mrs. Alexander. Jimmy was so openly wild +about Polly that he acted like a possessed idiot +rather than a young man with a grain of sense. +If Polly had fawned upon him, he might have +wearied of her company, but because she scorned +him so heartily and showed it plainly, he felt all +the more attracted to her. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander snubbed Polly whenever she +scorned Jimmy; and Angela made much of the +lady because she showed her partisanship for the +young man, so openly. Thus the two, Angela and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119'></a>119</span> +Mrs. Alexander came closer together because of +the common bond—Jimmy. +</p> +<p> +When Mr. Fabian suggested that all go to see +the Minster of York, Angela and Mrs. Alexander +refused. Jimmy saw the look Polly cast at him, +and murmured something about drowning his sorrow. +But he failed to say whether it would be +in the river or in home-brew. +</p> +<p> +They viewed the ancient place and Mr. Fabian +remarked: “It was here that the greatest disaster +that ever befell man occurred in 306 A.D.” +</p> +<p> +“Why, I never heard of it—what was it?” +asked Mr. Ashby. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps you, like many others, never thought +of it as a disaster,” replied Mr. Fabian. “Because +I speak of the proclamation issued here by +the Romans, that made Constantine an Emperor +in 306. This emperor, understanding the tremendous +advantages of a political nature, if he +could gain full power and control of the religion +that was gaining such an ascendancy with the people—the +Christ Truth that healed the sick, cured +sin, and raised the very dead, as it <em>did</em> until three +hundred years after Jesus ascended—bribed a few +of the disloyal Christians to act in concord with +him. +</p> +<p> +“For the reward of place and power conceded +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120'></a>120</span> +to them, the unscrupulous Christians sold out their +faith and brethren to this Emperor. He, wily +and crafty in diplomacy and politics, sent out +word, far and wide, that Christianity would +thenceforth be protected by him. +</p> +<p> +“In this place, that proclamation was hailed +with a great celebration, and Christianity became +the ruling religion here. But the power of the +Spirit, as used by Christ Jesus, vanished when +pomp and politics supplanted it, and soon the gift +of healing was lost until recent years.” +</p> +<p> +“That is very interesting, Fabian,” said Mr. +Ashby, while the girls listened to this unusual information, +eagerly. “I have sometimes wondered +why it was that the power demonstrated by +Christ Jesus could not have been used by his followers.” +</p> +<p> +“It was, you see, until Constantine misused the +gift. All such who use it for place or power will +lose it,” said Mr. Fabian, earnestly. +</p> +<p> +“How did you ever learn about it, Prof?” asked +Eleanor eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“The records of the entire transaction and the +courageous though fearful stand the Early Christians +took to defend their religion, can be read in +the books called ‘The Anti-Nicean Fathers.’ +There one can learn how wonderful were the cures +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121'></a>121</span> +and the over-coming of death for all who accepted +Christianity, up to the time when it became defiled +by greed and avarice and earthly taint. +</p> +<p> +“But, to me, the saddest part of all that sad +event, is the fact that mankind, today, believes it +<em>has</em> the Truth as taught and practised by Christ +Jesus. Whereas they only have the form and +farce of it, as it was changed from the pure spiritual +power to that counterfeit endorsed by Constantine. +And for this subterfuge, the world +honors that unscrupulous politician!” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian was so incensed at the thought of +all the act meant to the world, that he stalked out +of the Minster and went on silently, followed almost +as silently by the others. They were all +thinking earnestly of what he had said, and everyone +pondered on what <em>might have been</em> had Constantine +never interfered with the Truth. +</p> +<p> +After leaving York, the cars went through +Selby, and stopped at Doncast long enough to give +the tourists time to visit the gargoyled church. +Then they sped on to Sheffield where Mr. Fabian +showed the girls how the famous Sheffield Plate +was made. +</p> +<p> +The next stopping place was Haddon Hall, the +home and burial spot of Dorothy Vernon. The +country in this part of England is wild and ruggedly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122'></a>122</span> +beautiful, with good roads for automobiles. +So the cars sped smoothly along to Derby, where +the collectors had dreams of old Crown Derby +ware, but found nothing to materialize those +visions. +</p> +<p> +Jimmy had been so annoying with his attentions +to Polly, with his hang-dog expression, as he +followed her everywhere, that the others began +to feel impatient about it, instead of laughing as +at a good joke as they had done. Finally Mr. +Fabian spoke to him severely. +</p> +<p> +“See here, James, I can make allowances for a +young man of your type, naturally, but when you +make a beastly nuisance of yourself, I must interfere. +Now leave Polly alone, and don’t annoy +her further with your transitory love. Throw +it away on some girl who wants it.” +</p> +<p> +But Mrs. Fabian felt that a better cure might +have been applied. “If Polly would only hang +on his arm and tell him how she loves him, he +will drop her like an old shoe.” +</p> +<p> +“I don’t believe it! He has a double-edged axe +to grind, and there’s no use getting Polly in +wrong, in case he wanted to get her and what she +owns,” returned Mr. Fabian, wisely. +</p> +<p> +Jimmy had not the character that would give +perseverance and persistence for any problem, so +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123'></a>123</span> +he finally lost interest in the affair he had created +for himself with Polly. Mrs. Alexander felt +greatly elated when she saw him casting eyes at +Dodo, oftener than he had in the past. And to +show her appreciation of this, she quietly urged +another roll of bills into his willing palm. +</p> +<p> +Perhaps it was the understanding that Polly +and Dodo had had with each other that had +caught Jimmy’s attention. To spare Polly any +further annoyance, Dodo had offered to divert the +silly affair to herself, if possible. So she dressed +in her finest, and flirted with Jimmy, and tried in +every way to attract his eyes to herself. And it +was not difficult to do, either. +</p> +<p> +Before they started for London, having done +the points of interest at Coventry, Kenilworth, +and so on to Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon, +Jimmy was recovering from his desire to die, and +was taking notice of Dodo. By the time they +reached Stratford he was able to act any lover’s +part in the Shakespearian plays, provided Dodo +was the lady-love in the scene. +</p> +<p> +His companions, excepting Angela and Dodo’s +mother, were out of all patience with him. He +was such a weak-hearted lover who had no idea +of the first principles of the game, that they had +very little to say to him the last days of the trip. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124'></a>124</span> +</p> +<p> +Dodo bravely endured his soft speeches and +smilingly accepted the bon-bons and blossoms her +mother’s money enabled him to shower upon her, +but when they reached London, and the time came +when the association could be severed, she ruthlessly +did so. +</p> +<p> +The Americans stopped at one of the best hotels, +while Angela and Jimmy drove to their home +to get the directions left there for them by Sir +James. +</p> +<p> +Shortly after everyone had decided to rest at +the hotel after the long ride that day, Jimmy came +rushing in to see the men. +</p> +<p> +“We found these letters at the house, so Angela +made me come right in with them. Of +course, you will all accept!” +</p> +<p> +There was a special invitation for each family, +inviting them down to Sir James’ country place for +a week or two. When Mr. Alexander read and +passed the letter on to his wife, she was so pleased +that she could hardly wait to hear what the others +would say. +</p> +<p> +“Very sorry, Jimmy, but I am booked for business +interviews from now on until I sail for the +States, again,” explained Mr. Ashby, answering +for his family as well as for himself. +</p> +<p> +“And we plan to leave London very shortly, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125'></a>125</span> +Jimmy, to tour the Continent, as you know,” +added Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“But we will go down with you, Jimmy, and +thank your dear father, again and again,” exclaimed +Mrs. Alexander, sweetly. +</p> +<p> +“How do you know we will?” demanded Mr. +Alexander; “I don’t want to be bothered with +style and society when I can have a nice time in my +car touring over Europe.” +</p> +<p> +“We’ll have to go for a week, at least,” said +Mrs. Alexander, positively. “There are many +reasons why.” Then turning to Jimmy she +added: “So tell your dear parents that we will +be pleased to accept, Jimmy.” +</p> +<p> +Dodo hurried from the parlor where this meeting +took place, and Jimmy could not find her when +he tried to have a few words with her, alone. +</p> +<p> +“Never mind, now, Jimmy,” whispered Mrs. +Alexander as she followed him from the room. +“You will have Dodo all to yourself when we +get down to Osgood Hall.” +</p> +<p> +Rolling his eyes dramatically and sighing with +joy as he shook the plump bejewelled hands of +his expectant mother-in-law, Jimmy hurried away +to rejoin his sister Angela in the car. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126'></a>126</span><a name='chVII' id='chVII'></a>CHAPTER VII—DODO’S ELOPEMENT</h2> +<p> +“Dodo, your mother says we got to go with her +to visit the Osgoods,” Mr. Alexander informed +his daughter, early the next morning at breakfast. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I won’t! so there! I’m going with +Polly and her friends, to Paris. I just guess I +can take up decorating if I want to, and Ma can’t +stop me!” Dodo was really angry. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve been thinking, Dodo, that if we don’t go +down with Ma, she can’t go there alone. Now +she wants to go the worst way, but she won’t care +so much whether we stay on or not—as long as +she can hold on to the invitation.” +</p> +<p> +Dodo looked up quickly at her father’s tone. +“What do you mean, Pa?” +</p> +<p> +“Well, you see, we plan to go down in the car. +We can carry all the trunks and other traps, that +way. But going down there doesn’t say we’ve +got to stay, does it?” +</p> +<p> +“N-o-o,” agreed Dodo, beginning to see light. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127'></a>127</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well then, getting Ma down there, and you +and I clearing out again, is all that I want to do. +She will stay on and we will fly to Paris. How is +that?” +</p> +<p> +Dodo laughed merrily at the plot, but she still +had to hear further particulars. For instance, +how did Pa expect to get away from the others +without suspicion, and on what plea would he get +back to London? +</p> +<p> +“Say now, Do—you don’t suspect me of telling +to them people all I expect to do, do you? No, +I’ll just wait for night, and then you and I will +elope together.” +</p> +<p> +“Elope! Oh, Pa, how funny!” laughed Dodo, +clapping her hands. +</p> +<p> +“Yeh, easy as pie, Do! Now listen to me. Ma +gets all nicely settled the first night, and you have +your little room by yourself. I go out for a +smoke with my friend pipe—all by myself. I see +you trying to steal away with your bundles, and a +MAN! I hear a motor purr, and I see you and +that man get in a car—and off you tear. I foller +you to London, and keep right on your heels +to Paris. There I catch you, and send word back +to Ma to ease her mind. +</p> +<p> +“When she hears that you eloped with a <em>man</em>, +and I went after, to catch you, before you married +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128'></a>128</span> +someone we don’t know about, she will be so glad +that she’ll forgive me. And she won’t dare say +a word to you, because that will spoil her little +game for Jimmy, see? +</p> +<p> +“The Osgoods will make her stay on with them, +if they really plan to land our million, because +they will need some link by which to win you back, +see? If they think more of their <em>family</em> than of +our money, they’ll let Ma go and join us in Paris. +</p> +<p> +“Now, Dodo, what you think of your Pa’s little +scheme?” laughed the little man, as he rubbed +his hands together in glee. +</p> +<p> +“Say, Pa! It’s a shame such a wonder as you +should be hidden to the world,” exclaimed Dodo, +admiringly. +</p> +<p> +“As long as it hides you and me until the storm +blows over, will be enough to satisfy me,” retorted +Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +At this moment, the Fabians and Ashbys entered +the room, and Mr. Alexander winked at his +daughter for secrecy on the subject they had been +discussing. Soon after the others sat down at +the breakfast table, Mrs. Alexander joined them, +and the conversation turned to their parting. +</p> +<p> +“When do you plan to leave London, Mrs. +Alexander?” asked Mr. Ashby, politely. +</p> +<p> +“Tomorrow, I hope. I want to fit Dodo up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129'></a>129</span> +in some decent gowns before I take her to such a +fine place as Osgood Hall.” +</p> +<p> +“When do you leave, Mr. Ashby?” asked +Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“I expect to take Ruth and my wife down to +my cousin’s, at Brighton, this afternoon. Then I +have to go to different towns, you know, to collect +things for my customers in the States.” +</p> +<p> +“And you, Polly?” Dodo turned to the girl she +liked best of those she had met that summer. +</p> +<p> +“We are going to remain in London for a few +days more, and see the Museums and galleries, +then go on to Paris.” +</p> +<p> +“I wish I was going with you,” said Dodo. +“Maybe we can meet in Paris, soon, and I can +go on with you-all to learn more of antiques and +decorating.” +</p> +<p> +“That must be as your father and mother say, +Dodo,” Mr. Fabian now remarked. +</p> +<p> +“I always said Dodo could do as she liked,” +quickly said Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“But my daughter will be with me down at Osgood +Hall, so you won’t be likely to cross each +other’s path again, in Europe,” declared Mrs. +Alexander, smilingly, although her tone expressed +her determination. +</p> +<p> +The Ashbys left that afternoon, and Mrs. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130'></a>130</span> +Alexander took Dodo shopping for more clothes. +Then, in the morning, the car was brought to the +hotel, and the girls went with Dodo to see her off. +</p> +<p> +“I sure feel as if I want to cry,” whimpered +Dodo, pretending to dab her eyes. +</p> +<p> +“We-all will miss you awfully, Dodo. You’re +a good pal and we had <em>such</em> good times with you!” +sighed Polly. +</p> +<p> +“Let’s hope we <em>will</em> meet soon, in spite of Ma’s +sayin’ our paths wouldn’t cross each other again,” +grinned Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“Ebeneezer, do get started, won’t you? Here +we are sitting and holding up everyone else!” +snapped Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +So the car drove off, with Dodo waving her +hand as long as she could see her friends. +</p> +<p> +The Fabians and Polly and Eleanor visited the +Victoria and Albert Museum that day, finding +many wonderful pieces to admire. Among +bronzes, ivories, tapestries and other art objects, +Mr. Fabian pointed out various bits of costly and +famous work. +</p> +<p> +There was a reading-desk of the 15th century; +several Florentine coffers with fine carved panels; +a beautiful cabinet decorated with Marquetry of +the South German type, that hailed back to the +16th century. And in the Pavilion, Polly found +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131'></a>131</span> +a lovely dressing-table of satin-wood from the +18th century that reminded her of the piece she +had bought down in Sussex. +</p> +<p> +The second day at the Museum—for it took +several days to do it thoroughly—they visited the +rooms where all kinds of furniture are exhibited, +from stately William and Mary chairs down to +the tiniest of foot-stools and ottomans. +</p> +<p> +They were passing an odd group of chairs when +Eleanor laughingly drew their attention to two. +“Just look at that fat old roistering chair conversing +with the thin straight-laced prig of a side-chair, +next to him.” +</p> +<p> +Her description was so true of the two chairs, +that her companions laughed. +</p> +<p> +“Yes,” said Mr. Fabian, “the stiff-backed +puritanical chair is telling the fat old rascal what +a coarse bourgeois manner he shows in such good +company.” +</p> +<p> +“Daddy, how could such a clumsy chair ever +get into this famous museum?” asked Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“Because it can claim antiquity,” replied her +father. “In early English times, when Squires +and over-lords ruled the land, they spent most of +their time in drinking and gambling. This chair +is a type of them, is it not?” +</p> +<p> +“It certainly is,” agreed the girls. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132'></a>132</span> +</p> +<p> +“So you will find almost every period of furniture. +They tell, truer than one thinks at the time, +of the type of people that makes and uses them. +You will find effeminate pieces in the reign of the +Louis’, and hard-looking furniture in German history. +Our own American furniture tells, better +than all else, of the mixing of nations in the ‘melting-pot.’ +Our furniture has no type, or style, individually +its own. +</p> +<p> +“The so-called sales advertised in department +stores are symbolic of what Americans are satisfied +with: hodge-podge ready-made factory pieces, +quickly glued together, and badly finished. As +long as it is showy, and can demand a high price, +the average American is satisfied. And that is +the great error we interior decorators have to +correct—we have to educate the people away from +confusion and into art and beauty.” +</p> +<p> +Having seen the best examples of old furniture +on exhibition in the Museum, Mr. Fabian prepared +to go. As they walked quietly through the +corridor to the main entrance, he said impressively: +“I consider you girls have seen some of +the best products to be found in the world today. +The results of many ideals and hard work. +</p> +<p> +“You must know, that a good ideal thought +plans a perfect chair or table; and that thought +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133'></a>133</span> +eventually expresses itself in the object it sees in +mind. If the object is a thing of beauty and a +joy forever, it elevates the whole world just that +much. If it falls short of the artist’s ideals and +hopes, he must do it over again, sooner or later, +to reach the perfect model in mind. Thus he expresses +God (good) in his ideals. If he refuses +to try again to perfect his work, he knows he has +failed utterly and he has nothing but the result +of lowering his ideal—failure and deformity.” +</p> +<p> +As he ceased speaking, Mr. Fabian found the +girls were intensely interested in his little lecture, +and he smiled as Polly cried: “Oh, tell us some +more along that line, please!” +</p> +<p> +“Well, I wish to impress upon you that in your +work you <em>must</em> express the highest ideal or be a +failure. Now God, Good, is Mind, and this +Mind must be expressed in countless manifestations +to be seen by us. <em>Unexpressed</em> it is a non-entity, +and does not exist. Art and beauty are +forms of ideal manifestation, and this manifestation +objectifies itself in divan, lamp, rug or ornament, +for you. +</p> +<p> +“To be a perfect thing, it must have God, or +Mind, as its Creator, but this God uses you, His +child, as the channel through which He works. +If you obey that idealistic desire and work the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134'></a>134</span> +best you know how, God sends added understanding +and assistance to help you perfect the object, +thus it becomes good and true. Now evil works, +too, but just in the opposite directions; hence, if +you give in to greed, avarice, dishonesty, envy, or +the multitude of weapons evil always has on hand +to tempt you with, you inevitably must produce an +inharmonious result, and the repelling effects that +go to cause criticism and dissatisfaction with all +who thereafter look at the object. +</p> +<p> +“That is why that roistering armchair displeases +a true and idealistic artist. It was not +produced by a true and high-minded individual +who hoped to bring forth a model of line and +color, but who had only in mind, at the time, the +production of a stout piece of furniture that would +withstand the tests and offer a seat to the drunkards +of that time; and would also resist the fierce +quarrels and fights so common between gamblers +who frequented the taverns of that day.” +</p> +<p> +“I wish to goodness I knew as much as you do +about all these interesting things, Mr. Fabian!” +declared Polly, yearningly. +</p> +<p> +“That is the sweetest praise a man can have, +Polly dear; to wish to stand in my shoes in experience,” +smiled Mr. Fabian. “But the very desire +when truly entertained, will bring about the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135'></a>135</span> +thing you so earnestly desire. For you know, +‘Desire is prayer.’” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Fabian smiling at her husband, now said, +“Why not add a benediction to this little sermonette, +dear?” Then turning to the girls, she +quoted: “‘Give up imperfect models and illusive +ideals; and so let us have one God (Good), +One Mind, and that one perfect, producing His +own models of excellence.’” +</p> +<p> +That evening, the clerk at the hotel office +handed Mr. Fabian a card. +</p> +<p> +“Why, how strange!” remarked he, glancing +again, at the pasteboard in his hand. +</p> +<p> +“What is it?” asked Nancy, trying to look over +his shoulder. +</p> +<p> +“The Alexanders were here. As we were out +they left a card saying that they were going on to +Paris, at once, and would see us at the hotel where +we said we would stop.” +</p> +<p> +“How very strange!” exclaimed Mrs. Fabian, +while the girls wondered what had happened to +so suddenly change the minds of their friends. +</p> +<p> +“I never heard of anything like that. One day +Mrs. Alexander was crazy to visit the Osgoods, +and now they run away and are as crazy to reach +Paris,” said Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“I’m glad for Dodo’s sake. The poor girl +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136'></a>136</span> +didn’t want to go to Osgood Hall, at all, +and I know how she felt about Jimmy,” said +Polly. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe that’s what caused all the fuss. Dodo +put down her foot and refused him outright, and +that made his folks too angry to forgive her,” +said Eleanor, romancing. +</p> +<p> +“Well, now she can go along with us, can’t she +Daddy, and get all the information she wants, +from visiting the places we go to.” +</p> +<p> +“With her parents’ consent, I should like to +help Dodo to a higher plane for herself,” returned +Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +As they started again for their rooms, Polly +laughed at a sudden memory. “Oh, maybe Ebeneezer’s +poisonous black pipe played such havoc at +the first dinner at Osgood Hall, that the guests +couldn’t stand it, and he was sent away with his +friend.” +</p> +<p> +Everyone laughed merrily at Polly’s picture of +Mr. Alexander and his old friend pipe. +</p> +<p> +The next day after the Fabian party returned +from the last sight-seeing in London, a wire was +handed the man of the group. He opened it +hastily, and read aloud: “Send word when you +leave for Paris. Will meet you at train with +car. Alexander.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137'></a>137</span> +</p> +<p> +“Now that is really nice of the little man, I +say,” added Mr. Fabian, as he handed the message +to his wife. +</p> +<p> +“Then you’d better wire him at once, for we +plan to go tomorrow,” advised Mrs. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +Everything had been attended to in London, +and the girls took a farewell look at the city as +they sped away to Dover where they expected to +take the Channel Boat for Havre. +</p> +<p> +Much has been said about the rough crossing +of this little strip of water, but the girls found it +as quiet as a mill-pond, and the steamer skimmed +the waves like a sea-gull. The ride in the dusty +train, from Havre to Paris, was the most unpleasant +part of the trip. But upon leaving the train +at Paris, they saw Dodo and her father anxiously +scanning the faces that passed by. +</p> +<p> +“Here we are, Dodo!” called Polly, eagerly, as +she jumped forward and caught her friend’s hand. +</p> +<p> +“Dear me! I’m as glad to see you-all as I +can be,” cried Dodo, shaking everyone eagerly by +the hand. +</p> +<p> +“Yeh, you’re a sight for sore eyes,” remarked +her father. +</p> +<p> +“We’ve only been in Paris a day and night, but +Pa hasn’t any French with him, and I’ve only got +a few words that I am always using mistakenly, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138'></a>138</span> +so we’re happy to have someone who can speak +and understand the lingo” laughed Dodo, +happily. +</p> +<p> +They all got into the luxurious car that had +carried them so many miles over England, and +as they sank down upon the soft cushions, Polly +said: “An automobile really is nicer than a hard +old steam-tram.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Fabian, always polite, asked: “How is +your mother, Dodo?” +</p> +<p> +“Last time we saw her she was first class, +thank you.” +</p> +<p> +“She may be having high-sterics now, however,” +added Mr. Alexander, chucklingly. +</p> +<p> +“What do you mean? Isn’t she well?” asked +Mrs. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“We <em>hope</em> she is well, Mrs. Fabian, but we +left her at Osgood Hall, while we eloped to +Paris,” laughed Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“Eloped! What <em>are</em> you talking about, +child?” demanded Mrs. Fabian, while the girls +sat up, eager to hear a story. +</p> +<p> +“Pa and I just <em>had</em> to elope, you know, to save +our lives. We waited until Ma got nicely settled +with the family, then we got in the car and +ran away. We haven’t heard, yet, in answer to +our telegram from here, so we’re frightened to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139'></a>139</span> +pieces lest Ma packs up and comes after us,” explained +Dodo. +</p> +<p> +But this fear was quieted when they all went +into the hotel and the clerk handed Mr. Alexander +a message. He opened it with trembling fingers, +and suddenly sat down in a great chair. +</p> +<p> +“Goodness me, Pa! What is it? Is she coming +for us?” cried Dodo, in an agony of suspense. +</p> +<p> +“No—that’s why I caved in, Dodo. The relief +was so turrible!” sighed the little man. +</p> +<p> +Everyone felt sorry for these two, but the situation +was so funny that they laughed in spite of +their trying not to. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, laugh,” giggled Dodo, “that’s just what +Pa and I did when we got well away on the road +to London. When I think of how they must have +looked when they read the note I pinned on my +cushion for Ma, I have to laugh myself.” +</p> +<p> +“What was in the note, Do?” asked Eleanor, +curiously. +</p> +<p> +“I said I was eloping with the man I loved best +on earth—which was true, you know. And I +knew I could never be happy with a title, as long +as I loved this everyday man. That was true, +too. So I was fleeing with him, to Paris, where +I hoped to meet her some day and ask her forgiveness.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140'></a>140</span> +</p> +<p> +The girls laughed heartily at Dodo’s note, and +Polly said she was awfully clever to think it out +that way. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, but it was Pa who planned it all. And +when we got to Paris, he wired back to Ma, saying: +‘Got Dodo in time. Never laid eyes on +that young man, but will keep her safe with me. +Better not try to join us yet, she may not want to +be reminded of the good home and young man she +ran away from.’” +</p> +<p> +“And this is what Ma wired back,” said Mr. +Alexander, sitting up to read the message. “Just +read Dodo’s note about her elopement. Glad +you are after her, Eben. Don’t let her marry +any man, while there is a chance of Jimmy. +Maggie.” +</p> +<p> +“So now, folks, Ma is safe at Osgood Hall, +and we are here, with our car, with you. What’s +to hinder us from taking you all over Europe in +the old machine, eh?” eagerly asked Mr. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“Your offer is very attractive, Mr. Alex,” returned +Mr. Fabian, “but I am not in a position +to accept it without consulting further with my +wife and the girls.” +</p> +<p> +“Why not? Here’s a car and a fine chauffeur +for you-all to use as you like, and you admit that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141'></a>141</span> +you’re going to visit the big cities of Europe, and +that means travel in some sort of way.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes, that part of the plan is as you say,” +admitted Mr. Fabian, “but there is more to it +than mere travelling. You must understand that +Mrs. Alexander has a claim on that car, too, and +I don’t see how we can tour away from Paris in +her car without her knowledge and willing +consent.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, as for that!” retorted the little husband, +“she’d be only too glad to hear Dodo was safe +with you folks on a tour. Diden’ I tell you-all +that she’s happy where she is, and nothin’ can tear +her away from the Osgoods, at present?” +</p> +<p> +“Besides that, I want to stay with you-all,” +added Dodo, plaintively. “So that I can get +more knowledge of decorating, because I’ve made +up my mind, once and for all time, to go into a +business as you girls propose doing.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian yearned to encourage the girl in +her ambition, but he was adamant when it came +to using the Alexander car under the circumstances. +All the persuasions of father and +daughter could not move him from what he considered +to be a just decision. +</p> +<p> +There the matter was left for the time being, +but Mr. Fabian was not so narrow-minded that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142'></a>142</span> +he refused to drive about Paris with the little +man, on the different occasions when he and his +party were invited to go. +</p> +<p> +The day after their arrival at the hotel in +Paris, Polly said to Dodo: “Did your wedding-chest +arrive here safely?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, it came, and it’s gone again.” +</p> +<p> +“Gone again! Where?” said surprised Polly. +</p> +<p> +“Gone to Ruth—for her birthday gift,” +giggled Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“Not really! Why how wonderful for Ruth,” +exclaimed the girls in a chorus. +</p> +<p> +Dodo smiled. “Don’t you remember what I +said to Ruth about a little gift, the day we drove +away from that old shop?” +</p> +<p> +“I remember, but no one dreamed you meant +that <em>chest</em>,” replied Polly. +</p> +<p> +“I made up my mind about it, the moment I +found how Ma got it from under Ruth’s nose. +That’s why I made Ma say the chest was my very +own—so she could not come back at me and say +I had no right to give it away.” +</p> +<p> +“Dodo, you are splendid in your generous way +of giving. If only everyone was like you!” cried +Polly, giving her a hug. +</p> +<p> +“There! That hug means more to me than a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143'></a>143</span> +wedding-chest,” laughed Dodo, pink with pleasure. +</p> +<p> +When Mrs. Fabian heard of the gift to Ruth +she caught the girl’s hand and said: “Dodo, +Ruth will be so happy, I know.” +</p> +<p> +“Dear me, you-all make as much fuss over that +chest as if I had to earn the money for it. I can’t +forget that we have more cash than we can ever +spend honestly,” declared Dodo. +</p> +<p> +When Mrs. Fabian told her husband about the +gift and Dodo’s point of view about wealth, it +had more influence with him than anyone could +have thought for. He felt that Dodo and her +father were really worth-while characters, but +there was a roughness about them that needed +some polishing before the purity and beauty of +their souls would shine forth resplendently and +make others appreciate them. +</p> +<p> +The streets of Paris were anything but good for +motoring because of the broken cobbles, and deep +ruts in the roads. The disagreeable odors, too, +created by poor sanitation in the city, caused +Polly and her chums to cover their noses many a +time. +</p> +<p> +“I like the wonders of Paris, but I can’t say +that I like the people and the everyday annoyances,” +remarked Polly, one day. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144'></a>144</span> +</p> +<p> +“The shops are beautiful!” said Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“And the signs—they are marvellous,” added +Dodo. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian laughed at the individual tastes, +and Mrs. Fabian said: “Well, we can’t get away +any too soon to please me.” +</p> +<p> +“‘Them’s our sentiments, too,’” laughed Polly. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll hate to leave the Bohemian Restaurants,” +sighed Nancy. “I always did like to sit under a +tall palm and watch the people parade by, so near +me that I could reach out a hand and catch hold +of them.” +</p> +<p> +“Now that all but Mr. Alex and I have had a +say I’ll add, that I like Paris because of the marvellous +collections for artists to visit, and profit +by,” remarked Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“An’ I like the gay town because no one bothers +you. You can smoke a pipe, or do any durn +thing without someone’s kickin’,” added little Mr. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +His opinion drew a general laughter from the +group. +</p> +<p> +From the first day of the arrival of Mr. Fabian +and his party, little Mr. Alexander had daily +exchanged messages with his wife, hoping in that +way, to receive one that would convince Mr. Fabian +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145'></a>145</span> +that he must make use of the car for the tour +of the Continent. But he could not read his +wife’s confused statements and feel that the right +one had yet arrived for him to use in this need. +</p> +<p> +The day the girls started for the Louvre, Mr. +Alexander and his car had been refused because, +they said, they would be busy in the Galleries all +day and could not ask him to sit outside waiting +for their appearance. +</p> +<p> +So they left him sitting at a writing table in +the hotel, and started for the Louvre. As they +approached the grounds of the famous museum, +they were thrilled with the magnificence of the +place. +</p> +<p> +“It is considered the finest museum in the world, +and contains rarest national collections of art and +antiquity that date back as far as Philippe Auguste, +in 1180,” explained Mr. Fabian. “Philippe +Auguste built a fortress here to protect the +walls of his hunting-box where it touched the river. +This old foundation can be seen by visitors on certain +days, and I arranged so that we would come +on one of the days.” +</p> +<p> +So the girls followed their escort down to the +cellars, where the old walls were seen. But they +were not deeply interested in foundations with no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146'></a>146</span> +claim to beauty or value for the world, so they +soon returned to the Halls where the antiques +were on exhibition. +</p> +<p> +To reach the Rotonde D’ Apollon, Mr. Fabian +led the girls past Galleries filled with paintings, +sculptures, ivories and other art treasures. Then +having seen these collections, they passed through +a seventh century iron gateway brought from the +Chateau de Maisons, and entered the magnificent +room which was sixty-one metres long and was +built in the time of Henri IV. In this galerie, +as in others following it, there were shown such +placques, vases, dishes, and other objects of art, +that the beholders were silent with admiration. +</p> +<p> +Beyond the Salle des Bronzes Antiques, where +very fine examples of bronzes were to be seen, the +girls visited five rooms containing 17th and early +18th century furniture. Here they also found +several exquisite Gobelin and Mortlake tapestries. +</p> +<p> +That evening the hotel clerk handed Mr. Fabian +a legal looking envelope, which, upon being +opened, proved to contain the passes necessary for +visitors to enter and see the famous tapestries +woven by the Gobelin Society. +</p> +<p> +“Ah! Now you girls will see something worth +while,” remarked Mr. Fabian, holding the slips +of paper above his head. “I have here the ‘open +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147'></a>147</span> +sesame’ to the National Manufactory of the +Gobelins which still is housed in the grounds of +Louis the XVIth. There we may feast our eyes +on some of the examples of weaving that has +made this Society so famous.” +</p> +<p> +“When will we go?” asked Polly, eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“Tomorrow, the passes say.” +</p> +<p> +Everyone expressed an eagerness to see these +looms and the method of making the tapestries, +so it was planned that the entire party should go, +excepting Mr. Alexander who preferred a drive +in his car after leaving his friends at their destination. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148'></a>148</span><a name='chVIII' id='chVIII'></a>CHAPTER VIII—DODO MEETS ANOTHER “TITLE”</h2> +<p> +The next day they visited the Gobelin Tapestries. +There was but one word to express the +wonderful work exhibited—and that was “Exquisite.” +Some of these tapestries are “worth a +crown.” +</p> +<p> +“It doesn’t seem possible that anyone could +weave such delicate lace-like patterns with mere +threads and human hands,” said Polly. +</p> +<p> +“And such colorings, too! Did you ever see +such green velvety lichen as seems growing on +those old grey monoliths?” added Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“See the tiny dash of red that is necessary, +given by the pigeon berry growing in that lichen,” +remarked Polly. +</p> +<p> +The others said nothing, because they were so +impressed by the beauty of the complete picture +that the details failed to reach them. Then Mr. +Fabian told the history of the Gobelins. +</p> +<p> +“In its foundation year there were two hundred +and fifty weavers engaged in weaving these marvellous +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149'></a>149</span> +tapestries. But that number has +dwindled, today, to sixty. And there used to be +an annual appropriation of two hundred thousand +francs that today has dwindled, also; to fifty thousand +francs. +</p> +<p> +“The famous old Gobelins owned by the State, +and exhibited at the Museums and at public buildings +in Paris, are today worth fortunes. Few +are owned by the Trade and such as are are the +more modern pieces that date back to Napoleon +III. +</p> +<p> +“Many pieces of rare Gobelins were sold because +of royal vicissitudes previous to 1870, but +since then no tapestries have been available to +the public. This enhances the value of any Gobelin +that was sold to assist the Treasury in 1852. +</p> +<p> +“One of the most famous series ever produced, +known as ‘Portières of the Gods,’ consists of +eight pieces, representing the four seasons and +the four elements. Each design is personified by +one of the gods or goddesses of Olympus. This +series has been repeated until there are two hundred +and thirty-seven sets that left the looms. +</p> +<p> +“When one of these portières of the gods appear +in a sale there is most lively bidding for it, +and prices soar higher than any other Gobelin +usually brings. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150'></a>150</span> +</p> +<p> +“The ‘Don Quixote’ series of five pieces, is perhaps +the most famous of all Gobelins recently +sold. To show the keen appreciation of such +tapestry, the price paid at a sale of such was +six hundred thousand francs.” +</p> +<p> +As Mr. Fabian concluded, Polly laughingly remarked: +“I wonder if Nolla and I will ever +reach that degree in decorating where a customer +will commission us to go and buy such a tapestry.” +</p> +<p> +“Of course you will! As soon as I marry that +title that Ma is hunting up for me, I’ll give you +the order for the whole set,” laughed Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“Let’s hope we may have to wait forever, then, +if the commission depends on your misery,” retorted +Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +After leaving the Gobelins, Mr. Fabian took +his party to some of the old curio shops in Paris, +where one can spend many interesting hours—if +one likes antiques. +</p> +<p> +That evening Mr. Alexander insisted upon +their going, as his guests, to one of the famous +cafés. And as they sat at one of the way-side +tables watching the stream of pleasure-seekers go +past, Dodo suddenly drew the attention of her +companions to a man who was strolling by. +</p> +<p> +“Now there’s what I call a really handsome +Frenchman,” whispered she. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151'></a>151</span> +</p> +<p> +“Why, if it isn’t Count Chalmys!” exclaimed +Nancy, jumping up to catch hold of the gentleman’s +arm. +</p> +<p> +“What’s that! Anuther title?” asked Mr. +Alexander with a frown. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, but don’t worry, Pa,” laughed Dodo, +encouragingly. “If Ma’s not about there’s no +danger for you and me.” +</p> +<p> +The others laughed at Mr. Alexander’s evident +concern and Dodo’s instant rejoinder to his question. +Then Nancy brought the gentleman over +to meet her friends. He shook hands with Mrs. +Fabian and then turned to acknowledge the introductions. +</p> +<p> +“This is Miss Polly Brewster and Miss Eleanor +Maynard whom I told you about, when they discovered +the gold mine on the mountains in Colorado—you +remember?” +</p> +<p> +“Ah, to be sure!” responded the Count. +</p> +<p> +“And Miss Dorothy Alexander from Denver, +Mr. Alexander her father, and my father, Mr. +Fabian. This is Count Chalmys, of Northern +Italy, friends.” +</p> +<p> +Everyone acknowledged the introduction, and +the Count seemed over-joyed to meet so many of +“Mees Nancy’s” friends. He sat down with the +group and soon led the conversation. Mr. Alexander +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152'></a>152</span> +sat glowering at him but it was difficult to +read the little man’s thoughts. +</p> +<p> +The Count seemed more attracted to Polly +than to the other girls, but then he had heard of +Rainbow Cliffs and that Gold Mine, thought +Dodo. On the walk to the hotel, he mentioned a +famous collector’s sale which would begin the following +day at one of the Auction Galleries. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, are you interested in antiques, then?” +asked Polly, eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“I like paintings—old masters and such things. +I never lose an opportunity to secure one when it +is offered for sale. My palace, near Venice, is a +museum of paintings. You must visit it when you +tour Italy,” responded the Count. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian now asked: “Is it possible for us +to secure an entrance to this sale, Count?” +</p> +<p> +“I can easily secure tickets and a catalogue for +you, Monsieur Fabian. Will the young ladies be +pleased to attend, also?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes, it is for their interests that I would +like to attend, and explain various objects that +might be found in the collection.” +</p> +<p> +“Then leave it to me, Monsieur. I will arrange +everything for their convenience.” +</p> +<p> +The Count left the Americans at the hotel door, +and said good-night. As they all walked laughingly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153'></a>153</span> +through the main lobby, the clerk sent a page +after them with a cablegram. It was for Mr. +Alexander and he felt a tremor of apprehension +as he took it. +</p> +<p> +He turned to the others and said (exactly as he +had heard Mr. Fabian do) “Pardon me, whiles I +read what the missus has to say now.” Then he +quickly opened the envelope. +</p> +<p> +“Well, that settles my vacation!” exclaimed he. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter, Pa?” asked Dodo, +anxiously. +</p> +<p> +“Ma’s gone and got that roadster for two—it +is a Packard the same as our other car, but now +she wants to tour around, and she thinks she will +bring Jimmy over to Paris for a little jaunt.” +</p> +<p> +“Jimmy! Good gracious, why will she have to +bring that child with her?” complained Dodo, +poutingly. +</p> +<p> +“She wouldn’t bring him, Dodo, if she thought +there were better ‘handles’ to be had on the Continent,” +laughed Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“That’s a good idea! Pa, we’ll wire Ma to +leave Jimmy there, as she’ll have more fun selecting +her future son-in-law from the crowd of titles +she can have for the asking, over here,” eagerly +suggested Dodo. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander seemed to take the suggestion +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154'></a>154</span> +seriously, for he returned: “I’ll step over, now, +and send a word that will keep that little Osgood +boy at home with his folks.” +</p> +<p> +No one knew what Mr. Alexander said in his +message, but the next day a reply came, saying: +“I will do as you say, and not come over at once. +Try and arrange everything satisfactorily for us.” +</p> +<p> +Even Dodo could not coax her father to tell +what he had said, but it was evident that Mrs. +Alexander felt satisfied to remain in England and +leave other matters in the hands of her spouse. +</p> +<p> +The Count called on the tourists at the hotel, +that morning, with the tickets of admission to the +sale, and Mr. Alexander drove them to the Gallery, +and left them there for the day. +</p> +<p> +They were given good seats in the front row +of buyers, and the moment the sale began everyone +was interested in the collection. That day, +Polly secured a Gothic wedding-chest with ornamented +and beautifully carved sides and lid. +Mr. Fabian bought two panels from a XVI century +door which he planned to use for two table-ends +for his library table. +</p> +<p> +Eleanor and Dodo bought a few smaller trifles, +but that day’s sale brought out such a conglomeration +of beautiful objects, as well as dreadful imitations, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155'></a>155</span> +that Mr. Fabian warned the girls about +bidding injudiciously. +</p> +<p> +“This sale offers a fine opportunity of study for +us, girls, but let me advise you before you bid on +anything. I want you to look well at everything +put up, and tell me why it is good, or what makes +it impossible. In this way, you will learn a great +deal, even though you may not care to buy the +articles we criticise.” +</p> +<p> +Then he turned to Dodo and added: “One +cannot train his eyes to recognize art and beauty +at once, you see. Your eyes may criticise and +your hands may accomplish art-work, but the inspiration +that truly expresses art comes from +Mind alone. Thus the finer and more harmonious +the thoughts of the mentality that thinks, the +more beautiful and perfect will be his achievement +in any line of work. +</p> +<p> +“Take our own line, for instance—interior decorating. +The genius is one who has sympathy, +tact, good sense, and practicality, <em>combined</em> with +his talent to select, assort, group and arrange the +numerous objects necessary to create an +atmosphere. +</p> +<p> +“Wall-coverings and hangings, floor-coverings, +pictures, lighting-fixtures and trim of rooms, are +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156'></a>156</span> +fully as important a feature in an effect, as the +furniture of the room, for it all goes to make the +complete picture of a home. +</p> +<p> +“No novice can win laurels in this line, Dodo. +But one who earnestly studies and conscientiously +applies the valuable experiences of other successful +artists of the past, will win. That is why I +wanted my girls to see the collections in Europe—to +benefit them by the successes and hard work of +others, whose work of past times is still found to +be the best of its kind, and now are on free exhibition +in museums and chateaux of the Continent.” +</p> +<p> +Turning to the other girls who were listening +to him, he added: “Now gaze about and remember. +Tell me how <em>not</em> to decorate with impossible +objects on view here and elsewhere; and how +to use what is really good that will combine to +present a perfect interior.” +</p> +<p> +Then the girls took a new interest in studying +and criticising the different pieces that were placed +on sale. Dodo showed an aptitude that astonished +Mr. Fabian and his students, for no one had +given her credit for having such a critical sense +on works of art. +</p> +<p> +The first piece exhibited for sale was a secretaire. +The other girls were still musing over its +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157'></a>157</span> +form and construction when Dodo exclaimed impetuously: +“Oh what a monstrosity! even though +it has a beautiful grain in the wood, it is so awfully +clumsy.” +</p> +<p> +“Why do you say that?” asked Mr. Fabian, +highly pleased, while the Count turned to notice +the girl he had paid no attention to, before this. +</p> +<p> +“Why just look at it! With its heavy thick-set +legs that belong to a rhinoceros, and its slender +graceful body that looks like a fawn’s.” +</p> +<p> +Everyone within hearing of this remark, +laughed softly. Loud speaking or disturbing +sounds were forbidden, so Polly and Eleanor had +to hush their merriment with their handkerchiefs. +</p> +<p> +The Count suddenly adjusted the monocle he +affected and whispered to Polly: “You must be +proud of your fellow-student.” +</p> +<p> +Polly instantly replied, without explaining the +situation: “Oh yes, we are. Dodo is very remarkable +in many ways.” +</p> +<p> +But Mr. Fabian said, as soon as he could control +his sense of humor, “Dodo, you have a true +eye for lines, and that criticism is worthy of a +news-paper man—it is so graphic.” +</p> +<p> +Following the secretaire, were several pieces +of nondescript furniture that was quickly bid upon +and sold to people who wanted mere articles for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158'></a>158</span> +use and not for beauty. Then a suite of furniture +was placed upon the dais and the auctioneer +began to point out its especial claims to beauty. +</p> +<p> +“Girls, is anything wrong with that furniture? +Who would use it in a home, and what style of +house does it belong in?” said Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +Again Dodo was the first with her criticism. +“Who wants doleful furniture, in a bed-room, to +make you weep just as you lose consciousness in +sleep? One needs cheerful objects to close one’s +eyes upon, and also to bid you good-morning when +you wake up.” +</p> +<p> +“Fine!” complimented Count Chalmys, still +more interested in this precocious young lady of +not yet seventeen. +</p> +<p> +“True, and who wants majestic pieces in a nursery?” +said Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“Or dainty personal lounges or chairs in the +City Hall,” added Polly, smilingly. +</p> +<p> +“Exactly, girls! I am so proud of you all that +I feel as if someone had presented me with a +bouquet of flowers.” +</p> +<p> +The impossible set of furniture had been sold +and now a Gothic armchair of carved deadwood, +upholstered in faded tapestry with beautiful blends +of colors that only great age could produce was +brought out and placed on exhibition. The moment Polly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159'></a>159</span> +saw it she made up her mind to have +it. But she now knew how to go about bidding +in a public sale, because of the experience Eleanor +and she had had in New York, when they went +about with Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +The auctioneer started the chair at a reasonable +figure and instantly there was lively bidding for +it. Polly said not a word but waited eagerly. +Then one bidder after another fell out of the contest, +until it finally narrowed down to two men. +</p> +<p> +Polly’s companions knew that she was but waiting +her time to speak out. And they were anxiously +watching the two men who seemed bent on +getting the chair. Finally one of the men shook +his head to indicate that he would go no higher, +and the auctioneer said: “What! Is this all I +can get for this fine example of cabinet-work?” +</p> +<p> +Very calmly and quietly, then, Polly raised the +last bid. +</p> +<p> +Everyone turned to glance at the unexpected +contestant, and the amazement expressed on many +faces, as well as on that of the auctioneer because +of the girl’s youth amused Polly’s friends. +The auctioneer asked: “Did the young lady +make a bid?” +</p> +<p> +Polly noded affirmatively. But the man who +was bidding thought to cut her out by raising his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160'></a>160</span> +bid considerably higher. The salesman turned +then to Polly to see if she still wished to bid. +</p> +<p> +“Double his bid!” called out Polly. +</p> +<p> +Again there was surprise shown by others, and +the man who thought he had frightened off his +youthful opponent, frowned. +</p> +<p> +When the auctioneer smilingly looked to the collector +to increase his bid, the man carefully raised +it a small sum. Polly now knew he was wary of +spending his money, so she took advantage of the +cue to call out a figure that was startlingly higher +than the collector’s; so that he instantly shook his +head in refusal of any further bidding or interest +in the chair. +</p> +<p> +“What! no higher bid from you when you want +this chair?” coaxed the auctioneer. +</p> +<p> +Again the man frowned and shook his head +positively, but he did this hoping Polly would +weaken, and then he would come back and mention +a slight increase on her price. +</p> +<p> +The auctioneer thinking his negative signal was +final, turned to Polly and said: “It’s yours, +Miss. And allow me to congratulate you, not +alone on having acquired the finest bit in this entire +lot, but also on being a very clever and experienced +buyer.” +</p> +<p> +The moment the collector realized that the auctioneer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161'></a>161</span> +had knocked down the chair to his adversary +without again consulting him, he protested. +“I claim that chair!” cried he. +</p> +<p> +“By what right?” demanded the auctioneer. +</p> +<p> +“Because I was bidding on it against this young +lady, and you did not cry it three times as you +should have done.” +</p> +<p> +“I asked you, and you shook your head. Then +I told you it was worth higher bidding, but you +denied going higher—a shake of the head is as +legal a denial as a spoken word, in this case. I +have witnesses that you refused to go higher, so +I sold it to the young lady.” +</p> +<p> +The man who was a dealer and had a customer +for such a chair, was furious at having lost it to +a mere girl. He began an argument, but the auctioneer +calmly remarked: “This is a public sale, +and as such, order must be maintained. I shall +have to ask anyone creating a disturbance to leave +the premises.” +</p> +<p> +That quieted the disputant, and Polly kept her +chair. Her companions congratulated her on securing +it, but Mr. Fabian wished to know why she +took such a sudden fancy for the piece of furniture, +when there were other fine pieces that might +appeal to a girl. +</p> +<p> +“Because, the moment I saw that chair tapestry +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162'></a>162</span> +it reminded me of my home at Pebbly Pit. We +have just such wonderful sunsets as that chair covering +represents. Glorious colors that flare in +points at some places, and then fade away in the +western sky like misty violets in a rivulet; or like +the gray of twilight before night falls,” explained +Polly, reminiscently. +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes, Polly,” assented Eleanor. “Just +like we saw over Rainbow Cliffs, so many times.” +</p> +<p> +“Miss Polly is some artiste natural born, I +think,” said the Count, who had been deeply impressed +by the girl’s remark. +</p> +<p> +“Polly’s a poet and doesn’t know it!” declared +Dodo, fervently. “If I ever could say such a +lovely thing in words about an old chair, I’d begin +to believe I had escaped Ma’s plans for a title +in the family.” +</p> +<p> +Of course her companions laughed at her unconscious +rhyme and, also, at her quaint expression +of face, but the Count wondered what she meant +by “a title in the family.” +</p> +<p> +After Polly secured the armchair, Eleanor bid +upon and got a XVI century cabinet of the Lyonnaise +school; and Dodo bought a Renaissance hall +table. Mr. Fabian secured a Spanish Renaissance +divan, and the Count managed to buy the pictures +he wanted. Towards the end of the day, Polly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163'></a>163</span> +and Eleanor secured a few odd things, such as an +iron lock, chiselled from a solid block of metal +that was said to date from the XV century; and +Polly got an old door-knocker that was more than +two hundred years old. +</p> +<p> +The last group of furniture pieces put up for +sale, that day, was arranged on the dais just as +Mr. Fabian was preparing to go. He turned and +saw it, then the auctioneer called out: “Here is +a splendid suite of furniture for a bachelor’s den. +Now what am I bid for it?” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian whispered to the girls: “It is a +pity the man should try to sell that set by praising +it as he did. He knows, only too well, that it is +unsuitable for a man’s room. But tell me why, +girls?” +</p> +<p> +Dodo curled her lips in scorn at the elaborate +pieces and remarked: “Would one wish to decorate +a ball-room with black crêpe?” +</p> +<p> +Her friends laughed at the very sarcastic criticism, +and the Count said, smilingly: “But that +is not mourning furniture!” +</p> +<p> +“No, but it is just as bad taste for a man’s +room. Why should a bachelor’s <em>den</em> use soft tints +and motifs of Louis XVI period, when they are +more appropriate in a reception room, or a lady’s +boudoir?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164'></a>164</span> +</p> +<p> +That last retort from such a prepossessing girl, +completed the havoc in the Count’s susceptible +heart. He thenceforth planned to lay his title +and encumbered Italian estate at Dodo’s feet. +But he found it not as easy as he had thought for, +when he took this fervent decision. +</p> +<p> +He invited the American party to be his guests +that night, at dinner, and he arranged so that he +could sit next to Dodo. But that was all the +good it did him, for the girls were so full of the +fun and joys of bargain hunting that they spoke +of nothing else. +</p> +<p> +After the exultation of possession had calmed +down, somewhat, Nancy Fabian said: “Daddy, +why are some such atrocious pieces of furniture +as we saw today flung to the people?” +</p> +<p> +“One reason why France has, of recent years, +had some such uncouth furniture made, is because +the Guild of Cabinet Makers is no longer in existence +to enforce its laws. There was once a +provision made, in 1645, that every piece of furniture +made in France had to be passed upon by +the Guild. And that is why old furniture from +these French cabinet makers, is so highly prized +by collectors, now. +</p> +<p> +“This Guild examined every aspirant to the +title of Master Craftsman, and without a certificate +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165'></a>165</span> +signed by ten of the jurors of the Guild, +he dared not establish himself; their regulations +were very strict so as to protect art, consequently +but few atrocities were cast upon the market of +France for more than two hundred years after +the founding of this protective Guild.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, it’s too bad we haven’t a Guild in America,” +said Polly, her tone causing her friends to +laugh heartily. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166'></a>166</span><a name='chIX' id='chIX'></a>CHAPTER IX—MR. ALEXANDER’S SURPRISE</h2> +<p> +The next day Mr. Fabian conducted his girls +to various cathedrals and famous buildings in the +city, and that night they returned to the hotel to +find little Mr. Alexander standing in front of it +waiting for them. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve got turrible news for you-all,” said he in +a most lugubrious tone. His face expressed the +greatest sorrow and concern. +</p> +<p> +“My goodness, Pa! What’s the matter?” +cried Dodo, anxiously. +</p> +<p> +“It’s worse than you-all can reckon, so I’ll tell +you. This afternoon when I come back from a little +joy-ride, I saw a dandy little car out here, but +when I took a good squint at it I saw it were a +Packard Roadster. At that, my legs began to +shake and I feared Maggie might have come over, +in spite of my wire to her. +</p> +<p> +“And then, before I could get courage to go +indoors, I heard her voice. I tried to hide behind +that big pillar, there, but no use! So, Dodo, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167'></a>167</span> +your Ma’s here and is in the parlor talking to +Count Chalmys.” +</p> +<p> +As everyone had expected to hear dire news, +the relief upon hearing that Mrs. Alexander had +arrived was so great that it caused a general +laugh. Nancy Fabian turned and asked of the +little millionaire: “How did your wife meet the +Count?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I figgered that she would be so glad to +know a real live Count, that I saved my own head +that way. She won’t remember my misdeeds +now,” softly laughed Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +When the exchange of effusive greetings on the +part of Mrs. Alexander, and the quiet welcome +from the other Americans, had subsided, she remembered +something to tell Dodo, that concerned +her deeply. +</p> +<p> +“What do you think, Dodo? About those +Osgoods?” +</p> +<p> +“How should I know, Ma. Your tone indicates +that you are not very well pleased with them, +whatever it is,” replied Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“I should say <em>not</em>! Why, I found out that the +title of ‘Sir’ and ‘Lady’ does not mean <em>anything</em> +in their family. Jimmy can’t inherit the honor, +either. His father got it because he did something +unusual with a factory that made munitions +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168'></a>168</span> +when the war first broke out. It wasn’t an entailed +title at all, and it stops with this Osgood. +Dear me! When I think of it—you might have +had to marry just a plain James Osgood, after +all!” +</p> +<p> +“Oh no, I wouldn’t, Ma. I said from the first, +that I never would marry anyone I didn’t like. +And it would take an American to do that,” declared +Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“What happened when you learned about the +title, Maggie?” asked Mr. Alexander, unusually +gay over the information. +</p> +<p> +“Why, I just told Jimmy Osgood that I +wouldn’t <em>take</em> him to Paris in my new car, if that +was the case. I think they might have told me +how such matters were conducted in England, +then I might have spared all my time in planning +as I did.” Mrs. Alexander’s voice plainly expressed +the disapproval she felt at keeping her in +ignorance of the methods of Burke. +</p> +<p> +Her hearers managed to keep straight faces, +however, and waited until the Count said good-day. +Then they all went upstairs to plan about +the tour in Europe. +</p> +<p> +“I invited Count Chalmys to accept the empty +seat beside me in my new roadster,” ventured +Mrs. Alexander. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169'></a>169</span> +</p> +<p> +“You did!” gasped Dodo, unbelievingly. +</p> +<p> +“But he refused, didn’t he?” said Nancy, confidently. +</p> +<p> +“Oh no! he said he’d be delighted. He +planned to go home to his castle, soon, and he +said you-all were going to visit him there; so he +felt he might accept my invitation to tour with +me, as long as we were to be all in one party,” +explained Mrs. Alexander, greatly pleased with +the outcome of her meeting with the Count. +</p> +<p> +Dodo groaned, and her friends smiled in +sympathy, for they understood the reason of +Mrs. Alexander’s sudden interest in an Italian +Count. +</p> +<p> +“When do you propose to start on this tour?” +asked the lady, after a few moments of silence. +</p> +<p> +“Right away—tomorrow!” declared Dodo, +angrily. +</p> +<p> +“Oh! surely not before we buy some nice gowns +and things to wear?” cried her mother, tragically. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, at once! <em>I</em> don’t want any new clothes!” +snapped Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“But, my child! What about that trooso chest. +It ought to be filled, you know, to be ready to +send home,” reminded the mother. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I gave that chest away for a birthday +gift,” said Dodo, indifferently. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170'></a>170</span> +</p> +<p> +“Gave it away! Why—what for?” gasped +Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“I didn’t want it, and it was my very own—you +said so.” +</p> +<p> +As that was true, nothing more was said about +the chest, at the time, but nothing could stop Mrs. +Alexander from planning and scheming about her +daughter’s future. As the other girls and Mrs. +Fabian said nothing about shopping, but preferred +waiting until they returned to Paris again, it was +decided that they would start on the trip the following +day. That evening was devoted to studying +a road-map and selecting an itinerary. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander had but one desire in the matter, +and that began and ended with the first lap +of the drive. “I want to see the war-zone, where +our boys fit them Germans. I hear ’em tell in +the hotel lobby, that the roads are fair all through +them battle fields like Verdun, on the Somme, and +others. So I want to drive there, and then, afterwards, +you can do what you-all like on this tour +with me as chauffeur.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, we <em>all</em> want to pass through those famous +places, too, so that is settled,” exclaimed Nancy +Fabian, glancing at her friends for approval of +this plan. +</p> +<p> +“All right. Put that down on your paper, Professor,” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171'></a>171</span> +advised Mr. Alexander; then he leaned +back and sighed as if he had done all that was +expected of him. +</p> +<p> +After several hours of planning and writing, +the route was mapped out, and the group felt that +it was as good as any ever made by a number of +tourists. +</p> +<p> +It was noon the next day before the party really +started on its way, as the Count failed to appear +on time, and an hour was lost in trying to get +him on a telephone. When he did appear, he +had a gorgeous bouquet of hothouse flowers for +Mrs. Alexander, and a huge box of bon-bons for +the girls. +</p> +<p> +That afternoon they drove over the famous +sector where millions fought and fell for a Principle, +in the greatest mortal combat the world has +ever witnessed. After seeing the ruins the war +made of Verdun, as well as of other villages, Mr. +Alexander drove to Reims. Here they found +quarters for the night, and waited to visit the cathedral +in the morning. +</p> +<p> +From Reims they went through St. Quentin, +and on to Boulogne. That night they stopped +at a quaint inn in Normandy. The ancient hostelry +was but two stories high, with upper windows +overlooking a wonderful garden. The high +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172'></a>172</span> +stone wall that enclosed this garden had niches, +every so often, in the thick wall. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian spoke excellent French, and the +other members in the party understood everything +that was said, so all enjoyed the conversation that +now took place. +</p> +<p> +“Have you been owner of this Inn very long?” +asked Mr. Fabian, courteously. +</p> +<p> +“All my life, and my father and grandfather +before me,” was the unexpected reply. +</p> +<p> +“Then you can tell me if this is an old house, +or only modelled after the old style.” +</p> +<p> +“Ah!” breathed the old man, softly. “It ees +so old that my grandfather knew not when it +was built. It ees the gate-house of a convent that +formerly was famous. When it was abandoned, +because of the Order being abolished by law, my +grandfather was left to supervise the work. +</p> +<p> +“He bought the property when it was sold, and +since then his descendants have lived here. With +the old stone gate-house this garden patch was included, +but all the other buildings were razed and +the land sold.” +</p> +<p> +“How interesting,” remarked Mr. Fabian. +“Then that old garden was really part of the +original convent grounds?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and those niches you see in the wall held +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173'></a>173</span> +statues and holy figures at one time. Some of +them were carved by well-known men about here. +I found several of them buried in the garden when +I turned up the soil for my father. I was but a +boy, then, and I remember he took them away +and put them in the attic.” +</p> +<p> +The old host then showed the guests to their +various rooms and left them to wash and dress +for the evening meal. Polly stood gazing from +her window for a time, picturing the life of past +days in that garden, when Eleanor exclaimed suddenly +and called to her. +</p> +<p> +“Just look at this heavy walnut bed. It has +the most marvellous carvings on its head and +foot boards.” +</p> +<p> +After examining the figures carved on the wood, +Polly went to the toilet-stand and poured some +water from a heavy ewer into the stoneware +basin. As she was about to place the ewer on +the tiled floor beside the stand, she saw the carved +panels that formed the sides of the stand. +</p> +<p> +“Nolla! Do help me move this heavy stand +out to the light—I verily believe it is an antique!” +cried she. +</p> +<p> +Having satisfied themselves that the panels +were genuine old pieces, they ran to Mr. Fabian’s +room and called him forth. He examined the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174'></a>174</span> +stand and the bed, and some of the old stoneware +pieces in the room, and sighed. “We’ve stumbled +over a veritable Mecca of antiques, girls,” said he. +</p> +<p> +That night after supper, Mr. Fabian led the +host to tell of how he acquired the pieces of furniture. +And the result of that talk was the purchase +of the stand, the bed, and many smaller +pieces of stoneware and odd furnishings that had +been replevined from the convent building, generations +before. Even the few statues that had +been stored in the low attic of the Inn were sold +to the Americans; and the old couple were made +happy at the knowledge that, at last, they were +provided for in old age, through the sale of the +objects that they could readily do without. +</p> +<p> +The Count was made supremely happy with the +purchase of a holy picture which he declared was +from the brush of an old master. And Mrs. +Alexander smiled contentedly because the Count +was so kind and chivalrous to her. +</p> +<p> +A group of humble peasants gathered, the following +morning, to wish the tourists God-speed, +for the entire village had heard of the good fortune +that had come to their old friends at the Inn. +When a few furlongs farther on from the Inn, +Mr. Fabian read a sign that said “To Abbeville,” +he said aloud, “Well, of all things! We stopped +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175'></a>175</span> +at that famous old convent spot and never knew +it, until this minute.” +</p> +<p> +From Boulogne, where they wired Mr. Ashby +about the bed and other articles they had secured, +they drove to Ostend. Thence to Bruges, where +Mr. Fabian showed the girls the famous Belfry +that is three hundred and fifty feet high. The +quaint irregular houses in the streets of the town +were duly admired and snapshots taken of them +by Dodo; then the two cars started for Antwerp. +</p> +<p> +Along the road, and in the villages they passed +through, most of the peasants wore wooden shoes. +One woman was seen driving a tiny milk-cart that +was drawn by a large dog. The tourists stopped +for a drink of the rich milk, and Mrs. Fabian noticed +the bit of priceless Flemish lace pinned upon +the peasant’s head. +</p> +<p> +“How much do you want for that piece of lace, +my good woman?” asked she, eagerly. +</p> +<p> +But the woman shook her head and smiled, saying: +“My family lace. Gran’mudder make it.” +</p> +<p> +Antwerp still displayed the scars left by the +German occupation, so the tourists decided not to +tarry there very long. +</p> +<p> +“When I see these things, I feel like I want to +war all over again,” exclaimed Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +Late that night they entered Rotterdam, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176'></a>176</span> +there found a fine Inn and a hearty dinner awaiting +them. Having replenished the inner being, +they started out to see the town by night. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t see much use in remaining for a day +in Rotterdam, girls,” remarked Mr. Fabian. +“There isn’t much of interest to us, here, and I +don’t believe we can pick up any ‘old bits’ in the +city. Bargains in antiques are more readily +found in the country places.” +</p> +<p> +So, late the following morning, they started for +Delft; along the road Mr. Fabian stopped several +times and secured a few fine pieces of old +Delftware. +</p> +<p> +The tourists remained at The Hague that night. +It was a quaint, beautiful old place founded in the +year 1250. The artistic-roofed houses, the funny +dormer windows, the varied and picture-like gables +of the buildings which were placed irregularly +on either side of the narrow crooked streets, provided +interesting scenes that the girls eagerly captured +in the camera. +</p> +<p> +At an antique shop, on a side street not much +wider than a country-lane, the girls found several +old door-knockers with the ancient dates stamped +in the metal. A great massive lock and key were +bought by Mr. Fabian, and Dodo got an iron +lantern. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177'></a>177</span> +</p> +<p> +Leaving The Hague, the cars drove along beautiful +country roads, with low white-washed cottages +having green wooden shutters at the windows, +standing prim and pure beside the way. +Everything was so clean and neat, though the +owners seemed poor, that it was remarked by the +girls. +</p> +<p> +“When you compare these peasants and their +spotless homes, to the filth and shiftlessness of the +peasants in Ireland, you cannot help but wonder +what causes the vast difference in living,” said +Polly. +</p> +<p> +“It is not poverty alone that does this, Polly,” +said Mrs. Fabian. “One must go way back and +seek deep for the causation of such conditions.” +</p> +<p> +The girls did not understand what she meant, +then, but they could not help but remember her +words later, when they began to question political +and national problems. Then they understood. +</p> +<p> +At Leyden Mr. Fabian showed the girls the +university that is erected on the ground where +the Pilgrims landed after their flight from England, +and before their historic sailing for America. +And at Haarlem, the two girls Polly and Eleanor, +bought a lot of healthy bulbs to be sent home for +planting in the Spring. As Haarlem is the center +of the bulb-growing industry of Holland, it displayed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178'></a>178</span> +more tulips to the square foot, than the +girls had ever thought it possible to grow. +</p> +<p> +That evening the two cars entered Amsterdam. +The hotel was good, and the stop-over most welcome, +for the autoists were tired of the continuous +ride for several days, resting only at night. +</p> +<p> +The Count managed to get in telephonic connection +with Paris, that night, and immediately +afterwards, he seemed ill at ease. So much so, +that he finally left the others and they saw him +no more that evening. Mrs. Alexander showed +her disappointment at this unexpected action of +her charming Count and refused to be condoled +by anyone else. +</p> +<p> +At breakfast in the morning, Count Chalmys +announced his unexpected desertion of the touring +party. “I find I have to fly at once to my domain +in Northern Italy, my dear friends. A most unexpected +business affair there demands my presence. +Ah, such is the tormented life of a land-owner. +He can never enjoy freedom, but must +always be at the beck and call of others.” +</p> +<p> +“Good gracious, Count! Won’t you join us +again, as soon as you settle this business in Italy?” +asked Mrs. Alexander, anxiously. +</p> +<p> +“I trust I may, dear lady. But <em>you</em> must surely +visit me at my palace, when you tour Italy,” returned +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179'></a>179</span> +the gallant Count. Then he gave minute +directions to Mr. Fabian how they might reach +his estates. +</p> +<p> +After Count Chalmys had gone the tourists had +Mrs. Alexander to entertain; before this she had +devoted her entire time to the Count as he was +her guest in the small car. Now she insisted upon +the girls taking turns to ride in her car, and this +proved to be unappreciated by the three who +wished to be with Mr. Fabian in order to hear +his opinions on the places they passed. Finally +Nancy offered to devote her attention to Dodo’s +mother until they could discover a new “title” to +occupy her heart and mind and roadster. +</p> +<p> +While in Amsterdam they visited an old-fashioned +coffee-shop with living-quarters back of it. +When Mr. Fabian explained to the good woman +who served, that his girls were decorators from +America, and they wished to see the tiles he had +heard of in her living-room, she smiled graciously +and led the way to the rear rooms. +</p> +<p> +“Oh Nolla! Look at the funny little ladders +one has to climb to reach the beds!” cried Polly, +laughingly, as she pointed out the built-in beds +about five feet above the floor. +</p> +<p> +“I should think they’d smother—all shut up +back of those curtains, at night,” remarked Dodo. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180'></a>180</span> +</p> +<p> +“And not a bit of ventilation that can get in +any other way,” added Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +The hostess comprehended something of what +was said, and she laughingly shrugged her plump +shoulders and pointed to her two “younkers” who +were as fat and rosy as Baldwin apples. Mr. +Fabian was admiring the wonderful dado of tiles, +that ran about the room from the floor to a height +of four feet. Each tile presented a scene of Holland, +and they were so set that a white tile alternated +with a Delft blue one, making the whole +pattern very effective. The windows were placed +above the dado, thus being four feet above the +floor. But instead of high narrow windows, they +were square, or low and long, and opened in casement +style. +</p> +<p> +While Mr. Fabian was conversing with the +woman about old tiles and Dutch furniture, Polly +spied a corner cupboard. She beckoned Eleanor +over to it, and the two immediately began examining +the old blue ware in the china-closet. +</p> +<p> +Dodo heard them and hurried over, and that +drew Mr. Fabian’s attention to them, also. His +hostess smiled, and led him across the large room +to the cupboard. +</p> +<p> +Before the collectors left that room, they had +acquired some fine old Delft pieces, and Mr. Fabian +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181'></a>181</span> +hugged an antique jug that he was not sure +of, but its markings would prove its great age as +soon as he could trace it, he was sure. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander, who had been almost ignored +during the past few days, excepting at night when +they stopped at different towns for rest, now said: +“Would you like to reach Cologne tonight? I +figger we can do it easily, onless you want to stop +anywhere?” +</p> +<p> +“The only place I want to stop and give the +girls a peep into a porcelain factory, is at Bonn. +But that is on the other side of Cologne; so let +her go, if you like,” returned Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +The roads, however, were too bad for speeding, +and they had to be content with reaching Arnheim +for the night. The next day they reached +Cologne, but drove on to Bonn, as Mr. Fabian +had planned. In the afternoon they reached +Coblentz where the great Byzantine Cathedral +was visited and pictures taken of it. The next +day, on the trip southward, along the Rhine, were +many picturesque castles and fortresses which +made splendid scenes for the camera. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian wished to conduct the girls from +Frankfort to Nürnberg, a famous old mediaeval +city with unique houses still to be seen, although +they were built hundreds of years ago. But the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182'></a>182</span> +girls had no desire to visit any German cities, they +said. +</p> +<p> +“But it is a famous place,” argued Mr. Fabian. +“It was the very first town in Germany to embrace +Christianity.” +</p> +<p> +“Maybe so, but later, they clearly demonstrated +to the world that they never understood the fundamentals +of Christianity,” retorted Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“Well aside from that, Nürnberg is the place +where white paper was first invented,” continued +Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“I’ve heard said that an <em>American</em> invented +white paper and the German who put up the +money for the experiment, stole the formulae,” +declared Polly. +</p> +<p> +“I never heard <em>that</em>, but surely you can’t contradict +me when I say that sulphur matches first +came to life there. They are a great convenience +in the home and save us a lot of trouble; and the +Germans discovered that use for sulphur,” continued +Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe the world has <em>now</em> discovered that the +Germans might have saved us a lot of trouble if +they had used the sulphur for self-extinction purposes,” +snapped Eleanor, who was a partisan for +the Allies. +</p> +<p> +Her companions refused to laugh at her remark +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183'></a>183</span> +although they wanted to; but Polly, who was more +lenient to an enemy, said: “I never can understand +how it is that the Germans always invent +such wonderful things.” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, Prof., especially as we Yanks are just as +brainy and capable; yet you seldom hear of an +American inventing such things,” added Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes, we do, Dodo,” returned Mr. Fabian. +“But the German nation push a thing with national +zeal and make money out of the world, for themselves. +America generally keeps quiet about her +patents and uses them for her own benefit.” +</p> +<p> +“But there is a deeper causation for all this +material inventiveness, too,” added Mrs. Fabian. +“We must never lose sight of the fact that America +is the cradle of Freedom where Eternal Truth +lifted its banner. Whereas Germany brought +forth only the material emblems of brain and +earthly power, the New World has brought forth +the Hope of Heaven—freedom in every sense of +the word.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184'></a>184</span><a name='chX' id='chX'></a>CHAPTER X—A DANGEROUS PASS ON THE ALPS</h2> +<p> +Mr. Alexander drove through the Alsatian +country with keen interest, for the costumes and +beauty of the peasants were so attractive that the +tourists liked to watch them and take snapshots of +picturesque groups. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian directed Mr. Alexander to take the +road to Lyons as he wished to have the girls visit +the factories where silk, velvet and velour were +manufactured. Nancy Fabian had wearied of +Mrs. Alexander’s endless chatter about her million +and the Count, and why anyone like the Osgoods +should lift their heads when they were so +poor and proud! +</p> +<p> +So the day the two cars started for the Alps, +(Mr. Alexander hoping to cross them and stop +over-night on the other side,) Mrs. Fabian took +her place beside Mrs. Alexander, in the roadster. +The small car usually trailed the seven-passenger +car, but this day the order was accidentally +changed, while climbing the mountains. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185'></a>185</span> +</p> +<p> +It was rough travelling at the best, but the +higher the cars climbed the rougher became the +road, and at last the steep trail narrowed so that +it was almost impossible to pass another car on +the same roadway. +</p> +<p> +But the views were so wonderful and the mountains +so majestic, that everyone was silent and +deeply impressed. The cars ascended one peak +after another, and as each summit was reached the +autoists sat and marvelled at the height of the +mountain and wondered at the views. Then they +would seem to drop sheer down again to the valley +between the two peaks. This mode of travelling +continued for a long rime, until one of the +highest peaks of the Alps towered before them. +This cloud-piercing mountain-top once passed +over, they would reach the border line of Italy +and begin descending the range again. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander was a fairly good driver, but +she had more assurance in her ability than her understanding +actually warranted. She was talking +nonsensically, as usual, with half her mind on +the road and the other half interested in what she +was picturing to her companion, when she turned +a sharp curve in the road. +</p> +<p> +“Oh-OH!” she screamed, as she tried to use +the emergency brake and turn the wheel to avoid +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186'></a>186</span> +a great boulder which had rolled down upon the +path. +</p> +<p> +But she had not held the machine sufficiently +in hand to instantly benefit her, when the occasion +unexpectedly arose that needed presence of mind. +Consequently the new roadster struck the rock +with enough force to crush in the radiator and +headlights. The second car came around the +curve, the passengers having heard the shrill +scream and looking fearfully for the catastrophe +they believed to have happened to the two women. +</p> +<p> +The shock of the collision had thrown Mrs. +Alexander across the wheel while her head broke +the wind-shield; but Mrs. Fabian had instantly +clutched the side and back of the seat and was only +badly shaken. Everyone in the touring car +jumped out and rushed over to see if either of the +ladies had been seriously hurt. Mrs. Alexander +groaned and held her side but could not speak. +</p> +<p> +“This is a fine pickle!” exclaimed Mr. Alexander. +“On top of the wurrold, and no sign of any +help at hand to do anything for you. Even the +blamed old knob on this peak had to roll down +and block the way.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Fabian was trying to make her companion +speak and tell them where she was injured, but +she shook her head as if unable to speak. Dodo +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187'></a>187</span> +and her father addressed her by every affectionate +name they could think of, and begged her to say +what hurt. Her face was slightly cut but the +blood made it seem appalling to others. +</p> +<p> +“If you’ll only get over this, Maggie, I’ll never +put another straw in your way of hooking a title,” +begged Mr. Alexander, his expression a mixture +of renunciation and misery. +</p> +<p> +After many minutes filled with suspense for the +motorists, and the same time filled by Mrs. Alexander’s +groans and helpless rolling of her eyes +from one to another of the distracted motorists, +she gradually recovered enough to whisper: “The +wheel must have fractured my ribs. I can feel +the sharp ends of the splintered bones cut me +everytime I breathe, or move a muscle.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Fabian then ordered the men to retire +back of the big car, while she helped the girls in +gently lifting the injured lady and placing her out +flat on the comfortable seat of the roadster. With +many a cry and catching of breath, the patient +was finally stretched out. +</p> +<p> +“Now I shall have to cut your gown open in +front to get at your stays,” said Mrs. Fabian, using +the small scissors she kept in her large handbag. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander tried to object at having her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188'></a>188</span> +expensive suit ruined, but Dodo held her hands +while the scissors cut their way up and down. +Once the outer clothing was opened the cause of +the sharp point of the “fracture” was revealed. +</p> +<p> +“Thank goodness, Mrs. Alexander, that it is +no worse!” exclaimed Mrs. Fabian, and the girls +seconded that exclamation as they found the front +steels of the stays had broken and were digging +into the flesh under them. +</p> +<p> +The silken corsets were soon slashed through +and the broken fronts removed, then Dodo said +to her mother: “Take a deep breath, now.” +</p> +<p> +“O—oh—I’m afraid to, Dodo. It will hurt!” +whimpered Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“No it won’t! Mrs. Fabian managed to pull +the steels out and she doesn’t believe any of your +ribs are broken.” +</p> +<p> +So, holding tightly to her daughter’s hand to +encourage her, Mrs. Alexander breathed lightly. +As she felt no sharp dagger thrust of pain, she +took a deeper breath, and finally reassured herself +that her bones were as good as ever. At last +she sat up and began fretting over her damaged +travelling suit, in such a tone that everyone +around her, knew she was fully recovered. +</p> +<p> +While this “first aid” had been going on, no +one noticed the pebbles that were dropping from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189'></a>189</span> +the over-hanging crags that seemed to bolster up +the peak above them. But when Mrs. Alexander +found she could move and get out of the car, some +of the stones struck the girls. They gazed up +but could see nothing beyond the high run of crag +that faced the roadway, consequently, they moved +from under the shower which kept getting +worse. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian ran up now and expressed deepest +concern as he said: “Everyone try to get under +that great rock, at once. I’ll shove the roadster +under the cliff, too.” +</p> +<p> +“Where’s Pa?” cried Dodo, sensing some unusual +danger. +</p> +<p> +“Here he comes!” called Polly, seeing Mr. +Alexander driving his car close up under the rocks. +</p> +<p> +The moment the car was halted close in to the +bank, Mr. Alexander jumped out and ran to help +Mr. Fabian push and pull the damaged roadster +under the cliff, also. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter, anyway?” asked Mrs. +Alexander, looking about at the others for information. +But they seemed as much at sea as she +was. All but Polly, who knew from experience +what the signs portended. +</p> +<p> +“It looks like a slide, but it may be diverted +before it goes over us.” Her trembling voice +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190'></a>190</span> +and awed expression impressed her companions +more than the words she had spoken. +</p> +<p> +“That’s what I feared, and we’ve done the only +thing possible—to crouch under the cliff and wait,” +added Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander now took out his old black pipe +and tobacco bag. As he carefully pulled open the +yellow cord at the top of the cheap cotton bag +he smiled and gazed at his friends. “You-all +don’ know how sorry I am for you, to think you-all +can’t take a smoke to kill the time we has to +sit here.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian felt encouraged instantly by the +wonderful acting of the little man who could thus +speak and smile and joke, in face of what was now +thundering and rumbling overhead—ever coming +nearer the group huddling under the cliffs. +</p> +<p> +“Nothin’ like tobac to soothe the feelin’s when +you’ve had a punctured rib or tire! If Maggie +could only enjoy a whiff of this old friend of mine, +she’d soon have got over her pain.” +</p> +<p> +That irritated his wife so that she snapped +back: “Yes, a whiff of that would have killed me +outright!” +</p> +<p> +The others laughed uneasily but the tense spell +caused by the imminent danger was broken. Mr. +Alexander puffed contentedly, but during this short +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191'></a>191</span> +exchange of conjugal sentiments of husband and +wife, the slide rolled onward, and the roar now +became so deafening that no one could hear a +thing other than the thunder of the avalanche. +Polly was the only one who really comprehended +the full danger, but she showed no fear or nervousness, +although she was doubtful as to the +outcome of this mountain disaster. +</p> +<p> +Rocks, roots, and all kinds of débris half-frozen +in snow now rolled over the cliffs and dropped +over down the sides into the ravine that ran along +the other side of the narrow roadway. At the +quaking caused by the onrush of the avalanche, +the automobiles rattled like tin toys and the cowering +humans who tried to push still farther back +into the rocky wall, watched the fragments of +rock fall from overhead and pile upon the roadway. +</p> +<p> +The whole dreadful occurrence, thus far, had +not taken more than a few minutes since the first +pebble struck the roadster, but now was heard a +terrible splitting and crashing as if two planets +were colliding; then the very cliff where they sat +seemed to roll over and shake the earth. The +frightened tourists clung to each other and +screamed in a panic, but the worst was really over. +</p> +<p> +The last horror was caused by the sudden impact of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192'></a>192</span> +the land-slide when it struck the solid wall +of rock that rose sheer up back of the cliff which +skirted the road for tourists. This wall diverted +the avalanche and threw it along the gully which +had been made by other preceding snow-slides in +the past. Had the present slide been able to +crush the rocky wall and come straight on down +the mountain sides, nothing earthly could have +spared the tourists from being powdered under +the grinding of rock and ice. +</p> +<p> +The roar and tumult of the avalanche continued +a few minutes longer, but it gradually died away +and Mr. Fabian stood tremblingly upon his feet +and tried to see which way the slide had gone. +</p> +<p> +“Humph! ‘A miss is as good as a mile’!” +quoted Mr. Alex. +</p> +<p> +“Maybe; but don’t you go out to survey until +we-all are sure this shower of ice and trash is +safely past us,” advised Polly. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t you think we had better get from under +this cliff?” asked Eleanor, nervously. +</p> +<p> +“If it stood that shock, it will last a few moments +more, I reckon,” replied Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +The other members in the party were too frightened +at seeing the rocks and ice that still poured +over the cliff, to speak a word. When the dropping +had ceased, however, and the roar was diminishing, +Polly heaved an audible sigh. +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i003' id='i003'></a> +<img src="images/illus-192.jpg" alt="POLLY WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO COMPREHENDED THE DANGER." title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>POLLY WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO COMPREHENDED THE DANGER.</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193'></a>193</span></div> +<p> +“Well, folkses! That’s over! I’ve been in +slides on the Rockies, but I never felt so queer as +this one made me feel. When you understand +your ground well, and can reckon on what might +hold or what might give way, you feel easier. +But on the Alps where all is new and strange to +me, I wasn’t sure of this cliff being able to resist +the impact.” +</p> +<p> +“Then it <em>was</em> very dangerous for us, was it?” +gasped Mrs. Alexander, paling under the rouge +on her face. +</p> +<p> +“Danger! Oh no—no more than jumpin’ off +that precipice for a lark!” laughed Mr. Alexander, +knocking the half-smoked ashes from his old +pipe, and tucking the black friend away in his +pocket. +</p> +<p> +“Well, Ebeneezer, when I see you waste good +tobacco like that, I know you are so unbalanced +that you don’t know what you’re doing,” retorted +Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +This remark caused a laugh and everyone felt +better immediately. Then Mr. Fabian turned to +the little man and said: “We had better see how +much damage is done to the roadster. Perhaps +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194'></a>194</span> +it will have to be towed to the next stopping +place.” +</p> +<p> +It took another good hour to overhaul the little +car and even then it was found to be too badly +damaged to travel under its own power. While +the two men were trying to repair the car, the +girls worked to clear away the stones and débris +that encumbered and blocked the road. The +large rock that had caused the accident to Mrs. +Alexander’s car, could be avoided, with careful +steering, if the other trash was out of the way. +</p> +<p> +Polly showed her companions how to construct +rough brooms of the brush that had fallen over +the cliff, and soon they were sweeping for dear +life, with the queer-looking implements. But the +brush-brooms did the work thoroughly, and when +the cars were ready to continue on the way, the +road was cleared. +</p> +<p> +“Prof., before we leave here, I think we ought +to place a sort of warning on the other side of +that awful heap and the chasms in the roadway +that the avalanche caused. We might use the +red-silk shirt-waist I have in the bag,” said Polly, +anxiously. +</p> +<p> +“Or go on to report to the nearest forester we +meet,” said Mr. Alexander, from his western +experience. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195'></a>195</span> +</p> +<p> +“We’ll do both,” returned Mr. Fabian. “It +won’t take long to ram a pole in the débris and +tie the red flag on it, but it may save others a +great deal of danger.” +</p> +<p> +“Better still, if we can crawl over the slide that +is piled high up on the trail, I might tie the flag +to a young tree far enough down the roadway to +spare anyone the climb to this narrow pass where +they cannot turn around,” added Polly. +</p> +<p> +So Mr. Fabian and Polly managed to creep +warily over the obstructions which were heaped +over the roadway and, further down the trail, they +found a tree that grew beside the road. Here the +red blouse signal was left flying from the stripped +young tree, and a warning was printed on the +white silk cuff, telling of the dangers ahead in the +path. +</p> +<p> +When the tourists were settled in the cars again, +the large car leading and the crippled roadster +being towed behind, they felt that they had done +their duty and expressed their deep gratitude for +their own safety, by leaving the signal flag for +others to see and read. +</p> +<p> +It was slow work zig-zagging down the great +height, as the little car could not work its brakes +very well, and it had to be held back by the rear +mud-guards of the leading car. But the breathless descent +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196'></a>196</span> +was finally accomplished and in the +valley they found a tiny garage, placed there for +the repairing of damaged automobiles. +</p> +<p> +“I shouldn’t think it would pay you to keep up +a shop in this isolated spot,” remarked Mr. Fabian, +when the mechanic was working on Mrs. +Alexander’s car. +</p> +<p> +“But you don’t know how many tourists cross +the Alps in summer; everyone finds something +wrong, or runs out of gas, by the time they reach +this valley,” explained the man. +</p> +<p> +Before the tourists were ready to depart, a +number of cars had driven up, asked for gas or +repairs, and then were told of the land-slide on +top of the peak. This spared them climbing, as +they could go by another road. The passengers +in these cars were most grateful to Mr. Fabian’s +party for the information, thus several parties +had been benefited, before a crimson car drove +up and a handsome young man called to the +mechanic. +</p> +<p> +“Is this the right road over Top Pass?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, but you can’t pass,” returned the man, +then he told of the experiences the people in the +American party had just had. +</p> +<p> +“My, that must have been some excitement! +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197'></a>197</span> +Wish we had been there,” cried the other young +man, eagerly. +</p> +<p> +“Are you an American?” asked Mr. Fabian, +certain of it even as he spoke, because the accent +and manner of speech was Yankee. +</p> +<p> +The two young men exchanged looks with each +other, and one replied: “We lived in the United +States for many years.” +</p> +<p> +This speaker was about twenty-two or three, +but the other one was younger. They both were +exceptionally good-looking and free in their manner. +It could be readily seen that their car and +clothes were of the best, and one would naturally +conclude that they were wealthy young men touring +Europe for pleasure. +</p> +<p> +The roadster was now repaired and ready to +be used, so the bill was paid and Mrs. Alexander +got in. Mrs. Fabian was rather timid about +trusting herself with such a chauffeur again, so +Mr. Fabian seated himself beside the owner of +the car. +</p> +<p> +“Which way do you go from here?” called out +one of the strange young men. +</p> +<p> +“On to Turin,” answered Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“Do you mind if we follow you? We lost our +way to Turin, somewhere, back there, and when +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198'></a>198</span> +we found ourselves here we decided to go on and +not stop at Turin.” +</p> +<p> +This sounded rather lame for an excuse, but +no one could refuse permission for the boys to +follow, if they wanted to—so Mr. Alexander +shouted back at them: “This air is free, and so +is the earth! Foller what you like, as long as +you don’t run us down and make us stop for another +over-haulin’ of the cars.” +</p> +<p> +The young men laughed and thanked the sarcastic +little man, but the girls smiled as they wondered +if this change in route—or minds of the +two young men—was caused by seeing a number +of pretty misses in the touring car? +</p> +<p> +The day was far spent when the roadster was +in a shape to continue the tour, and Turin was +many a mile away. So it was found to be impossible +to reach there that night. The recent +experience with the avalanche had caused a reaction, +too, and as everyone felt worn out with the +tension, it was decided to stop at a small inn in +the foot-hills of the Alps. +</p> +<p> +The automobiles had been left in the shed that +was used for the cows and oxen, and the travellers +entered the low-ceiled primitive room with ravenous +appetites. The inn-keeper was cooking at a +huge fireplace at the end of the room, and the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199'></a>199</span> +odor of bacon and onions permeated the entire +place. +</p> +<p> +“Oh!” sighed Eleanor, rolling her eyes upwards, +“I never smelled anything so delicious!” +</p> +<p> +“Yet you abominate onions at other times,” +laughed Polly. +</p> +<p> +“It all depends on the state of your appetite,” +retorted Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +When the tourists were refreshed by washing +and brushing, they returned to the great living-room. +The two young strangers were there before +them. The older of the two acted as spokesman +and now introduced himself and his companion. +</p> +<p> +“This is my cousin, Alan Everard, of Winnipeg, +Canada. And I am Basil Traviston, a resident +of California, but not a native of that State.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian introduced his wife, and the other +members of his party by name only, without mentioning +the city or state whence they came. All +through supper hour he maintained a dignified attitude +which was meant to warn off any young men +with dangerously good looks. But he might as +well have tried to build a snow-man under the +heat of a July sun. +</p> +<p> +Both young men were so charming, and told +many witty stories which kept their audience in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200'></a>200</span> +stitches of laughter that it was generally conceded, +afterward, the two were most desirable fellow-travellers. +Mr. and Mrs. Fabian sat up a +full hour after the girls were asleep, however, +trying to pick a flaw in the behavior of the two +strangers, which might form a basis for the separation +from the touring party. When all was +said and done, the only tangible excuse was the +fact that they were both so handsome and unknown. +</p> +<p> +The next morning the three cars started for +Turin, and during the tiresome ride the two young +men managed to keep up an exchange of interesting +remarks that amused everyone. When they +stopped for luncheon in the middle of the day, the +two boys insisted upon waiting on the ladies and +making themselves generally useful. +</p> +<p> +The time came for the tourists to get in their +cars again, but Mrs. Alexander had taken a decided +liking for the younger of the two young men—Alan +Everard. So she invited him to travel +in her car, and that left Mr. Fabian without a +place. +</p> +<p> +“It’s only as far as Turin, you know,” explained +Mrs. Alexander, trying to smile sweetly +on the guide of the touring party. +</p> +<p> +Rather than create any unpleasantness, Mr. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201'></a>201</span> +Fabian got in beside Basil Traviston. But he +was determined, as long as he was forced to accept +the seat, to learn more about the two new +additions to his party. +</p> +<p> +After a perfunctory exchange of sentiments, +Mr. Fabian said: “Your name is very English, +and the fact that your cousin is from Winnipeg, +leads me to judge that you both are of English +descent.” +</p> +<p> +“My cousin’s real name is not Everard—that +is his first name; but we both are travelling incognito +on the Continent, as our titles and names +are so well-known that people stand to stare, and +annoy us with their interest. So we decided to +travel unknown, this season.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian frowned, and glanced side-ways +from his eyes, to see if the young man was presuming +upon his intelligence. But Traviston was +driving with a most guileless expression. In fact, +no handsome babe could have appeared more innocent +than he. +</p> +<p> +“It really seems as if we have been unusually +blessed—or cursed, I don’t know which—with +young men who claim titles. Mrs. Alexander +wished so intensely for titled young men to travel +with, it looks as if she attracted them to our +party,” said Mr. Fabian, smiling cynically. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202'></a>202</span> +</p> +<p> +“Is that so?” returned Traviston, but his tone +and expression failed to show any resentment or +interest in the information. Mr. Fabian wondered, +and decided not to tread on thin ice any +more, just then. +</p> +<p> +But Mrs. Alexander was faring much better +with the young man in her car. Almost immediately +after they had resumed the tour she asked +pointedly: “Your cousin’s name, and yours as +well, is very English. Perhaps you belong to an +old family?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh yes,” returned Everard. “Both of us +came over, this year, on purpose to trace our family-trees. +I have learned that my people go back +to Adam without a break.” +</p> +<p> +“Not really!” gasped Mrs. Alexander, astonished +at such a long line of ancestry. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and Basil now believes he can antedate +Adam, and trace some facts about his ancestry that +started with a missing link.” Young Everard +laughed softly as he spoke, but his companion +never having heard of Darwin, believed every +word he said; whereas he thought she knew he +was joking. +</p> +<p> +“You and your cousin must be young men of +leisure, or you couldn’t spend a whole summer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203'></a>203</span> +touring Europe in such an expensive car. I noticed +how sporty the car was, before I saw either +of you,” said Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“That’s just it. When Basil and I work, we +have to work like Trojans. But when we finish a +contract we take life easy until the next job comes +up.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, you work? I wouldn’t have said so. +What sort of contract work do you do?” asked +Mrs. Alexander. The pedestal she had used for +her two new heroes, seemed shaking dangerously. +</p> +<p> +Everard laughed. “Some people laugh at +what we call work, but they don’t realize that playing +is the hardest kind of work. I sometimes +think I will chuck the whole game and knuckle +down to the real thing—work that is called work. +But money is sweet, and if one likes to spend, then +the weak little decision to work as others do, dies +hard and I go on with the play.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander suddenly realized that she had +misunderstood the young man’s first words. Then +he called “playing” his work, and with his money +he found playing as hard a work as a poor man +finds his labor. So she sympathized with his +ideals and thought him a remarkable young man. +</p> +<p> +Before they reached Turin, she had her suspicions that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204'></a>204</span> +he was a very <em>important</em> young man; +for he had given her certain bits of information +that told how well-known he and his cousin were, +and how they dodged at certain places to travel +incognito to avoid publicity. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205'></a>205</span><a name='chXI' id='chXI'></a>CHAPTER XI—THE PLOT IN VENICE</h2> +<p> +That evening, at Turin, while the Fabian +party were preparing to go out and see the city +by night, the two young men excused themselves +and were not seen again until the next day when +the party were to start for Milan. Then they +appeared as happy and ready to drive on as they +were to join the tourists the day before at the +foot of the Alps. +</p> +<p> +“I thought you had planned to remain in +Turin?” said Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“We had, but upon getting in touch with +Chalmys, we find he is now at his place near +Venice, and we must meet him there. The rest +of our crowd are there, too. So we will drive +with you as far as you travel our road,” explained +Traviston. +</p> +<p> +“Do you know Count Chalmys?” asked everyone +in chorus. +</p> +<p> +“Of course—do you?” returned the handsome +boys. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206'></a>206</span> +</p> +<p> +“He toured with me all through Belgium and +Holland,” quickly bragged Mrs. Alexander, certain +now that these two young men were “somebodies.” +</p> +<p> +“Why—I really believe you are the people he +wrote us about!” exclaimed Everard, honestly +surprised at his discovery. +</p> +<p> +“Yes—he said there were four of the prettiest +girls in the party, but he never mentioned their +names,” added Traviston. +</p> +<p> +Now the four girls smiled with gratification, +and before they started for Milan, it was half decided +to visit the Count at his Italian Estate, before +going on to Rome, or other places south of +Venice. +</p> +<p> +At Milan the young men said they would get +in communication with the Count and arrange for +their going there the next day, Mr. Fabian escorted +his girls to the famous cathedral of Milan, +and showed them the places of interest in the city, +then they resumed the journey to Padua, where +they purposed remaining over-night. From there +they would drive to Chalmys Palace in the morning, +just a few miles from Venice. +</p> +<p> +During the absence of Mr. Fabian and his companions +on the tour of the city, Mrs. Alexander +had determined to get all the information she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207'></a>207</span> +could from the two young men, when they came +back to the hotel. And they, seeing how eager +she was for them to develop into superior beings +of quality, thought to please her that way. +</p> +<p> +When her friends joined her at the hotel again, +the two young men were not there, but she was +bubbling over with wonderful news. +</p> +<p> +“I knew it! <em>I</em> can tell the moment I see a +young man with a title. That one who calls himself +Basil Traviston, is really a Marquis of +France. He came into the title a few weeks ago, +but he doesn’t seem to fuss about it any. And +his cousin Alan Everard is the son of Count +Chalmys. That is why they know him so well.” +</p> +<p> +“The Count’s son?” gasped Nancy Fabian, unbelievingly. +</p> +<p> +“Yes, and they were all in Paris together and +had planned to join each other again at Venice. +But they will meet at Chalmys Palace sooner than +they had intended,” explained Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“Why, Maggie, that boy Everard is only some +years younger than the Count, unless the Italian +looks much younger than he is; besides that, if +the Count is from Italy how can the French Marquis +be the boy’s cousin? And why do they come +from the States?” asked Mr. Alexander deeply +puzzled. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208'></a>208</span> +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian mistrusted the whole story, yet he +had to admit that Traviston seemed most honest +the day he spoke of his title and name. So he +said nothing, but hoped to be spared further +agonies from Mrs. Alexander’s worship of nobility +as per her ideals. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Fabian was back with Mrs. Alexander, +and the two boys were in their car; all were travelling +along the road at a good speed, and the +girls were picturing what the wonderful old +Chalmys’ palace would be like, when a long low +car with splendid lines approached, coming from +the opposite direction. +</p> +<p> +“If there isn’t Chalmys! Coming to meet us!” +exclaimed Traviston, to the people in the other +cars. +</p> +<p> +“How lovely of him!” sighed Mrs. Alexander, +almost running her car into the ditch in her eagerness +to see the Count. +</p> +<p> +The long-nosed car drew up beside the touring +car and the Count leaned over the side. +</p> +<p> +“Well, this is a great pleasure, Mr. Fabian! +And the ladies—how are they? As beautiful as +ever, I warrant,” called he, gallantly. +</p> +<p> +The passengers in Mr. Alexander’s car exchanged +pleasant greetings with the Count who +then asked pardon while he welcomed his two +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209'></a>209</span> +friends. He urged his car along a few feet further +until it was opposite the boys’ car, and there +they conversed eagerly for a few minutes. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander nudged Mr. Fabian and whispered: +“Did you-all hear him say ‘I want to +speak to my two friends?’ He diden’ say ‘I want +to speak to my son.’” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian nodded understandingly, but +watched the Count closely. No look of paternal +affection was given Everard, and if he was his son +who had been absent from home so long, why +wouldn’t the impulsive Italian father greet him +eagerly? It was a puzzle that became more intricate, +to Mr. Fabian and Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +The Count seemed to forget there were others +nearby, and when he said: “The wire read for +us to be ready for the scene at the Palace Dario, +tomorrow night at nine. That is why I drove out +to meet you. I’ll be at the hotel tomorrow, myself, +in time to go with you. Then we will all +come back to the Palace the next day.” +</p> +<p> +The two young men seemed regretful about +something, but they nodded in acceptance of the +Count’s orders. Then the other members of the +party were addressed. +</p> +<p> +“I find we all have to be present at Venice tomorrow +night for an important engagement, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210'></a>210</span> +if you, my good friends, will pardon this change +of plans, I will be under obligation to you if you +go on to Venice now, and visit me at Chalmys +Palace a few days hence.” +</p> +<p> +Of course, everyone signified perfect satisfaction +at changing the plans, so they all drove along +the road together, towards Venice. The Count +left them before reaching the city gates, and his +last words were: “I will meet you at the hotel +tomorrow evening, boys.” +</p> +<p> +“Do you know, Fabian, it all sounds shady to +me?” said little Mr. Alexander, puckering his +forehead over the queer case. +</p> +<p> +“It may be that we think it is strange because +we haven’t the key to the situation,” said Mrs. +Fabian, always ready to make allowances for +people. +</p> +<p> +It was a novel experience to exchange motor-cars +for the picturesque gondolas of Venice. But +it was a luxurious exchange. As they floated +along, Mrs. Alexander was deeply annoyed because +she was separated from the young folks, +and placed beside her husband, who was concerned +about so many pigeons living in a city; the boys +entertained the girls with descriptions of romances +which had a splendid setting in Venice; then they +told of the prominent Motion Picture companies +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211'></a>211</span> +who came all the way from America to take their +pictures on the spot. +</p> +<p> +The first evening was spent in passing through +the Grand Canal and seeing the wonderful palaces +on either side. Mr. Fabian knew the more famous +buildings and called them out to his party in +the other gondolas. +</p> +<p> +The gondolier pointed out the Custom House, +the Mint, the Garden of the Royal Palace, and +other buildings, before they came to a beautiful +fairy-like palace. +</p> +<p> +“Isn’t that a lovely place,” remarked Polly, +gazing at the very ancient-looking palace. +</p> +<p> +“That’s the Palazzo Dario, of the 15th century, +famous for its beauty and preservation,” +replied Alan Everard. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, is that where you are to——” began +Dodo, but Polly nudged her suddenly and checked +what she was about to say. +</p> +<p> +The two young men seemed not to have heard +her unfinished sentence, and Mr. Fabian was all +the more puzzled over the fact. +</p> +<p> +All the next day was spent in visiting the points +of interest in Venice: the Palace of the Doges, the +Museum and the famous old churches and palaces +being on the list. The two young men had said +they would have to be excused as they would be +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212'></a>212</span> +very busy all day, in order to be ready for the +evening’s engagement with the Count. +</p> +<p> +The very lack of guile and duplicity in the +words and the manners of the young men, caused +all the more concern over what was now looming +up in the fancies of the adults in the Fabian party, +as a plot that had been accidentally revealed by +the Count. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander said he would remain about the +hotel while the others were sight-seeing, as he had +no use for old buildings. So he waited until +everyone had gone—the two boys to their appointment +and the Fabian party to the palaces and +museums, then he went upstairs and boldly entered +the rooms occupied by the two suspected +young men. +</p> +<p> +After half an hour of careful searching he came +forth with a huge bundle under his arm and an +exultant expression on his face. Late that afternoon +when the tourists returned to the hotel to +dress for dinner and then take a sail on the Canal, +Mr. Alexander beckoned in a strange manner to +Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian followed the little man to his room, +and when the door had been carefully closed and +locked, the latter said: “Well, I unearthed the +foxes! I stayed to home on purpose, today, to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213'></a>213</span> +go through their belongings, and this is what I +found!” +</p> +<p> +As he spoke, he lifted his coat from the pile on +the table. Mr. Fabian wonderingly examined +the articles displayed there. A number of +brushes with silver backs were engraved with the +name “Albert Brown.” Several handkerchiefs +were initialed “B.F.S.” A fine Panama hat had +a marker inside that read: “B.F. Smith.” Other +small objects which evidently belonged to the two +young men bore their names or initials—the same +as those already read by Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“It’s all very queer, and I don’t know what to +make of it,” remarked Mr. Fabian, thoughtfully. +</p> +<p> +“Well, I tell you what I’d do! I’d tell them +what we know of this and then clear them out. +It’s my opinion that that dark Count Chalmys +fixed up something with these two good-lookers +just to get us to visit his old palace and maybe +play some tricks on us to get our cash,” said Mr. +Alexander, rising to the very peak of tragic imagination. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian laughed. “Oh no, I don’t think +that; but it is all a strange experience, when you +try to find a reason for it all.” +</p> +<p> +“Wall, just keep your eyes open, tonight, and +see if I ain’t right in what I said. I bet those +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214'></a>214</span> +three men will get in trouble yet, and I’m going +to do my part to protect the gals.” +</p> +<p> +At Mr. Alexander’s words, Mr. Fabian smiled +but did not advise the little man to wait and +watch before he took any further steps. He left +the room to go and dress for the evening, and Mr. +Alexander managed to return the articles he had +taken from the boys’ rooms, without being discovered +in the act. +</p> +<p> +At dinner that night, Mrs. Alexander had a +very interesting story to relate. +</p> +<p> +“I was reading in the Grand Parlor of the +hotel, when the Count came in. He was surprised +to see me, but he said he was waiting for the two +boys, who were going out with him. +</p> +<p> +“Well, we talked for a time, and then young +Everard came in. He looked angry about something. +He said he had had some things stolen +from his room and Traviston was reporting the +theft at the desk. They needed the brushes and +toilet things and now they had to go without them. +</p> +<p> +“I thought it was funny, if they were only going +out for an engagement, to take any toilet articles +along, but I didn’t say anything. While we three +were talking, Traviston came in and, oh my! +wasn’t he dressed up to kill. I suppose it was the +Court costume they wear when they visit royalty. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215'></a>215</span> +He had the gold star on his breast and a wide ribbon +crossed over his chest. He had a long ulster +coat that his friends made him put on before they +left. He never said a word about why he was +dressed up, or where they were going, but I know +he is going to visit some big noble—maybe a +Prince.” +</p> +<p> +“Maybe they’re a lot of tricksters in disguise,” +sneered Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“Why, Ebeneezer! How can you say such +mean things before the girls. They <em>know</em> what +nice young men they are,” declared Mrs. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“I must say,” added Nancy Fabian, “that I +met Count Chalmys in Paris just before the Art +Classes disbanded, and I never saw anything out +of the way. He was always very gallant and +kind.” +</p> +<p> +“You never told me how it was you met him, +Nancy,” said her father. +</p> +<p> +Nancy flushed but decided to speak out. “Well, +he was studying art posing at the school, and +having the dark beauty and magnificent form of a +Greek, he was requested to pose as a gladiator. +He explained to me later, that it was the first time +in his life that he posed, but he did it for fun +more than anything else. I believe him, too, because +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216'></a>216</span> +he certainly doesn’t need the money which +was paid for the posing.” +</p> +<p> +Nancy’s explanation added still other tangles +to the maze, and the two men wondered what +would be the final ravelling of it all. +</p> +<p> +While the girls went for their long cloaks to +wear, that evening, in the gondolas, Mr. Alexander +slipped away to converse with an official-looking +man he had met in the corridor. The Fabians +and Mrs. Alexander came downstairs first, +but were soon joined by the four girls. As they +passed the hotel office, Mr. Alexander followed +after them. +</p> +<p> +It was a beautiful night, with a clear sky overhead +and twinkling lights bobbing along the +Grand Canal, as gondolas passed up and down +filled with happy passengers. When the Fabian +party in their gondolas drew near the Palazzo +Dario, they wondered at the crowd gathered in +gondolas along both sides of the Canal. +</p> +<p> +A row of gondolas was stationed across the +Canal on either side of the Palazzo Dario, and +Mr. Fabian learned that they could not pass without +a permit. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter? I haven’t heard of any +important event about to take place here tonight?” +said Mr. Fabian. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217'></a>217</span> +</p> +<p> +“No! But ’tis so. Meester Griffet pay much +money for use of Palazzo this night. You wait +here on line and see the play go on,” said the officer, +as he made an opening for the gondolas +of the generous Americans to wedge in on the +front line. +</p> +<p> +Thus it happened that not long after the Fabian +party reached the spot, a camera-man climbed +upon a platform built opposite the Palazzo Dario, +and took his seat behind the apparatus. The +blinding Cooper-Hewitt lights used in Studios, +were so placed over the balcony and entrance of +the Palazzo that they would reflect and bring out +every detail in the picture about to be taken. +</p> +<p> +Not a word was heard from anyone in Mr. Fabian’s +party, but when a Marquis of France challenged +a handsome young nobleman of Italy to a +duel over a lovely English girl, and the father +of the handsome Italian youth intercepted, the +girls in Mr. Fabian’s gondola laughed hysterically. +Even Mr. Fabian had to smile. +</p> +<p> +It was most exciting to watch the two handsome +young men they had known in everyday life, +now play the leads in this Motion Picture Play. +The Count was exceptionally good in playing his +part, while the good looks of the two young men +made up for any shortcomings in their acting. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218'></a>218</span> +</p> +<p> +“Well, that explains everything!” sighed Mr. +Alexander, as the audience in the gondolas were +allowed to travel onwards along the Canal. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, but I can’t believe those nice young men +really have no titles!” cried Mrs. Alexander, tears +of vexation filling her eyes. +</p> +<p> +“They have! Didn’t you see for yourself, +Maggie?” laughed her husband. “Alan is the +heir to the Count’s title, and Basil is a Marquis.” +</p> +<p> +“I wonder if their fancy names are only for +stage use?” said Polly, smiling at the way everyone +had been hoaxed. +</p> +<p> +“Sure! I know their real names,” returned +Mr. Alexander, triumphantly. “I knew them +before tonight, and I told Mr. Fabian, diden’ I, +Fabian?” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, we know both their <em>reel</em> names,” laughed +Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“Do tell us who they are? Maybe we’ve seen +them at home,” said Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“Well, one is Albert Brown and t’other is B. +Smith. Both are from the States, and that one +from Californy is likely from Hollywood, where +this Comp’ny hails from,” chuckled Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +Early the following morning, before the tourists left +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219'></a>219</span> +the breakfast room, Count Chalmys and +his two friends hurried in. +</p> +<p> +“Well, when will you be ready to visit my palace?” +said he. +</p> +<p> +“What palace?” asked Mr. Alexander, frowning +at what he considered a Movie joke from the +actor. +</p> +<p> +“Why, <em>my</em> palace. I expected you to come +with me to visit at Chalmys Palace, today. You +said you would!” wondered the Count. +</p> +<p> +“Have you really <em>got</em> a palace?” asked Dodo, +innocently. +</p> +<p> +Her expression caused the others to laugh, and +Count Chalmys returned: “Of course I have. +Would I invite you to visit me if I had no place +to entertain?” +</p> +<p> +Everyone looked at everyone else, and then at +the three actors. Finally the Count began to understand +that the Fabian party had not had the +slightest inkling of the scene that took place the +night before, and so the facts began to come forth. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander was the only member in the +party who had no interest in visiting the Count, +now. When he said that another scene in the +play was to take place that afternoon at his palace, +the girls were eager to go and watch the interesting +picture-making. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220'></a>220</span> +</p> +<p> +So they all started out, Mrs. Alexander going, +too; but she insisted upon having it understood +that she was not interested in the visit other than +to accompany her friends. +</p> +<p> +Count Chalmys had made elaborate preparations +for the guests, and when they sat down to +luncheon in the grand old palace, Mrs. Alexander +stared in amazement at the crest embroidered on +the napkins. The liveried servants came and +went noiselessly, carrying services of old plate +with the coat of arms in filigree on the engraved +edges. +</p> +<p> +After luncheon the Count showed his visitors +the gardens, and then they visited the picture collection +he had spoken of at the Paris Art Sale. +Mr. Fabian recognized several Old Masters and +felt still more puzzled over all he had learned. +</p> +<p> +Then the Griffet Company arrived and the +scenes in the gardens of the Palace began, then +several interiors were taken. After the Motion +Picture Company had gone, Mr. Fabian said +something about returning to Venice. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, not yet, surely!” exclaimed the Count. +“I have ordered dinner for tonight, thinking surely +you would remain and spend the evening.” +</p> +<p> +Thus persuaded, they remained and passed a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221'></a>221</span> +very enjoyable time. On the way back to the +hotel, that night, Mr. Alexander decided to ask +the two young men outright, how it was their fellow +actor called himself “Count” and lived in such +a gorgeous manner. +</p> +<p> +B. Smith <em>alias</em> Basil Traviston laughed. “Why, +Chalmys is a born Italian but he went to America +as a boy. He was so handsome that he was engaged +over there to take a lead in a picture where +his type was needed. He never knew he could +act until that trial, but he made so good that they +offered him a wonderful salary to stay on with +them. +</p> +<p> +“During the recent war the male line of descent +in his family were killed off, so that he came into +the title and property of the Chalmys. He never +dreamed of such a possibility, as he was but distantly +connected with the Count’s family. +</p> +<p> +“The estate is heavily taxed and debts are +greater to pay, than the incomes to be collected, +so the Count uses the palace for picture purposes +and derives a nice little income that way, also. +It is enough to pay the upkeep of the place, anyway, +so that he does not have to draw on his +own salary to maintain the estate.” +</p> +<p> +“Then he is a real live Count after all?” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222'></a>222</span> +gasped Mrs. Alexander, sorrowing because she +discovered it too late to avail herself of the information. +</p> +<p> +“A reel man in America, and a real Count in +Italy,” laughed Alan Everard, <em>alias</em> Brown. +</p> +<p> +One more day was given to Venice, while the +tourists visited the collections at the Accademia, +took pictures of the beautiful churches and admired +the wonderful paintings and sculpturings of +San Marco, and other famous buildings. +</p> +<p> +The two handsome young men bid them good-by +that afternoon, as they were going back to +Paris to meet the rest of the Company and then +go on to Havre where they were to sail soon, for +America. And the touring party prepared to +leave Venice and start for Florence, the Tuscan +City where Mr. Fabian expected to find many +wonders to show his students. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223'></a>223</span><a name='chXII' id='chXII'></a>CHAPTER XII—ESCAPING AN EARTHQUAKE</h2> +<p> +As the cars drew near Florence, Mr. Fabian +described the natural protection afforded that city +by the mountains surrounding it. This figured +mightily in past ages, he said, when enemies of +the Florentines tried to overcome the city and +break the power of their trading. +</p> +<p> +“You’ll find everything about Florence savoring +of antiquity,” announced Mr. Fabian, as they +entered the city. “The winding narrow streets, +the irregular roofs that break the sky-line, the ancient +churches with bits of old carving in the least +expected places, and last but not least, the folk +of Florence with their quaint costumes of bright +colors.” +</p> +<p> +The first day in Florence was spent in visiting +the Pitti Palace, the basilica of San Miniato, +which was of architectural value to the students, +and then the Museo Nazionale. +</p> +<p> +The second day was given to visiting at the +Piazzale Michelangelo, and to see the Cathedral +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224'></a>224</span> +Santo Maria del Fiore, with its beautiful façade. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian conducted the girls to Pisa, the +third day, but the elders in the party preferred to +remain in the cars when the ardent admirers of +antiquity visited the places of past glories. +</p> +<p> +Then they drove on from Florence and stopped +over night at Arretzo; and in the morning they +went to Perugia, a mediaeval town with ancient +buildings and still more ancient churches. +</p> +<p> +From Perugia the route lay due south to Rome. +It proved to be a delightful trip through the wonderful +country-lanes and spreading fields which +were cultivated to the last inch. +</p> +<p> +As they came nearer Rome, they began to feel +the oppressive heat which had been gradually +growing more intense all that day. Mr. Fabian +had planned to spend a full week, or more, in +Rome in order to give the girls ample time to see +everything there, worth while. +</p> +<p> +The first day they visited the Coliseum, the +Forum and other famous places. Then he escorted +them to the Cloaca Maxima to study +Etruscan Art. Next they visited the Museum in +the Villa of Pope Julius; then the Etruscan Museum +of the Vatican; also the Mamertine Prison, +and many places famed for their collections of antiquities +and art. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225'></a>225</span> +</p> +<p> +One day they went to see the famous façade +and bits of architecture still to be found in Rome, +such as the “Spanish Steps” of the Piazza di +Spagna, and the Triumphal Arch of Septimus +Severus. Mr. Fabian had unwillingly to end the +day’s visits, however, because of the terrific heat. +</p> +<p> +The sun had been shining through a red haze +for several days, and the reflection from the +Mediterranean was so oppressive that the tourists +decided to cut their stay in Rome short and +drive on across Italy to Naples, which always +boasted a fine breeze from the Bay. +</p> +<p> +So the hotel bill was paid that night, and the +baggage made ready for an early start. The +travelling trunk was locked on the rack of the +automobile, and everything else was prepared that +no time would be lost in the morning. +</p> +<p> +The heat that evening was even worse than at +any time during their stay in Rome, and rumors +were heard that the seismograph had registered +tremors and slight earthquakes, all day. This +was not encouraging to the Americans, and they +retired at night with all apparel on excepting +shoes and their coats. +</p> +<p> +Fatigue and the drowsiness produced by the +heat overcame everyone after a time, and they +slept until about one o’clock. A strange shaking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226'></a>226</span> +of Polly’s bed woke her suddenly. She sat up +and felt the room swaying. She reached out and +called to Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“Get up, Nolla! Get up—it’s the earthquake!” +cried she, springing from the bed. +</p> +<p> +“Uh! Wh-a-d you s-ay?” mumbled Eleanor +drowsily. +</p> +<p> +“Quick! We’ve got to get out. The earthquake’s +here!” shouted Polly, trying in vain to +catch hold of the bed-post while everything +rocked as if on a vessel at sea. +</p> +<p> +A falling picture upon Eleanor’s feet startled +her so that she jumped up and gazed in affright +at Polly. “What is it?” asked she, seeing the +toilet dishes on the stand roll upon the floor. +</p> +<p> +“Earthquakes! Hurry—hurry!” screamed +Polly, almost too frightened to find the buttons +on her dress. +</p> +<p> +Dodo and Nancy tumbled headlong into the +room now, both crying and wishing they had “left +this old Rome before this happened.” +</p> +<p> +The girls managed to get into their shoes in +short order and when Mrs. Fabian rushed in to +drag them forth, they were all dressed. Polly +and Eleanor remembered to catch up their bags, +and then ran after the Fabians who had roused +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227'></a>227</span> +the Alexanders and told them to run for the open +street. +</p> +<p> +But the street presented such a scene that Mr. +Fabian instantly decided to leave whatever they +had forgotten in the hotel rooms and get away +in the automobiles. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, see that chimney topple over!” cried +Nancy, as the brick structure of a distant building +was seen to fall in. +</p> +<p> +Screams and cries, pushing and huddling of the +mobs in the streets, created a panic with the excitable +Latin people, and Mr. Alexander quickly +turned and said to his party: “I’m going to get +out the cars. Dodo can go with me to handle +Ma’s roadster. You-all follow Mr. Fabian +through the safest streets and go out along the +Appian Way. I’ll meet you there and pick you +up. We’ll get out of Rome at once!” +</p> +<p> +He had not been gone a minute before another +severe quake shook the city so that it seemed as +if the earth rose and fell in billows. Collapsing +buildings were heard crashing down upon the +streets, dogs howled, other animals added their +fearful noises to the panic-stricken cries of the +populace, and a pandemonium was the result. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian and his wife kept their presence of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228'></a>228</span> +mind in all this distraction, but Mrs. Alexander +wept loudly and dragged at her blonde hair in +despair when she realized that this was her end. +“Oh why did I ever want to come to Europe to +be killed in Rome, when I could have lived a long +life peacefully in Denver!” wailed she, hysterically. +</p> +<p> +It took all of Polly’s and Eleanor’s time and +temper to soothe the fear-paralyzed woman. But +she was able to follow the Fabians when they +started for the Appian Way—in fact she wanted +to run ahead and get out of the city. +</p> +<p> +It took a long time of trial and tortuous going +before they reached the quieter sections of Rome; +and finally they began to glimpse the Appian Way +through the haze of fire and smoke that now +spread a pall over the city. +</p> +<p> +They had just heard the welcome sounds of +Mr. Alexander’s voice, when another tremor +shook the city so that the girls clung to each other +in support. Instantly a man’s genial voice called: +“Well, I’ll be gol-durned if I had to come all the +way to Rome to get an earthquake! We can get +these sort nearer Denver, without charge.” +</p> +<p> +In spite of their fear everyone smiled at the +little man who could joke in the face of such disasters. +But he created the effect of releasing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229'></a>229</span> +the tension, and thus destroying much of the fear. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander directed the Fabian party to +their cars, and when they had climbed in and +wished the tourists who crowded around, a safe +escape from the city, the two drivers started away. +</p> +<p> +They had not gone more than a mile, when another +very severe shock seemed to move the +ground from under the cars. The screams from +the crowded city streets could be heard at this distance +from the scene, and Polly said: “It makes +me feel like a criminal to run away and leave all +those people to their doom.” +</p> +<p> +“It’s better for as many to get out of the city as +can go, unless they are trained to help in this +emergency,” said Mrs. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander had calmed down considerably +when she was seated in the car, and now she began +to question her husband. +</p> +<p> +“Ebeneezer, did you bring my travelling bag?” +</p> +<p> +“I dun’no. I grabbed up everything in sight, +from my old razor strop to my scarf-pin,” returned +her spouse, jovially. +</p> +<p> +“My bag held that new evening coat,” cried +Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“Never mind a little thing like that!” advised +her lord. +</p> +<p> +“That’s all <em>you</em> care for a two-hundred dollar +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230'></a>230</span> +wrap, but I know you didn’t forget that horrid +pipe!” retorted she. +</p> +<p> +“I <em>know</em> I diden’, too, ’cause it’s goin’ in my +mouth this minute!” chuckled Mr. Alexander, +making his companions laugh. +</p> +<p> +“Call Dodo—stop her, this minute,” commanded +Mrs. Alexander. “I must ask her if she +took my bag. If she didn’t I’m going back +for it!” +</p> +<p> +To pacify her, the cars stopped and Dodo was +asked if she saw the bag that had held her +mother’s evening wrap. +</p> +<p> +“No, but I thought I caught up one of Ma’s +belongings,” Dodo called back. “When I got to +the garage and turned the light on to see what I +had saved I found it was a bed-pillow!” +</p> +<p> +A laugh greeted this reply, and Nancy then admitted: +“I didn’t know what I was doing when +I first jumped out of bed, but I intended getting +my hair-brush and comb in case of need. When +we got out on the street I found I had the cake +of soap and the telephone pad that was kept on +the stand beside the bed.” +</p> +<p> +“Well, Ma,” asked Mr. Alexander, as Dodo +started her car again, “are you going to get out +and go back for them things?” +</p> +<p> +“You are a bad cruel man, Ebeneezer Alexander, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231'></a>231</span> +I wonder that I could live with you as +long as I have,” snapped his wife. +</p> +<p> +“I wonder at it myself,” chuckled the cheerful +“cruel” man. +</p> +<p> +But they drove on and no more was said about +the elaborate evening wrap that was lost in the +earthquake that night. +</p> +<p> +As they sped away, determined to get as far +from the scene of disaster as possible, that night, +Eleanor spoke. +</p> +<p> +“I wonder if there is anything else I have to +live through before I can settle down quietly.” +</p> +<p> +“Now what’s the matter?” demanded Polly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh nothing, but I was just thinking—I went +through a snow-slide on Grizzly Peak; a land-slide +on the Flat Top; a great mountain blizzard, +on the Rockies; a hold-up in New York, one night; +an avalanche on the Alps, and now an earthquake +in Rome. What next, I wonder?” +</p> +<p> +“You ought to be grateful that you never experienced +a sinking at sea caused by a German submarine,” +said Polly, earnestly. +</p> +<p> +The very seriousness of her remark made her +friends laugh, so that spirits rose accordingly, and +just as they felt that the worst was over, another +severe quake shook the ground they were speeding +over. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232'></a>232</span> +</p> +<p> +Dodo’s car was ahead, with its headlights +streaming in advance upon the roadway. Immediately +after the last shake, a deep rumbling and +crackling was heard as if something ahead of +them had parted and fallen down. Dodo leaned +forward anxiously and gasped. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Fabian was with her in the roadster, and +the girl quickly put on the brakes and reversed +the wheel. “Just look out, Mrs. Fabian, and see +if you can see a gap across the road.” +</p> +<p> +Even as she spoke, Mr. Alexander passed the +little car and shouted to Dodo: “What’d you +stop for—right in the middle of the road?” +</p> +<p> +The next moment he was biting his tongue when +the front wheels on his car caved into the newly +made crevice across the road. Everyone was +jounced up and down frightfully as the wheels +settled into the soft earth, and Dodo jumped out +to see if anyone was injured. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, oh! I know Pa’s broken my neck!” cried +Mrs. Alexander, as she caught her plump neck +between two fat hands. +</p> +<p> +“Blame it all on the pesky earthquake!” +shouted Mr. Alexander, thickly, while the end of +his tongue began swelling where his teeth had +cut into it. +</p> +<p> +Everyone was ordered out, while Mr. Alexander tried +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233'></a>233</span> +to back the touring car out of the cleft +across the roadway. But it was a deep trench +and the front of the car had settled into the earth. +</p> +<p> +“The only way to get her up is to plank down +several rails and run her out on them,” said Mr. +Alexander, lispingly, as he studied the situation. +</p> +<p> +“It’s too dark to hunt for rails or boards, and +there isn’t a house in sight,” Dodo replied. +</p> +<p> +“What can we do, then?” asked the perplexed +little man, scratching his head for an idea to start +from his brain. +</p> +<p> +It was nearly dawn when the peasants started +from their homes for the city, to sell their market-goods, +so the tourists had not long to sit and wait, +before a cart drawn by two sturdy oxen rumbled +along. +</p> +<p> +“Hey, there! If you hook them beasts to my +car and pull it out of this hole fer me, I’ll pay +fer the animals!” called Mr. Alexander, hoping +the man understood his English. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian then interpreted what had been +said, and the man examined the condition of the +ditch before he replied. Then he gave Mr. Fabian +to understand that he could remove two +heavy side-boards from the cart and try in that +way to help run the wheels out. +</p> +<p> +After strenuous labor and many pulls and tugs +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234'></a>234</span> +on the part of the oxen, the car was backed to +the road again. But the ditch was still there, +and it was too deep to cross without a bridge, or +by filling it in. +</p> +<p> +By the time the peasant had been paid his price, +a number of other carts had driven up and the +men sat pondering how to get over. It was Mr. +Alexander who waved his arms like a wind-mill in +Holland, and shouted to make them understand. +</p> +<p> +“Let’s all get busy and scoop the earth into the +ditch. Some of us can dig it from that field and +others can carry it in their hats to fill in.” +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian tried to explain, but the peasants +shook their heads. One man jumped out and ran +back in haste along the road. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter? Is he afraid we’ll make +him work?” demanded Mr. Alexander, impatiently. +</p> +<p> +“No,” explained Mr. Fabian, “he said he knew +where he could get a shovel and other implements. +There’s a farm a bit farther on.” +</p> +<p> +Shortly after that, the man returned and with +him came two young men, all carrying shovels, +and one pushed a cart. With these tools for +work, every man went at the job, and in half an +hour the crevice caused by the quake was temporarily +filled up. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235'></a>235</span> +</p> +<p> +While they worked the men asked Mr. Fabian +about the earthquake in the city, and he told them +what havoc it had made. The sun had risen by +the time the two cars were able to cross the +bridged crevice, and then waited to allow the ox-carts +to get past. +</p> +<p> +“Say, there! Are you going to take that stuff +to Rome, to sell?” called Mr. Alexander, eagerly. +</p> +<p> +The men comprehended and nodded their +heads. +</p> +<p> +“Well, here! We’re starved now and will buy +the fruit and ready-to-eat stuff. Got anything +cooked?” called he. +</p> +<p> +One farmer had fowl, another had fruit and +still another had a load of vegetables, so the tourists +bought all the fruit they wanted, and the peasants +went their way, rejoicing at the good luck the +quake had brought them in the form of rich +Americans who paid so well for filling the ditch, +and then selling them fruit. +</p> +<p> +As soon as the tourists reached a quiet spot beside +the road, they halted the cars and enjoyed +the fruit, for that was all the breakfast they would +have until they reached Naples. +</p> +<p> +Late in the afternoon they stopped at a good +hotel and sighed in relief to think they could have +a good, long, night’s rest. The daily papers were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236'></a>236</span> +filled with the account of the damage done in +Rome by the recent earthquake, but the list of +those dead or lost was not yet complete, as so +many were buried under the débris of fallen +buildings. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly Mr. Alexander threw back his head +and roared. +</p> +<p> +“What’s the matter, Pa?” asked Dodo, frowning +at his shout. +</p> +<p> +“Ho, I just read how we’re all dead. Did you +know we were lost in the ’quake last night?” +</p> +<p> +They all stared at him. Mr. Fabian ran over +to see the article for himself. Then he read it +aloud: “Among those stopping at the Hotel —— in +Rome, which collapsed at the third severe +shock, were a party of American tourists who +were with Mr. Fabian, the well-known authority +on Antiques. Mrs. Fabian and daughter, Mr. +and Mrs. Alexander and daughter, and two young +misses, were members in this party. A few other +guests of the hotel are also unaccounted for.” +</p> +<p> +“If that isn’t the strangest thing,” exclaimed +Mr. Fabian, “to sit here and read our own death-notice. +Now I’ll have to wire Ashby that we’re +all right, and we’ll have to cable to the States that +this report is false.” +</p> +<p> +The girls wanted to read the notice, too, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237'></a>237</span> +Nancy said they ought to keep the notice as a joke +on journalism in Italy. +</p> +<p> +“No joke about it, say I. Now I have to wear +crêpe fer myself, because everyone out West will +celebrate when they believe me done for,” said +Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238'></a>238</span><a name='chXIII' id='chXIII'></a>CHAPTER XIII—UNEXPECTED VICISSITUDES OF TRAVEL</h2> +<p> +The visit in Naples extended itself into a week, +as the girls needed to replenish their wardrobes +after the earthquake, and Mr. Alexander thought +it best to have a new spring for the car ordered +to replace the one that had received such a strain +in the ditch. +</p> +<p> +A new schedule had been studied, and the route +outlined a few weeks before, was revised. Mr. +Fabian said it would be best to go to Brindisi and +from there cross the Ionian Sea and visit Athens, +as long as they were so near. Then, from Athens, +they could go to Pompeii and other famous places, +and finally take a steamer back to Genoa. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll have to crate the cars, then, and ship them +across country to wait for us at Genoa,” said Mr. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“Let the men at the garage attend to it for you. +We will be away about a week, or so, and by that +time the cars will have been delivered at Genoa,” +said Dodo. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239'></a>239</span> +</p> +<p> +“I should think it would save time and costs to +send a chauffeur with each car, to leave them with +a garage at Genoa,” suggested Mr. Fabian, so +his idea was acted upon. +</p> +<p> +Everything was packed and the ladies were in +the cars ready to start, when Mr. Fabian turned +to look for Mr. Alexander. He was not there. +</p> +<p> +“Did anyone see him during the last ten minutes?” +asked he. +</p> +<p> +“No, he carried my suit-case downstairs fifteen +minutes ago, but he did not come back,” said Mrs. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian went to the hotel office again, and +inquired of the clerk whether he had seen Mr. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +He had not been seen, nor had he left any message +at the desk. “Well, then, I’ll have him +paged, as we are ready to start,” said Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +But the boys came back without any news of the +missing man. Everyone got out of the cars again +and started in different directions in search of +their necessary “chauffeur.” By-standers were +asked but no information was gained of the man +they all were seeking. +</p> +<p> +“Dear me, if that isn’t just like Ebeneezer!” +complained Mrs. Alexander, powdering her nose +while she awaited results. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240'></a>240</span> +</p> +<p> +“I don’t see anything else to do, except to carry +our luggage back to the hotel and postpone our +trip until tomorrow,” said Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“Don’t worry, Pa’ll come along soon and wonder +why we worried over his delay. He’s sure +to give a splendid reason for this absence,” said +Dodo. +</p> +<p> +A few moments after she had spoken, little Mr. +Alexander was seen running at top speed along +the street. His hat was in his hand and he was +mopping his perspiring brow with a large silk +handkerchief. +</p> +<p> +“Eben, what made you leave us? Didn’t you +<em>know</em> we were ready to start?” complained his +wife, the moment she saw him. +</p> +<p> +“Yeh, but I couldn’t help it, Maggie. Just +as I got your duds to the car, I stepped on a little +dog. He yelped so I had to see what ailed him, +and that’s how I saw the child what owned the +animal. +</p> +<p> +“If the little shaver hadn’t yelled as hard as +the dog, I wouldn’t have gone wid him. But I +had to quiet the boy, and the dog limped so I had +to carry that. The boy lived a long way down a +side street, and then through an alley. But when +I got to his home, the dog could jump about and +bark, so he is all right again.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241'></a>241</span> +</p> +<p> +“Good gracious, Pa, did you waste all this time +on carrying a mongrel home?” laughed Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“Um, not all the time!” admitted Mr. Alexander. +“When I saw that boy’s home and his sick +mother in bed, I hunted up a woman in the house +and made her go out for some things to eat. It +seems they ain’t had any money and so went hungry +until she could work. I told the woman—but +I reckon she didn’t understand me—that she +could thank the dog for the food and help she got +from me. Then I had to hurry back here.” +</p> +<p> +The tourists were on the vessel before Mrs. +Alexander stopped nagging her spouse and allowed +him to enjoy the sail across the Ionian +Sea. It was a beautiful trip for the others in +the party; they saw the blue sky reflected in the +bluer water, inhaled the perfume of thousands of +flowers blossoming riotously on the land and +wafted by the balmy breezes across the Sea, and +they wondered if it were really true that but a +few days before, they were rushing frantically +from an earthquake in Rome! The present peace +and calm were so different an experience—almost +as if they were in another world. +</p> +<p> +The first sight of Athens, from the sea, was +very impressive to the girls; they could see, upon +the prominences that seemed to embrace the ancient +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242'></a>242</span> +city, the wonderful historic ruins so carefully +preserved there. Mr. Fabian pointed out +the Acropolis, the Temple of Hephæstus, the +Propylæa, the Temple of Athena Nike, the +Parthenon, and other noted architectural antiquities. +</p> +<p> +Several days were spent in Athens, visiting its +vast wealth of past ages, then Mr. Fabian arranged +to proceed, with his friends, to Pompeii, +with its lure of restored ruins that had been buried +for centuries. +</p> +<p> +From the scenes of Pompeii, they visited the +Island of Ischia and its wilderness of vineyards; +then they went on to Capri with its incomparable +riot of color and natural beauties. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t see anything to keep us down here +more than a day, or so, do you-all?” asked Mrs. +Alexander, bored to distraction without the excitement +of cities, or the speeding in her car. +</p> +<p> +“Oh Ma! we never saw anything so wonderful +as these places, so don’t rush us away the moment +we get here,” cried Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“But, Dodo, what is there here to see but a lot +of wild greens, and poor people dressed in shawls +and petticoats?” complained Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“I ain’t saying a word, Ma, even if I can’t see +all the fine things the others seem to enjoy,” remarked +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243'></a>243</span> +Mr. Alexander. “But it <em>must</em> be here, +somewhere, so I’m hunting for it with might and +main.” +</p> +<p> +His wife merely turned up her educated nose +at his words, but refused to answer his earnest +request for further time in which to find the hidden +secret of his friends’ pleasure. +</p> +<p> +Having seen all that was possible of the beautiful +Islands of olden times, the tourists boarded a +steamer and sailed past Messina and Corsica, up +through the Gulf of Genoa, to the City of Genoa +where the two cars were awaiting them. +</p> +<p> +“My! I never was so glad to see a car in all +my life!” sighed Mrs. Alexander, eagerly examining +her roadster to see if it was in good condition +for the continuation of the tour. +</p> +<p> +“From Genoa we can travel along the Coast of +the Mediterranean and enjoy the drive to the utmost, +for we still have plenty of time to complete +our tour back to Paris, and meet Ashby when he +plans to be there,” said Mr. Fabian, as they got +into the two autos and prepared to start. +</p> +<p> +The touring car led the way, Mrs. Alexander +following, with Mrs. Fabian seated beside her. +Perhaps that lady might not have felt quite so +fearless with the chauffeur, if Mr. Fabian had not +said that the road was splendid and that there +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244'></a>244</span> +were no dangerous places for Mrs. Alexander to +run into. +</p> +<p> +They went through Savona, San Remo, and +stopped at Monte Carlo to visit the place and see +the famous gambling house. +</p> +<p> +“Ebeneezer, don’t you go to that wicked +house to play!” exclaimed Mrs. Alexander, after +they had refreshed themselves at the hotel and +were ready to walk about and see Monte Carlo. +</p> +<p> +“I woulden’ <em>think</em> of doing such a thing, Maggie, +with all these young girls to set an example +for,” returned the little man, with a serious tone. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t want to go in there, at all,” declared +Polly. +</p> +<p> +“It won’t hurt anyone to see it, Polly; they say +it is one of the most gorgeous places in the world. +The decorations and architecture are marvellous,” +added Eleanor. +</p> +<p> +“Well, but don’t let us go near the gaming-tables,” +Polly said, grudgingly. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, no, not one on us would think of such a +thing!” said Mr. Alexander, but he watched an +opportunity to make sure that a roll of money he +carried in his pocket, was still there. +</p> +<p> +They had done the outside of the place, admiring +the beautiful parks and the buildings, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245'></a>245</span> +then they thought they would have a peep inside, +at the halls and various rooms of the famous +house. +</p> +<p> +“Where’s Ebeneezer?” suddenly asked Mrs. +Alexander, as she trailed the others into the +Grand Reception Room. +</p> +<p> +“Why—he was here but a moment ago!” replied +Mr. Fabian, glancing around for the missing +man. +</p> +<p> +“Didn’t I tell you what a care he was? I always +have to keep him on a leash when I want +him to go, somewhere, with me. This is the same +trick he played on us at Brindisi—and almost +made us miss the boat,” complained the lady. +</p> +<p> +“He didn’t make <em>us</em> miss it, Ma, but he ’most +missed it himself,” laughed Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“But he did a fine deed for a poor human, which +goes to exonerate him for being so late. Maybe +he is helping someone, now,” remarked Mrs. Fabian, +who was sincerely proud of the little man’s +depth of character, even though he had never had +the polish and opportunities given other men. +</p> +<p> +“That’s what you-all think!” snapped Mrs. +Alexander. “I bet you’ll find him in the blackest +gambling den of all this awful place.” +</p> +<p> +“Ma, you wait right where you are, and Mr. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246'></a>246</span> +Fabian and I will find that awful place and tell +you if Pa is there,” said Dodo with a stern expression. +</p> +<p> +“What! Let you go in such a place? No indeed! +I’ll go with Mr. Fabian myself if <em>anyone</em> +has to go,” declared Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t want you to; you always nag at Pa +and if you start in in a crowd, I know just what +he’ll do. It is better for me to go with Mr. Fabian,—but +I don’t believe he’s there!” declared +Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“Perhaps Dodo is right, Mrs. Alexander. Let +us go while you remain quietly here with the +others,” said Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +So they hurried away, while the girls and the +ladies walked about, or sat down to watch the +lovely scene in the Park. The two had been gone +about ten minutes, when Mr. Alexander was seen +coming towards the group on the bench, but he +was not alone. A very pretty girl of about sixteen +years was with him. Dodo and Mr. Fabian +were nowhere in sight. +</p> +<p> +“Hello there, Maggie,” called out Mr. Alexander, +genially, as he came within speaking distance +of his wife. “I brought a ’Merican girl to +you-all, to take care of her as far as Nice. She +thought she was lost, but I soon showed her she +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247'></a>247</span> +was safe with us, until we landed her with her +folks.” +</p> +<p> +Everyone gazed at the well-dressed pretty girl +in surprise. It was evident from her red eyes +that she had been crying a short time before. But +Mr. Alexander said no more about the incident at +the moment, merely introducing his companion as +Genevieve Van Buren, of New York City. +</p> +<p> +“Where’s Dodo?” asked Mr. Alexander, suddenly +missing his daughter when he wished to introduce +her to the newcomer. +</p> +<p> +“She went with my husband,” hastily replied +Mrs. Fabian. “They’ll be back in a few minutes. +We are waiting for them, now.” +</p> +<p> +“Ebeneezer, where did you meet Miss Van +Buren?” questioned his wife, suspiciously. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, just outside that door, where we all went, +last,” returned the little man, indefinitely. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian and Dodo were now seen coming +out of the large building, and Mr. Alexander +glanced from them to his wife, with a knowing +twinkle in his eyes. Before anyone could say a +word to Dodo, he spoke: “Well, so you’ve been +wastin’ all <em>your</em> savings, too, eh?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh no! Mr. Fabian and I just wanted to see +what the place looked like. It is the most +gorgeous hall I ever saw, and Mr. Fabian says it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248'></a>248</span> +is well worth seeing. Why don’t you come and +have a look at it, Polly?” replied Dodo. +</p> +<p> +When she was introduced to the strange girl, +Dodo wondered how she came to join their party +but she said nothing. At last, Polly consented to +go and take a peep at the interior of the palace, +but Miss Van Buren preferred to remain on the +bench with Mr. Fabian, while Mr. Alexander escorted +the ladies. +</p> +<p> +“That homely little man is wonderful, isn’t +he?” asked Miss Van Buren, in a humble little +voice, when Mr. Fabian and she were quite alone. +</p> +<p> +“We think so. In fact, we like him so well +that we fail to notice any shortcomings.” +</p> +<p> +“I feel that I must tell someone what he did +for me, a few moments ago, although he was a +total stranger,” continued the girl, her chin +quivering. +</p> +<p> +“Were you both in the gambling hall?” was all +Mr. Fabian asked. +</p> +<p> +“No, but I had been there last night, and lost +all my money in gambling. Then I borrowed +some cash, from a woman, on my jewels, and lost +that money, too. I never played before, and it +was so terribly exciting that I put aside every +other thought but winning. +</p> +<p> +“The woman who had given me the money, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249'></a>249</span> +had been very nice to me, when she met me at +the hotel; she it was who invited me to go with +her to visit the palace, just for fun. But it ended +as such visits generally do,” the girl’s lovely blue +eyes filled with tears and she dabbed at them, +hurriedly. +</p> +<p> +“I was desperate, and wondered how I should +get back to the party with which I am touring +Europe. I had no money to pay my way to +Paris, and I had nothing of value left with which +I could get money. +</p> +<p> +“Mrs. Warburton who had been so kind, as I +thought, had just proposed paying my way to +Paris and keeping me at her hotel until my party +arrived to call for me, when that little man +walked slowly over and stood looking at both +of us.” +</p> +<p> +“‘Maybe you-all are an American?’ he asked +Mrs. Warburton. +</p> +<p> +“She lifted her head and looked insolently at +him. But she never said a word. Then he went +right on without caring how she looked. ‘I am +an old miner from the West. I’ve been in lots of +evil places, and seen all sorts of evil people, so I +know one when I see and hear ’em. I’ve heard +all you offered to this young girl, but I’ll go your +offer one better. She comes with my wife and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250'></a>250</span> +daughter and it won’t cost her a lifetime of +regrets.’” +</p> +<p> +The girl bowed her head and her slender form +shook with sobs. Mr. Fabian said nothing. He +was too amazed to say a word. +</p> +<p> +Finally the girl continued, but her head was +averted. “Something told me to trust that homely +little man so I looked at him and said, ‘I believe +you want to save me from some trouble?’ +</p> +<p> +“‘That’s what I do, little gal. Just as I would +want some one to help my daughter if she needed +help. Now tell me what’s all this about, and +maybe we can get down to brass tacks.’ He said +it just that way,” repeated Miss Van Buren, looking +up at Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +The gentleman smiled, and nodded understandingly. +</p> +<p> +“Well, he made that woman give up the jewels +and he paid her back the money for them, then +he said to her: ‘You ought to be thankful that +I am touring with a party, or sure as I am a man, +I’d hand you over to the police for what I know +you had planned in your evil mind.’ Then he +made me come away from her. +</p> +<p> +“When we were out of hearing he told me that +from his experience in mining-camps, and cities +where miners go to spend their earnings, he could +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251'></a>251</span> +tell that the woman was not right. He thinks she +actually led me <em>on</em> to gamble, to ruin my chances +of getting back to my friends.” +</p> +<p> +The innocent girl gazed at her companion, and +Mr. Fabian nodded his head understandingly, +without saying a word. Then she continued: +“But that is terribly wicked! Why do they permit +such things to happen here?” +</p> +<p> +“Why will people come here to visit the place +with the sole idea of going away with more money +than they came? They ought to know that all +this lavish expenditure and display has to be maintained, +and the money for that comes out of the +foolish gamesters who <em>always</em> lose at such tables,” +said Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“I suppose I was very silly to leave my friends +and come alone to Nice. They wanted me to go +with them, but I preferred this place to the Alps +and mountain climbing, so I agreed to meet them +at Paris, later. I said I was going to visit with +some friends at Nice, but I believed I could take +care of myself. Now I think differently.” +</p> +<p> +Her voice was so repentant and meek that Mr. +Fabian said: “Maybe this lesson will prove to +be the best one of your life. Let it teach you +that head-strong ways are always sure to end in +a pitfall. And remember, ‘that a wolf generally +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252'></a>252</span> +prowls about in sheep’s clothing to devour the innocent +lamb.’ Thank goodness that you escaped +the wolf—but thank Mr. Alexander for being that +goodness.” +</p> +<p> +The others returned, now, and as there was +nothing more to visit at Monte Carlo, they drove +on to Nice to spend the night. The girls found +Genevieve Van Buren a most congenial companion +and everyone showed a keen desire to befriend +her. +</p> +<p> +A telegram awaited her at Nice, and Mr. Alexander +had the satisfaction of reading it. Her +friends, to whom he had wired from Monte Carlo +when he heard Genevieve’s story, said they would +be at Paris the following day. +</p> +<p> +Before Mr. Fabian and his companions drove +away from Nice, they saw the repentant girl safely +on the train to Paris. +</p> +<p> +Having said good-by to Genevieve, the tourists +left Nice; they drove to Marseilles and the girls +visited several mills where famous textiles are +woven. +</p> +<p> +Cannes was the next place the cars passed +through, and then Aix was reached. Mr. Fabian +wished to stop long enough at this city, which was +founded B.C. 122 by a Roman named Sextius +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253'></a>253</span> +Calvinus, to show his students the ruins and historic +objects of antiquity. +</p> +<p> +At Avignon the tourists saw the famous bridge +and the many notable and ancient buildings—some +ruins having remained there since the town was +founded by the Phœnicians in 600 B.C. +</p> +<p> +They stopped over-night at Avignon, and early +in the morning, started cross-country for Bordeaux. +The roads were heavy and the travelling +slow, and they found it necessary to stop at the +peasants’ homes and ask, to make sure they were +on the right road. At several of these stops, Mr. +Fabian and the girls acquired some old bits of +pottery and porcelain which the poor people were +glad to sell, and the collectors were over-joyed to +buy. +</p> +<p> +All along the country route from Marseilles, +the women seen wore picturesque costumes, with +heavy wooden shoes on their feet. These shoes +were lined with sheep-skin to protect the instep +from bruises. The children playing about their +homes were scantily clothed, but their rosy faces +and plump little bodies spoke plainer than words, +that they were healthy and happy, and cared +naught for style. +</p> +<p> +Quite often, when the cars passed over a stream, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254'></a>254</span> +or ran along the banks of a river, the occupants +would see the peasant women washing linen in the +water. They knelt upon the bank, or upon a +stone near the shore, and beat the clothes with +sticks as the water flowed through the pieces. +The garments were rinsed out and then wrung, +before hanging upon the bushes nearby to dry. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander remarked: “Good for dealers +in white goods.” +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255'></a>255</span><a name='chXIV' id='chXIV'></a>CHAPTER XIV—A HIGHWAYMAN IN DISGUISE</h2> +<p> +The roads were so poor that it was impossible +to reach Bordeaux that evening, and Mr. Fabian +said it would be better to stop at a small Inn in +a village, should they find a promising one. Consequently +they decided that the clean little inn at +Agen would answer their needs that night. +</p> +<p> +The two cars were rolled under a shed at the +back, and the guests were shown to the low-ceiled +chambers with primitive accommodations. But +the supper was good, and the host a jolly fat man. +</p> +<p> +While the tourists were finishing their coffee, a +little bent man limped into the public room. He +had great hoops of gold in his ears, and his costume +was very picturesque. After he had been +given a glass of home-made wine, he sat down in +a corner and began playing softly on an +accordion. +</p> +<p> +He had a marvelous talent for this instrument, +and the girls crowded about him, listening intently. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256'></a>256</span> +Soon the host’s grown daughter came out +and danced a folk-dance, and then others danced +the old-time French dances. When the American +girls were called upon to add their quota to the +evening’s entertainment, they gladly complied. +</p> +<p> +Polly and Eleanor, Dodo and Nancy danced +the modern steps so popular with young folks of +the present day, and the peasants, watching +closely, laughed at what they considered awkward +and ridiculous gambols. But the dancing suddenly +ceased when a young man called upon the +musician to have his fortune told; he held out his +palm and waited to hear his future. +</p> +<p> +Fully two hours were spent in laughing at the +“fortunes” the old gipsy man told—for he was +one of the original Spanish gipsies, who had wandered +to the southern part of France and settled +there for life. +</p> +<p> +The girls giggled and reviewed their fortunes +that night long after they had retired. As they +had to occupy the two massive beds in one guest-room, +it gave them the better opportunity to talk +when they should have been fast asleep. +</p> +<p> +Finally they were ready to sleep and Polly was +about to snuff the candle before jumping into bed, +when Nancy suddenly whispered: “S—sh!” +</p> +<div class='figcenter' style='padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<a name='i004' id='i004'></a> +<img src="images/illus-256.jpg" alt="POLLY TIP-TOED TO THE WINDOW." title=""/><br /> +<span class='caption'>POLLY TIP-TOED TO THE WINDOW.</span> +</div> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257'></a>257</span></div> +<p> +The four sat up and strained their sense of +hearing. “I heard a queer noise just outside our +door,” whispered Nancy. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll tip-toe over and see who it is,” whispered +Polly, acting as she spoke. +</p> +<p> +“No—no! Don’t open the door! That gipsy +may be there,” cried Nancy, fearfully. +</p> +<p> +But another scratching sound under the low +window now drew all attention to that place. +Polly slowly tip-toed silently to the open window +and tried to peer out. The trees and vines made +the back of the garden shadowy and she could +not see if anyone were under the window, or trying +to get in somewhere else. +</p> +<p> +The other three girls now crept out of bed and +joined Polly at the window. They waited silently, +and were soon rewarded for their patience. +They distinctly heard voices almost under their +window, whispering carefully, so no one would +be awakened. +</p> +<p> +“I think we ought to rouse Daddy, or Mr. Alexander,” +said Nancy, trembling with apprehension. +</p> +<p> +“You run and tell your father, while I get Pa +out of bed,” said Dodo, groping about for her +negligee. +</p> +<p> +Meantime Polly and Eleanor watched so no one +could get in at their window, and the two other +girls ran across the hall to their parents’ rooms. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258'></a>258</span> +In a short time both Mr. Fabian and Mr. Alexander +came in and crept over to the window where +the girls had heard the burglars plotting. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian understood French so now he interpreted +what he overheard: “Drop the bundle +and I’ll catch it. Don’t make a noise, and be +careful not to overlook anything valuable.” +</p> +<p> +“Dear me! If they are burglars where is the +one who is told to drop a bundle? He must be +inside, somewhere!” whispered Dodo, excitedly. +</p> +<p> +There followed a mumbling that no one could +understand, and then a splash,—as if a bundle of +soft stuff had dropped into water from a height. +Immediately after this, the voice from below excitedly +spoke to the companion above: “——It +fell in the well! Now what is to be done?” +</p> +<p> +“Goody! Goody!” breathed Polly, eagerly, +when she heard how the burglars had defeated +their own purpose. +</p> +<p> +But no sound came from the other burglar who +was working indoors, and Mr. Alexander had an +idea which he suggested to Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“You go downstairs softly, while I scout +around up here and locate the room where the +helper is working. When I give a whistle it +means ‘I’ve got the other feller under hand’—then +you catch your man, red-handed, out in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259'></a>259</span> +garden, and the girls will rouse the house and we +will present our prisoners to the host.” +</p> +<p> +That sounded fine, so Mr. Alexander hurried +to his room for his western gun, and started out +to hunt up the indoor worker. Mrs. Alexander +realized that he was about to do something unusual, +or he never would have taken his big +revolver. +</p> +<p> +“Ebeneezer, what is wrong? Are we in danger +of being robbed?” +</p> +<p> +“I’m going to catch one before we can think if +there is any danger, for anyone,” said her husband, +going for the door. +</p> +<p> +“Listen, Ebeneezer! Don’t you go and risk your +life for that! You promised to take care of me +first! Let Mr. Fabian, or some of the Frenchmen +here, try and catch the man!” cried Mrs. Alexander, +hysterically, running after her spouse. +</p> +<p> +But the little man was spry and he was out of +the door and down the entry before his wife +reached the doorway. There was but one alternative +for her, and that was to go to the girls’ +room and pour her troubles forth into their ears. +</p> +<p> +But the four girls were too intent upon what +was going on to sympathize with Mrs. Alexander. +Dodo merely said, in reply to her mother’s complaints: +“Get into my bed, Ma, and pull the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260'></a>260</span> +covers over your head, if you’re so frightened.” +</p> +<p> +All this time, the man down in the garden was +directing his associate above, and at last the girls +indistinctly saw someone slowly descend, what +seemed to be a rope hanging close to the side of +the house. They held their breath and waited, +for Mr. Fabian surely must have reached the +garden by this time and would be ready to capture +the escaping thieves, before they could get away. +</p> +<p> +But a loud shouting and a great confusion in +the large public room drew their attention to the +upper hall, where they could hear what was going +on below. Mrs. Fabian joined her friends in the +entry at the head of the stairs and they heard the +host shout: +</p> +<p> +“So! You look like a decent gentleman and you +creep down here to take my living from me! +Shame, shame!” +</p> +<p> +Then to the horror of the girls, they heard Mr. +Fabian remonstrate volubly and try to explain +his reason for going about the place so stealthily. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Fabian rushed down the stairs, regardless +of her curl-papers and kimono, and the girls +followed closely upon her heels. Only Mrs. +Alexander remained upstairs under the bed-covers, +thinking discretion to be the better part of +valor. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261'></a>261</span> +</p> +<p> +The host and some other guests were surrounding +Mr. Fabian who tried to explain that Mr. +Alexander and he were following burglars who +were looting the place. The host smiled derisively, +and told his guest to prove what he said +was true. +</p> +<p> +Just then Mrs. Alexander screamed, and came +pell-mell down the stairs. “Oh, oh! A gipsy man +came out of the <em>girls’</em> room!” +</p> +<p> +Everyone ran upstairs to catch the trespasser, +but he was not to be found. Then a scuffle, and +confused shouts from the garden, reached the ears +of the crowd who stood wondering what next to +do. A clear shrill whistle echoed through the +place, and Mr. Fabian turned impatiently. +</p> +<p> +“Now you’ve spoiled the arrest of those two +burglars. I was to get the outside man when that +whistle sounded, to tell me that Mr. Alex had the +inside man safely in hand.” +</p> +<p> +But the shouting and whistling sounded more +confused on the garden-side of the house, so they +all ran downstairs again, and went out to assist +in any way they might. +</p> +<p> +Someone was hanging on to someone else who +clung for dear life to a thick vine that grew up the +side wall and over the roof of the inn. It was +this rope-like vine that the girls had mistaken for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262'></a>262</span> +a rope of escape for the thief. Mr. Alexander +was in the garden, trying to drag down the escaping +burglar, while that individual was trying to +climb back into the room whence he had recently +come. +</p> +<p> +Just as the others rushed out into the dark garden +to assist Mr. Alexander, another man appeared +at the upper window and caught hold of +his associate’s hands to pull him back to safety. +</p> +<p> +“Wait! I get my ladder!” shouted the host, +running for the shed. But a howl of rage, and +French curses tumbling pell-mell from him told +the others that he had gone headlong into a new +danger. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Fabian and the young man-waiter ran to +help the poor inn-keeper, and to their amazement +they found he had collided with Mrs. Alexander’s +roadster which was standing behind the bushes, +facing towards the road. +</p> +<p> +“I’ll turn on the lights, in a moment, and see if +all is right,” quickly said Mr. Fabian, jumping up +to start the engine. +</p> +<p> +Before he could switch on the lights, however, a +general shout of dismay came from the people assembled +under the window, and the three men ran +back to see what had happened. +</p> +<p> +The second-story windows were not more than +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263'></a>263</span> +eight feet above the garden at the rear, as the +ground sloped down gradually to the front of the +Inn. The first story was very low, too, so that +anyone could climb up at the rear without +difficulty. +</p> +<p> +When Mr. Fabian and his two companions +reached the scene under the windows, they found +three people rolling upon the ground in a tight +clutch. The man from the inside of the room +who had been finally pulled out and over the +ledge; the man who had clung to the vine, for +some reason or other, and the third man who had +stood at the bottom of the vine and hung on to +the climbing man’s heels. +</p> +<p> +From this mêlée of three, Mr. Alexander’s +voice sounded clear and threatening. A deep +bass voice gurgled as if in extremity, but the third +voice was shrill and hysterical and sounded like a +woman’s. +</p> +<p> +Lights were hurried to the spot, and the three +contestants were separated, then Mr. Alexander +had the satisfaction of turning to the inn-keeper +and saying: “I caught them both without help. +I saved your place from being robbed.” +</p> +<p> +But one of the two captured burglars sat down +on the grass and began to sob loudly. The host +seemed distracted for a moment, then tore off the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264'></a>264</span> +big soft hat the gypsy wore. Down came a tangle +of hair, and his daughter turned a dirt-streaked +face up at her furious father. +</p> +<p> +“What means this masquerading! And who is +the accomplice?” shouted he. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, father,” wailed the girl. “Pierre and I +were married at the Fête last week, but you would +not admit him to the house and I never could get +away, so we said we would <em>run</em> away together and +start a home elsewhere,” confessed the frightened +daughter. +</p> +<p> +Pierre stood by, trembling in fear of his father-in-law, +but when everyone realized that poor +Pierre was but trying to secure his bride’s personal +effects which she had tied in several bundles, +they felt sorry for the two. +</p> +<p> +It had been Pierre’s idea to dress Jeanne in a +gypsy’s garb that no one could recognize her when +they escaped, and it was Jeanne who suggested +that they use the roadster to carry all her effects, +and then Pierre could drive it back and leave it +near the inn without the owner’s knowledge. +</p> +<p> +The father led his two prisoners to the public-room +and the guests trailed behind them, wondering +at such an elaborate plan for escape when the +two had been married a week and might have +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265'></a>265</span> +walked out quietly without disturbing others, at +night. +</p> +<p> +In an open session of the parental court, the +inn-keeper was induced to forgive the culprits and +take the undesirable Pierre to his heart and home. +Then everyone smiled, and the waiter proposed +that the host open a bottle of his best old wine +to celebrate the reception of the married pair. +</p> +<p> +“Why did you object to the young man? He +looks like a good boy?” asked Mr. Fabian, when +the young pair were toasted and all had made +merry over the capture of the two. +</p> +<p> +“He has a farm four miles out, and I want a +son who will run this inn when I am too old. He +dislikes this business and I dislike farming. So +there you are!” explained the host. +</p> +<p> +“But you won’t have to work the farm,” argued +Mr. Fabian. “You have the inn and many +years of good health before you to enjoy it, and +they have the farm. I think the two will work +together, very nicely, for you can get all your +vegetables and eggs and butter from your daughter, +much cheaper than from strangers.” +</p> +<p> +“Ah yes! I never thought of that!” murmured +the inn-keeper, and a smile of satisfaction illumed +his heavy face. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_266'></a>266</span> +</p> +<p> +The next morning the young pair were in high +favor with the father, and he was telling his son-in-law +about various things he must raise on his +farm so that both families might save money. +</p> +<p> +Then the tourists drove away from Agen with +the inn-keeper’s blessings ringing in their ears, and +after a long tiresome drive they came to Bordeaux. +Various places of interest were visited in this city, +and the next day they drove on again. +</p> +<p> +Brittany, with its wealth of old chateaux, was +reached next, and time was spent prodigally, that +the girls might view the wonderful old places +where tourists were welcomed. +</p> +<h2><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267'></a>267</span><a name='chXV' id='chXV'></a>CHAPTER XV—AHOY! FOR THE STARS AND STRIPES AGAIN</h2> +<p> +Finally the tourists stopped at Nantes where +the famous edict of Henri the IVth was proclaimed +in 1598. Then they drove on to Angers, +with the old Chateau d’ Angers, built by Louis +IXth, about 1250. +</p> +<p> +They stopped over night at Angers and drove +to Saumur the next day, where several pieces of +rare old tapestry were seen in the ancient church +of St. Pierre. +</p> +<p> +That night they reached Tours where they +planned to stop, in order to make an early start +for Loches with its famous chateau. Adjoining +this chateau was a thousand-year-old church of +St. Ours which Mr. Fabian desired to show the +girls. +</p> +<p> +The old keeper of the church mentioned the +Chateau of Amboise which was only a short distance +further on the road and was said to be well +worth visiting. So they drove there and saw the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_268'></a>268</span> +chapel of St. Hubert which was built by Charles +the VIIth. Here lies buried the remains of +Leonardo da Vinci, the famous painter. +</p> +<p> +While at St. Hubert’s Chapel, the tourists +heard of still another ancient chateau of the 10th +century, which was but a few miles further on, +on the Loire. As this Chateau ’de Chaumont +was only open to visitors on certain days and +this day happened to be one of those days, they +visited the place. +</p> +<p> +“My gracious!” exclaimed Mr. Alexander, +when they came from the last ancient pile. “I’ll +be so glad to get back to Denver, where the oldest +house is only half a century old, that I won’t say +a word if you’ll agree to only use another precious +week lookin’ at these moldy old rocks and moss-back +roofs.” +</p> +<p> +His friends laughed, for they knew him well +by this time. Mrs. Alexander, however, was not +so thankful to go back to Denver, nor was she +willing to see any more old chateaux. So she +said: “Let’s drive on to Paris where we have so +much shopping to do.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh no, Ma. The keeper of that last chateau +told us there was the finest old place of all, a few +miles on, so we want to see that as long as we are +here,” said Dodo. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_269'></a>269</span> +</p> +<p> +“All right, then! You-all go on and see it, but +I’ll stay here,” declared Mrs. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“I don’t want to see any more ruins, Maggie, +so s’pose you and I drive in your car and let Dodo +drive the touring car to any old stone-heap they +want to visit,” said Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“All right, Ebeneezer. I honestly believe I’d +rather sit beside you, in my new car, than have to +limp around these old houses,” sighed Mrs. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +Her words were not very gracious, but her +spouse thought that, being her guest in the new +car, was better than having to wait for hours outside +a ruin. So Dodo drove her friends on to +the Chateau de Blois, and they inspected the old +place, then saw the famous stable that was built +to accommodate twelve hundred horses at one +time. +</p> +<p> +“Here we are, but a short distance from +Orleans—why not run over there and visit the +place, then drive back to Nantes to meet your +father and mother,” suggested Mr. Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“It seems too bad that we have to go all the +way back for them, when we are so near Paris, +now,” said Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, but we haven’t finished the most interesting +section of France, yet!” exclaimed Eleanor, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_270'></a>270</span> +who had been looking over Mr. Fabian’s road-map. +</p> +<p> +“In that case, I fear we will lose Ma for company,” +said Dodo, laughingly. “As we come +nearer Paris, she is more impatient to reach there. +She may suddenly take it into her head to let her +car skid along the road that leads away from us +and straight for Paris.” +</p> +<p> +From Nantes they drove straight on without +stopping until Caens was reached; Mr. Fabian +pointed out various places along the road, and +told of famous historical facts in connection with +them, but they did not visit any of the scenes. +</p> +<p> +Caen, with its old churches and quaint buildings, +was very interesting to the girls. Then at +Bayeaux they went to see the wonderful Bayeaux +tapestry which was wrought by Matilda and her +Ladies in Waiting in 1062. This tapestry is two +hundred and thirty feet long and twenty inches +wide, but it pictures the most marvellous historical +scenes ever reproduced in weaving. +</p> +<p> +From Bayeaux they went to Mont St. Michel +to see the eight hundred year-old monastery which +is so well preserved. Rouen, the capital of Normandy, +was the next stopping place on the +itinerary, and here they saw many ancient Norman +houses as well as churches. But the principal point +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_271'></a>271</span> +of interest for the girls, was the monument +in Rouen, erected to the memory of Joan +of Arc, who was burned to death for her faith. +</p> +<p> +The night they spent at Rouen, Mr. Alexander +had a serious talk with Mr. Fabian and his girls. +</p> +<p> +“You see, I want to please you-all, but Maggie +won’t stand for any more of this gallivantin’ +around old churches. I’m gettin’ awful tired of +it, myself, but then I don’t count much, anyway. +</p> +<p> +“Maggie says she’s goin’ right on to Paris, +whether you-all do so or not; and if I let her go +there alone, she’ll buy her head off with fine +clothes, and then Dodo and me won’t know what +to do to cart them all back to the States. So I +have to go with her in self-defense, you understand!” +</p> +<p> +They laughed at the worried expression on the +little man’s face, and Mr. Fabian said: “Well, +Mr. Alex, we are through sight-seeing for this +time, anyway, so we may as well run back to Paris +when you do.” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that’s good news! Almost as good as if +I won the first prize in the Louisanny Lottery!” +laughed Mr. Alexander, jocosely. +</p> +<p> +So they all drove to Paris, where Mr. Ashby +was to meet them, in a few days. As Mr. Alexander +deftly threaded the car in and out through +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_272'></a>272</span> +the congested traffic, he sighed and said: “I +never thought I’d be so glad to see this good-for-nothin’ +town again. But I’ve been so tossed and +torn tourin’ worst places, that even Paris looks +good to me, now.” +</p> +<p> +His friends laughed and his wife said: “Why, +it is the most wonderful city in the world! I am +going to enjoy myself all I can in the next three +days.” +</p> +<p> +“You’d better, Maggie! ’cause we are leavin’ +this wild town in just three days’ time!” declared +Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“Why—where are you going, then?” asked +Mrs. Alexander, surprised at her husband’s determined +tone. +</p> +<p> +“Straight back to Denver, as fast as a ship and +steam-cars will carry us!” +</p> +<p> +“Never! Why, Ebeneezer, I haven’t succeeded +in doing what I came over for,” argued Mrs. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“No, thank goodness; and Dodo says she’s +standin’ for a career now,” laughed Mr. Alexander. +“I agree with her, and she can start right +in this Fall to study Interior Decoratin’, if she +likes.” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander did not reply, and no one knew +what she thought of Dodo’s determination, but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_273'></a>273</span> +when all the shopping was done, and Mr. Ashby +met them at the hotel, she seemed as anxious as +the others, to start for home. +</p> +<p> +“We are to pick up Ruth and Mrs. Ashby at +Dover, you know,” said Mr. Ashby, when he concluded +his plans for the return home. +</p> +<p> +“Well, we have had a wonderful tour out of +this summer. I never dreamed there were so +many marvellous things to see, in Europe,” said +Polly. +</p> +<p> +That evening, several letters were handed to +the Fabian party, and among them was one for +Polly and another for Eleanor. Polly’s was +stamped “Oak Creek” and the hand-writing +looked a deal like Tom Larimer’s. But Eleanor’s +was from Denver and Dodo cried teasingly: +“Oh, I recognize Paul Stewart’s writing! It hasn’t +changed one bit since he was a boy and used to +send me silly notes at school.” +</p> +<p> +Eleanor laughed at that, but why should she +blush? Polly gazed thoughtfully at her, and decided +that Nolla must have no foolish love affair, +yet—not even with Paul Stewart! +</p> +<p> +Then Eleanor caught Polly’s eye and seemed to +comprehend what was passing through her mind. +She quickly rose to the occasion. +</p> +<p> +“Polly, if I confess that my letter is from Paul, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_274'></a>274</span> +will you own up that yours is from Tom—and +tell us the truth about the American Beauty +Roses?” +</p> +<p> +Polly became as crimson as the roses mentioned, +and sent her chum a look that should have annihilated +her. But Eleanor laughed. +</p> +<p> +That evening, as the merry party sat at dinner +in the gay Parisian dining-room, Mr. Alexander +suddenly sat up. His lower jaw dropped. He +was opposite a wall-mirror and in its reflection he +could see who came in at the door back of him. +</p> +<p> +He had been telling a funny incident of the tour +and had but half finished it, so his abrupt silence +caused everyone to look at him. His expression +then made the others turn and look at what had +made him forget his story. +</p> +<p> +In the doorway stood Count Chalmys, looking +around the room. Now his eyes reached the +American party at the round table and he smiled +delightedly. In another moment he was across +the room and bowing before the ladies. +</p> +<p> +Mr. Alexander grunted angrily and kept his +eyes upon his plate. He never wanted to see another +man who had a title! But his wife made +amends for his apparent disregard for conventions. +She made room beside herself and insisted +that the Count sit down and dine. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_275'></a>275</span> +</p> +<p> +“I never had a pleasanter surprise,” said he. +“I expected to see the Marquis here, but I find +my dear American friends, instead.” +</p> +<p> +“Humph! What play are you acting in now, +Count?” asked Mr. Alexander, shortly. +</p> +<p> +“That’s what brought me to Paris. I was to +meet the Marquis here, and we both were to sail +from Havre, day after tomorrow. We have accepted +a long engagement with a leading picture +company in California, so I am to go across, at +once,” explained the Count, nothing daunted by +Mr. Alexander’s tone and aggressive manner. +</p> +<p> +“Oh really! How perfectly lovely for us all!” +exclaimed Mrs. Alexander, clasping her hands in +joy. +</p> +<p> +Then she turned to her daughter who seemed +not to be giving as much attention to the illustrious +addition to the party, as Mrs. Alexander thought +proper. +</p> +<p> +“Dodo, <em>must</em> you talk such nonsense with Polly +when our dear Count is with us and, most likely, +has wonderful things to tell us of his adventures +since last we saw him at his beautiful palace?” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, I beg your pardon, Ma, but I didn’t know +the Count had said anything to me,” hastily returned +Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“I really haven’t, as yet, Miss Alexander, but +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_276'></a>276</span> +there is every symptom that something is being +mulled over in my brain,” was the merry retort +from the Count. +</p> +<p> +“All the same, Dodo, I want you to give attention +to the dear Count, now that he is with us, +once more,” said Mrs. Alexander, with such dignity +as would suit the mother-in-law of a Count. +</p> +<p> +“Aye, aye, Sir!” laughed the irrepressible +Dodo, bringing her right hand to her forehead in +a military salute. +</p> +<p> +“I joined the party, just now, merely to share a +very felicitous secret with you. One that I feel +sure you will all be pleased to hear. Perhaps the +three young ladies in the group will be more interested +in my secret than the matrons,” ventured +Count Chalmys, with charming self-consciousness. +</p> +<p> +Instantly, Mrs. Alexander interpreted the secret +as one that meant success to her strenuous +endeavors to find a “title” for her daughter. She +had heard that foreign nobility made no secret of +love or proposals, but spoke to interested friends +of intentions to marry, even before the young +woman had been told or had accepted a proposal +of marriage. This, then, must be what Count +Chalmys was about to tell them. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, my <em>dear</em> Count! Before you share that +secret with every one, especially while the children +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_277'></a>277</span> +are present, wouldn’t you just as soon wait and +have a private little chat with me?” gushed Mrs. +Alexander, tapping him fondly on the cheek with +her feather fan. +</p> +<p> +The Count stared at her in perplexity for he +was not following her mood, nor did he give one +fleeting thought to such foolishness as she endowed +him with entertaining. +</p> +<p> +“<em>You</em> know, my dear Count! I am speaking +of certain little personal matters regarding settlements +and such like, which I only can discuss with +you, satisfactorily. After that, you can confide +in the others, if you like. However, I should +think you would speak to the one most concerned, +before you mention it in public.” Mrs. Alexander +spoke in confidential tones meant only for +the Count’s ear. +</p> +<p> +“My dear lady! I haven’t the slightest idea +what you mean. I was only going to tell my +good friends, here, that——” +</p> +<p> +“Yes, yes! I know what you were going to say, +<em>dear</em> Count,” hastily interrupted Mrs. Alexander, +“but allow me to advise you: Say nothing until +after I have had a private talk with you. I am +sure Dodo will look at things very differently +after I have had time to get your view-points and +then tell them to her.” +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_278'></a>278</span> +</p> +<p> +Count Chalmys began to receive light on the +hitherto unenlightening advices from the earnest +lady. He now had difficulty in hiding a broad +smile. But Mrs. Alexander paid no heed to him. +</p> +<p> +“You see, Count dear, we shall have several +wonderful days on this trip across, in which you +can make the best of your opportunities with +Dodo, but really, I think it wise to consult with me +first.” +</p> +<p> +“My dear Mrs. Alexander! won’t you permit +me to explain myself, before you go deeper into +this problem from which you will have chagrin in +finding a pleasant way out?” asked the Count. +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander gazed at him in frowning perplexity. +“What is the happy secret you wished +to share with us, if it is not your intention to propose +to one of the young ladies in our party?” +</p> +<p> +“I am to have a third member in my party, +this trip, although she is not one of the company +in California,” said the Count, smilingly. “I +mean the pretty girl who played in the picture in +Venice. We were married last week, and having +settled all matters at Chalmys and leased the place +for a term, we will remain in the United States +for a long time.” +</p> +<p> +At this unexpected information, Mrs Alexander +almost swooned, but her husband seemed to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_279'></a>279</span> +change his manners as quickly as if they were old +clothes. He smiled cordially at the Count and +suggested a toast to his bride—but the toast was +given with Ginger Ale. +</p> +<p> +That evening the Count introduced his Countess, +and Mrs. Alexander gritted her teeth in impotent +rage. “Oh, how nearly had she plucked +this prize for Dodo, and now he had married a +plain little actress!” thought she. +</p> +<p> +But she never knew that the Count had been +attentive to his lady-love for three years before +Mrs. Alexander ever met him. Had it not been +for the heavy debts of his Italian Estate, he would +never have delayed his proposal. Even as it was, +he found happiness to be more important in life +than wealth and a palace. +</p> +<p> +The young countess was very pretty and +promised to be a welcome addition to the group +of young folks. Polly, Eleanor and Dodo liked +her immensely, from the moment they saw her +charming smile as she acknowledged the introductions. +Evidently she was very glad to find a number +of young Americans of her own age with +whom she could associate on the trip across the +Atlantic. +</p> +<p> +Everyone but Mrs. Alexander, made the young +couple feel very much at ease. Ebeneezer Alexander +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_280'></a>280</span> +saw and understood his wife’s aloofness +and straightway he decided to speak a bit of his +mind to her as soon as they were in the shelter of +their own suite at the hotel. +</p> +<p> +“Now, lem’me tell you what, Maggie! I ain’t +goin’ to have you actin’ like all get-out, just because +Chalmys went and married the gal he loved, +disappointin’ you, thereby. Even if he had gone +your way of plannin’, and ast Dodo to marry him, +I’d have to say ‘NO!’ He’s saved me from +hurtin’ his feelin’s, see?” +</p> +<p> +Mrs. Alexander tried to stare her insignificant +lord into silence, but the little man had found his +metal while traveling with appreciative people, +and he was not to be downed any more by mere +looks and empty words from his wife. +</p> +<p> +“Yeh! you kin sit there and stare all you like +but stares don’t hurt and they ain’t changin’ the +case, at all. Dodo wasn’t a-goin’ to marry no +one, not even if you cried your head off for it, +’cause she’s made up her mind to try out decoratin’ +for a time. So you jest watch your p’s and +q’s when you’re mixin’ in with the Chalmys; and +don’t show your ignerence of perlite society by +actin’ upish and jealous as a cat.” +</p> +<p> +Whether this sound advice actually had its effect +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_281'></a>281</span> +upon Mrs. Alexander, or whether she forgot her +chagrin, it is hard to say; but at all events, she +smiled sweetly upon the Chalmys the next time she +met them. +</p> +<p> +A few days later, the steamer stopped at Dover +and Mr. Ashby was delighted to have his wife +and Ruth with him again. +</p> +<p> +They were several days out, when Mrs. Alexander +realized that Count Chalmys was only an +ordinary mortal! She thought over this revelation +for a time, and finally remarked to Dodo and +the others: “I am so glad the Count didn’t fall +in love with Dodo. The little dear would never +have been happy with him.” +</p> +<p> +“When did you discover that fact, Maggie?” +asked her husband, quizzically. +</p> +<p> +“Why, a long time ago. I was so disgusted +with folks who claim a title, and then turn out to +be factory men like that Osgood family. And +now this Count is nothing but a play-actor! +Dodo will be far better off if she falls in love with +a first-class American, say I!” +</p> +<p> +“Hurrah, Maggie! You’ve opened your eyes +at last!” cried little Mr. Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“But you will be made still happier, Ma, to hear +that I am in love, now!” declared Dodo, teasingly. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_282'></a>282</span> +</p> +<p> +“What! Who is he?” demanded her mother. +</p> +<p> +“Ask Eleanor and Polly. They introduced me +to my future lord,” giggled Dodo. +</p> +<p> +“Oh, she means her career, Mrs. Alex,” said +Polly. +</p> +<p> + “Oh, Dodo!” wailed her mother. “You won’t +go to work, will you, when your father’s worth a +million dollars?” +</p> +<p> +“All the more reason for it! I’m going to +marry a profession, just as Polly and Eleanor are, +and we three are going to be the most famous +decorators in the world.” +</p> +<p> +“And I am goin’ to build a swell mansion in +New York and turn the contract for fixin’s, over +to these three partners!” declared little Mr. +Alexander. +</p> +<p> +That trip across the Atlantic was a merry one +for the girls, for the “Marquis” and his friend, +aided by the Count and the young Countess, were +a never failing source of entertainment for all. +They mimicked and acted, whenever occasion +offered, so that there was no time for dull care or +monotony. +</p> +<p> +While abroad, the Count had secured a small +motion picture outfit; this was brought out and +several amusing pictures made on the steamer. +They were hastily developed and printed and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_283'></a>283</span> +shown at night, to the passengers. It proved to +be very interesting to see one’s self on the screen, +acting and looking so very differently than one +imagines himself to act and look. +</p> +<p> +After the second attempt at this form of amusement, +Polly made a suggestion. +</p> +<p> +“Wouldn’t it be heaps of fun if each one of us +were to go away, alone, and write a chapter of +a story for the Count to film. It will be a regular +hodge-podge!” +</p> +<p> +“Oh, that’s great!” exclaimed Eleanor, eagerly. +</p> +<p> +The others seemed to think it would be entertaining, +too, so the Count gave them a few important +advices to note. +</p> +<p> +“Let us decide upon the characters, the plot, +and the place, of the scenario; then each one +write out a condensed chapter, or reel, of the play. +Follow these directions. Write your story in continuity; +leave out all adjectives, but give us action +as expressed by verbs; do not write more than +two hundred words in a reel, or chapter. If you +find you have more than that in your part of the +programme, you’ll have to cut it down. And let +each one remember to keep her personal work a +profound secret. That will insure a surprise +when the whole picture is reeled off. +</p> +<p> +“Now, Miss Polly, you start the scenario, will +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_284'></a>284</span> +you, and give us the first act, or reel. Then Miss +Nolla will do the second act, or reel; Miss Ruth, +the third; Miss Dodo, the fourth, Miss Fabian +the fifth, and my wife can wind up the play, or +picture, by writing the final reel. Any questions?” +</p> +<p> +“Who are the characters?” asked Polly, laughingly. +</p> +<p> +“Why, ourselves, of course. Because we must +act in the photoplay, you see, in lieu of other performers. +For instance, we will choose Miss +Polly as the star lead, Janet Schuyler, in the play; +Miss Nolla will be the vamp, Lois Miller, who is +jealous of the lovely and prominent society girl; +Miss Dodo will be the reporter, Miss Johnson, +on a big daily paper who writes up the story for +her paper; Miss Ruth can be the hard-working +shop-girl, Esther Brown, who is made a scapegoat +in the case. Miss Nancy could be the head +of the department in the store, Miss Buskin, to +whom the trouble is referred for adjustment; +Alec will be the floor-walker and the Marquis can +be the young man Reginald Deane—unless Miss +Polly is too particular about her beaux.” +</p> +<p> +This brought forth a laugh at Polly’s expense. +</p> +<p> +“Mr. Ashby ought to make a good father for +the society girl, and Mr. Alexander will make a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_285'></a>285</span> +good man to adjust the lighting apparatus. I will +need the artistic help of Mr. Fabian in directing +the scenes while I have charge of the camera. +Now, any more questions, before you go away to +start your writing?” +</p> +<p> +The Count was greatly interested in this plan +for fun and, finding there were too many questions +instantly poured out for him to answer, he made +a suggestion. +</p> +<p> +“Each one go and do the best you can, then +come to me if you find any snags too hard to remove +from your literary pathway. I will have to +go over each reel, anyway, when the whole is +done.” +</p> +<p> +For the rest of that morning, no one saw nor +heard of either of the young people, but at +luncheon, there was such a babel of voices that +Mr. Fabian rapped upon the table and called all +to order. +</p> +<p> +“Hear, hear! The camera-man wishes to say +a word!” laughed the Count. +</p> +<p> +There was instant silence. +</p> +<p> +“I have been handed three chapters of the +scenario and I wish to say, if the other three are +as good as the first ones, we will have a thriller. +In the words of the publicity man, we shall produce +a ‘gripping, heart-melting drama of unprecedented greatness +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_286'></a>286</span> +and magnificence.’ For +quintessence of perfection in pictures, this latest +production of ours promises to ‘skin ’em’ all to +the bone.’ Fellow-craftsmen! Go back to your +work as soon as this bit of sustenance for the inner +man is over, and dream of the success your pen is +bound to win!—the glory and honor about to rest +upon your noble brows for achieving such a great +thing as the breathless, throbbing, soul-moving, +passionate story of ‘Gladys the Shop-Girl’!” +</p> +<p> +The amateur play-wrights laughed merrily at +their manager’s comment upon their dramatic +work, but they lost no time in gossiping at the +table, that noon. Before the dessert had been +served, the girls excused themselves and ran back +to their work. +</p> +<p> +That evening all efforts were in Count Chalmys’ +hands and he was besieged for a report on +the progress of the drama. He sent out word +that he was to be left absolutely in peace for an +hour and then he would appear with the hinged +together chapters of a six-reel play. +</p> +<p> +After dinner, that night, a curious and impatient +group of authors sat in one of the smaller +saloons, watching the Count assemble the pages +of the scenario. He had actually typed them on +his folding typewriter and now came across the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_287'></a>287</span> +room, smiling encouragingly upon his company. +</p> +<p> +“Well, we haven’t such a tame play as everyone +thought we would be sure to produce. All +told, you will find the six reels fit in pretty good, +one to the other, in continuity, but I shall have to +exchange the chapters by Nolla and Dodo, as to +priority. ‘Now listen, my children, and you shall +hear’ etc.—you know the rest!” The Count +laughed as he sat down. +</p> +<p> +“A-hem!” he cleared his throat as a starter. +“The name of the play has been suggested by six +writers, so I will have to have the title chosen by +vote. A closed poll, probably, to avoid the usual +fight in politics. First title: +</p> +<p> +“‘Life’s Thorny Road.’ This was submitted +by Ruth Ashby. +</p> +<p> +“‘The Great Secret,’ is the second title, given +by Nolla. +</p> +<p> +“‘His Easy Conquest,’ is third, submitted by +Rose Chalmys. +</p> +<p> +“‘Her Friend’s Husband,’ is one suggested by +Dodo Alexander. +</p> +<p> +“‘Greatest Thing on Earth,’ is given us by +Nancy Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“‘Just a Nobody,’ is the one suggested by +Polly Brewster. Now, friends, which of these +titles do you think will draw the largest crowds +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_288'></a>288</span> +and make the production a certain success,—financially, +of course. That is all the corporations +care about, you know.” +</p> +<p> +Count Chalmys smiled as he noted the faces in +the semi-circle about him. Then Mr. Fabian +spoke. +</p> +<p> +“Will you have to take a vote on that? I believe +we can decide the question without going to +all the trouble of having a box and officers to +guard the voting.” +</p> +<p> +“How many are in favor of voting by a standing +vote?” called the Count. Every hand went +up. +</p> +<p> +“All right. Now, then, when I call off the +different titles as they come in order, those in +favor of said title please rise and remain standing +until we can count.” +</p> +<p> +The suggestion of there being any work attached +to the counting of one or two voters caused +a ripple of merriment from the small group. +</p> +<p> +“How many favor title one, ‘Life’s Thorny +Road’?” +</p> +<p> +Mr. and Mrs. Ashby stood up. Not even +Ruth favored her own work but her doting parents +did. This caused a general laugh at their expense +and so they seated themselves, again. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_289'></a>289</span> +</p> +<p> +“Who favors the second, ‘The Great Secret’?” +asked the amateur manager. +</p> +<p> +Nolla had faith in herself, and so had Polly. +But two votes could not carry the day, and they +sat down again. +</p> +<p> +“Well, how about ‘His Easy Conquest’? +Who wants that?” +</p> +<p> +No one stood up at this title, and every one +laughed at the Countess; she laughed more merrily +than the others. +</p> +<p> +“Next comes, ‘Her Friend’s Husband’—by +Dodo Alexander.” +</p> +<p> +Dodo’s father and Polly voted for this title, +but they were over-ruled by the others. +</p> +<p> +“‘Greatest Thing on Earth,’ by Miss Fabian—how +about that?” +</p> +<p> +No one stirred at that invitation to vote, and +the Count laughingly remarked, “Your talent is +not appreciated, Miss Fabian. +</p> +<p> +“This is the last one, friends, and we have not +yet had a majority of voters decide upon one of +the others so you must be waiting for this one! +Now, who wants ‘Just a Nobody’?” +</p> +<p> +At this, everyone but Polly stood up, and without +further ado the manager acclaimed Polly’s +title as the prize-winner. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_290'></a>290</span> +</p> +<p> +“All right, then; the photo-drama about to be +played will be called ‘Just a Nobody,’ title by Miss +Polly Brewster; directed by Professor Fabian; assisted +by Mr. Alexander; Camera-man, Chalmys, +etc., etc.” +</p> +<p> +The very select audience laughed at the Count’s +mimicry of all the first-snaps of a feature play, in +which every one is mentioned, even the pet cat or +canary which stood near when the reels were run +off. +</p> +<p> +“Now for the gist of this whole thing—the +story. I will open the picture by reading from +Polly Brewster’s chapter. +</p> +<p> +“‘Janet Schuyler was a regulation young debutante +in New York’s social circle—snobbish, +arrogant, vain. Young admirer worth millions, +not in love with her, but nearing that fatal crisis. +Janet’s mother, usual social aspirant for daughter,—father +reverse of such qualities. Scene in large +department store, Janet accuses meek young saleswoman +of taking her purse which had been placed +on counter a moment before. Girl, frightened, +denies the charge. Mrs. Schuyler creates scene—buyer +of the department hurries to scene to defend +girl. Mrs. S— demands floor-walker to take girl +to dressing room and search her for purse. Being +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_291'></a>291</span> +prominent charge-customer, Mrs S— has her +way, and weeping Esther is forced to small sideroom +to be ignominiously disrobed and carefully +searched. +</p> +<p> +“‘At counter young vamp who stood near Janet +Schuyler, leaves hurriedly and is about to make +for the door when a bright-looking young woman +placed detaining hand upon her arm. Vamp is +persuaded to step to a corner of the store and +answer questions, because she mistook woman for +private store detective. Young woman, who is a +reporter, takes notes of moment, then says peremptorily: +‘Hand over that purse or you’ll get +more than you want!’ Vamp registers personal +affront! Acts indignant. Reporter laughs, insists +upon having purse. Vamp angry, threatens +the law if she is detained. Reporter now ill at +ease and lets vamp go. Hurries back to counter +where Esther arrives, followed by gesticulating +accuser and her daughter. Floor-walker promises +to search further but insists that accused girl was +innocent of the theft. +</p> +<p> +“‘Mrs. S— and daughter turn to leave store +when reporter accosts them and hands them her +card. Says she will write up this negligence of +the authorities in a high-class shop. Mrs. S— decides +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_292'></a>292</span> +to punish the firm for their carelessness +and tells the reporter what she believes to be the +truth—purse was stolen by girl. +</p> +<p> +“‘Miss Johnson, the young reporter, knows +better than this, but assents with lady. She determines +to have a talk with Esther and find out +whether, or no, she saw the beaded purse claimed +to have been stolen. +</p> +<p> +“‘Esther tells how Miss S— fumbled over +many boxes of lace and then said to her mother: +‘Wait here—I’ll go across to the opposite counter +and look at that net before I decide.’ Then +the society girl turned her back and stooped over +the display of net and beaded trimming. No +clerk was near to wait on her, and the girl at the +lace-counter was called upon to serve another customer, +and that kept her from watching Janet +Schuyler.’” +</p> +<p> +This ended Polly’s allotment of words in the +scenario, and then the Count announced, “I will +proceed to read Dodo’s story because it fits in here +better than elsewhere in the script. +</p> +<p> +“‘Pretty little shop-girl, while waiting for customer, +has visions of comfortable home back on +the farm. (Show scene of girl in rural life, walking +home from district school-house with handsome +lad of fourteen—evidently admirer.) +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_293'></a>293</span> +Esther sighs, as she remembers the day Reggie’s +father moved from the village to go to Texas to +raise cattle. She had never heard again from +Reggie, and believes he has forgotten her entirely. +</p> +<p> +“‘Then comes Mrs. Schuyler and her daughter +to look at laces. Esther overhears society girl +plan dress for conquest of young man, then hears +mother mention name of Deane—and tells +daughter she must capture such a prize as the +heir to his father’s millions in oil-lands of the +South-west. Esther, excited, is about to ask the +two haughty ladies for Reginald Deane’s city address, +when the floor-walker frowns upon her and +thus ends her attempt to secure the desired information. +</p> +<p> +“‘A young lady, waiting for her turn, watches +the two rich customers and when they have gone +she speaks to the shop-girl. ‘Who are they?’ +Esther explains by showing name of charge account +and address. ‘Well, I have my own +opinion of them. I think they are nobodies, if +you ask me. I’ve seen so many climbers that I +can spot them at once.’ +</p> +<p> +“‘This opens a pleasant chat between the girl +and the young journalist, Esther speaking of Reginald +Deane, and Miss Johnson giving Esther her +card and asking her to come in some evening +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_294'></a>294</span> +when she has nothing better to do. Esther +promises and watches while Miss Johnson leaves. +</p> +<p> +“‘That evening, in her meagre little room, +Esther takes up the card again, and dreams of an +evening in the near future when she shall meet the +pleasant young woman, again. +</p> +<p> +“‘Few days later—Esther receives invitation to +small party at Miss Johnson’s bachelor apartment, +and is duly elated over the event. Dresses in her +best frock, which is simple voile, home-made, and +starts out. Miss Johnson has two other young +women and four young men present, when Esther +arrives and is introduced. One of the men gazes +intently at her, during the evening, then whispers +to his hostess, ‘That girl reminds me of someone I +know or have seen, and I can’t place her.’ Miss +Johnson gives him Esther’s history, and he exclaims +‘That’s it! She’s the school-girl my friend +talks about—he has a picture of her taken years +ago when he lived in the country.’ +</p> +<p> +“‘Miss Johnson calls to Esther and tells her the +news and the girl is thrilled at hearing where she +can find Reginald, and then the young man +promises to bring him soon, to see Esther. +Esther walks home with William Stratford that +night, talking of nothing but Reggie and their +schooldays. But she is not aware of Reggie’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_295'></a>295</span> +inheritance of millions of dollars’ worth of oil-wells.’ +</p> +<p> +“The third installment by Ruth Ashby, works +in here, all right, so I will read it,” announced the +Count, and continued his reading. +</p> +<p> +“‘Miss Schuyler was giving a ball. Her new +evening costume had not yet arrived from the exclusive +importers on Fifth Avenue and she was +storming around the house, driving everyone insane +with her complaints against the Frenchman. +</p> +<p> +“‘The doorbell rang, Miss S— waited in the +front hall to see if it might be a messenger with +the gown. When she spied a meek little face +peering over the great box, she called insolently, +‘Bring her right in here, James. I want to give +her a piece of my mind for dallying this way!’ +</p> +<p> +“‘Frightened little Esther tip-toed across the rich +rug and waited to be told to open the box and +remove the gorgeous gown. She obeyed with +trembling fingers, kneeling upon the floor in order +to undo the knot of twine. As she did so, a young +man entered the front door and was told that +Miss Janet was in the small reception room. He +started for that room without waiting to be announced. +</p> +<p> +“‘The moment Janet saw the much desired +young heir of millions, standing in the doorway, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_296'></a>296</span> +she hastily commanded the girl to stop removing +the gown, for she did not wish to have her caller +see the dress before the proper time that evening. +</p> +<p> +“‘Janet Schuyler went forward to speak to the +young man and Esther sat back to rest and see +who had interrupted the scene between herself +and the society girl. She was astounded to find +that the young man was no other than her old +school-mate, Reginald Deane, whom she had not +heard of since they were children at school. +</p> +<p> +“‘The moment Reginald recognized Esther, he +ran forward and showed how delighted he was to +meet her once more. He paid no heed to her +shabby dress or meek behavior, but turned to introduce +her to his young hostess. When he saw +the expression of scorn and hauteur on Janet’s face +he realized that she was not the sort of a girl he +cared to have for a wife, so he helped Esther to +her feet and said politely to Janet, ‘I will bid you +good-afternoon, as I now have to escort my dear +old friend to her home.’ +</p> +<p> +“‘Then the two went out leaving the haughty +miss in a fury.’” +</p> +<p> +As the Count ended Ruth’s chapter, there were +smiles on the faces of the audience, for it sounded +exactly like Ruth—a genuine Cinderella Chapter. +</p> +<p> +“Now I will read the next installment, written +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_297'></a>297</span> +by Miss Fabian. I shall have to edit more of +this chapter in order to hinge it on to the preceding +one,” explained the Count. +</p> +<p> +“‘Lois Miller was not a vamp by choice but by +force of circumstances. She was so pretty that +she had found it difficult to secure a position as +saleslady in a store, for the reason that the other +girls generally got jealous of the attention paid +her. When she was offered a minor part in a +Chorus on the stage, she accepted, although the +salary was no more than enough to pay her room +rent and scanty meals. For clothes to keep up +appearances she had to rely on her wit and ability +to make over things. +</p> +<p> +“‘By chance, she happened to be in the large +store just when Janet Schuyler and her mother +were shopping there. Then she overheard Mrs. +Schuyler command the little saleslady, Esther +Brown, to send the lace for her daughter’s evening +gown with special messenger. The address +was given, and the two society ladies left the shop. +Lois really had nothing to buy but she was killing +time in the shops, hoping to gain some information +that might give her a chance to earn some +extra money. +</p> +<p> +“‘She pondered over the name and address of +the obviously rich ladies, then decided to try for a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_298'></a>298</span> +position, as companion, because the wretched life +of an underpaid chorus girl was palling on her. +As she turned to leave the shop, she found a +bright-eyed young woman watching her. Instantly +she thought of the private detective, but +she was innocent of crime and she gave back the +look with interest added. +</p> +<p> +“‘As she went out she realized she was being +followed, so she turned and said: Well, what +do you want?’ +</p> +<p> +“‘“Aren’t you Lois Miller? Used to be stenographer +at the office of <em>The Earth</em>?” asked the +woman. +</p> +<p> +“‘“Sure thing! But that was ages ago,” retorted +Lois. +</p> +<p> +“‘“I knew you there. I was just breaking in. +What are you doing, now, Lois? I’ve got something +to unravel.” +</p> +<p> +“‘Before she knew it, Lois was commandeered +to follow the shop-girl, Esther Brown, and find +out all about her, as the reporter had heard of +a reward of $500 offered for news of the girl described, +who came from New Hampshire. Miss +Johnson agreed to go fifty-fifty with Lois if the +shop-girl turned out to be the one they were looking +for. +</p> +<p> +“‘That is how Esther Brown met her rich husband and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_299'></a>299</span> +how Janet Schuyler lost a rich young +admirer, and how Miss Johnson won not only the +reward Reginald paid, but also had a fine story +for her paper; and Lois Miller earned enough +money to fit herself out in decent clothes and pay +her arrears of room-rent and board.’ +</p> +<p> +“Now comes the final reel, as written by Rose +Chalmys,” said the Count, waiting until the merriment +over the various phases of Janet and Esther’s +reel life had subsided; then he continued: +</p> +<p> +“‘Janet Schuyler, being under heavy obligations +to the shop-girl for having saved her life from +the hold-up men in the park, remembered how she +had snubbed the meek girl in the store, and had +caused her to be reprimanded by the head of the +department. +</p> +<p> +“‘“I want you to come home with me, and receive +my mother’s thanks and my father’s reward +for your bravery in defending me,” said Janet, +finally. +</p> +<p> +“‘“I do not wish any reward for what I did, and +your thanks are quite sufficient,” murmured Esther. +</p> +<p> +“‘The two girls walked along the street leading +to the Schuyler home, however, and just before +they reached the place, a sporty car drew up to +the curb and stopped suddenly. A young man +sprang out and ran over to greet Janet Schuyler. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_300'></a>300</span> +She was delighted to see Reginald Deane, after +the long months he had been away from the city, +but Deane could not take his eyes from Janet’s +companion. It was her place to introduce the girl +with her, yet she could not humble her pride to +accept a salesgirl as her equal, and this she would +do if she introduced her. Reginald ended the +doubt. +</p> +<p> +“‘“Aren’t you Esther Brown?” And the girl +smiled as she replied, “And you are Reggie Deane, +aren’t you?” +</p> +<p> +“‘Janet was forgotten after that, for the two +who had been beaus in schooldays and had never +heard from each other since Deane went to Texas +with his family, were so engrossed with each +other. +</p> +<p> +“‘Janet made the best of a bad bargain and invited +both the young people to her home, but +Esther pleaded her lack of time, and Deane +offered to see Esther to her home. Thus ended +Janet’s dream of capturing the richest young oil-financier +in the country.’“ +</p> +<p> +The young authors considered their work to be +par-excellence, but the adults in the audience forbore +to render an opinion. +</p> +<p> +“Of course, I shall have to edit, somewhat, but +I think we may look forward to having a very +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_301'></a>301</span> +successful run of this picture,” announced the +Count, very seriously. “One important item is +fortunate for the company—that is, we need not +have costly costumes, nor scenes of Court Life in +Europe. Our little play is simple to stage and +inexpensive in production. +</p> +<p> +“Now I will retire to the Studio and edit the +scenario, but I wish all the actors to be on time +at the casting room at ten o’clock, sharp, tomorrow. +Besides the star leads, I may need extras, +so I would suggest that any one desiring a +part in this great melodrama, to report to me +when we meet at the Studio.” The Count looked +at the adults as he spoke, and they smilingly accepted +the invitation to be on hand to act as +supers, in case of need. +</p> +<p> +Well, the six-reel production went on apace, +and on the last night of the voyage, the photo-drama +was presented to a crowded salon. It had +been suddenly decided to charge an entrance fee +of a dollar each and devote the proceeds to +charity. This detracted not a whit from the +entertainment, but rather added to it. +</p> +<p> +Many a laugh echoed through that salon, at the +pathetic scenes in the story, because of the amateur +acting of the stars. In fact, the vamp was +so full of mischief while playing the heart-stirring +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_302'></a>302</span> +drama of her life when she was hungry and without +a home, that the “pathos” acted upon the +audience as if it had been comedy. +</p> +<p> +The “Marquis” as Reggie Deane, made not +reel, but real, love to Esther Brown in the picture; +so much so that Mr. Ashby felt relieved to think +the two would never meet again, once the steamer +landed at the New York dock. +</p> +<p> +So with bright plans for the future, Polly and +her chums spent the last few hours on the steamer, +and were ready for their “career” before they +landed in New York City again. +</p> +<div class='center'> +<p>THE END</p> +</div> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-weight:bold;'>AMY BELL MARLOWE’S BOOKS FOR GIRLS</span> +</p> +<p> +Charming, Fresh and Original Stories +</p> +<p> +Illustrated. Wrappers printed in colors with individual design for each story +</p> +<p> +Miss Marlowe’s books for girls are somewhat of the +type of Miss Alcott and also Mrs. Meade; but all are +thoroughly up-to-date and wholly American in scene and +action. Good, clean absorbing tales that all girls thoroughly +enjoy. +</p> +<p> +THE OLDEST OF FOUR; Or, Natalie’s Way Out. +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +A sweet story of the struggles of a live girl to keep a family from want +</p> +<p> +THE GIRLS AT HILLCREST FARM; Or, The Secret of the Rocks. +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +Relating the trials of two girls who take boarders on an old farm. +</p> +<p> +A LITTLE MISS NOBODY; Or, With the Girls of Pinewood Hall. +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +Tells of a school girl who was literally a nobody until she solved the mystery of her +identity. +</p> +<p> +THE GIRL FROM SUNSET RANCH; Or, Alone in a Great City. +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +A ranch girl comes to New York to meet relatives she has never seen. Her adventures +make unusually good reading. +</p> +<p> +WYN’S CAMPING DAYS; Or, The Outing of the GO-AHEAD CLUB. +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +A tale of happy days on the water and under canvas, with a touch of mystery and considerable +excitement. +</p> +<p> +FRANCES OF THE RANGES; Or, The Old Ranchman’s Treasure. +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +A vivid picture of life on the great cattle ranges of the West +</p> +<p> +THE GIRLS OF RIVERCLIFF SCHOOL; Or, Beth Baldwin’s Resolve. +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +This is one of the most entertaining stories centering about a girl’s school that has ever +been written. +</p> +<p> +WHEN ORIOLE CAME TO HARBOR LIGHT. +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +The story of a young girl, cast up by the sea, and rescued by an old lighthouse keeper. +</p> +<p> +WHEN ORIOLE TRAVELED WESTWARD. +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +Oriole visits the family of a rich ranchman and enjoys herself immensely. +</p> +<p> +<span class='sc'>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span> +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-weight:bold;'>THE POLLY BREWSTER SERIES</span> +</p> +<p> +By LILLIAN ELIZABETH ROY +</p> +<p> +Durably Bound. Illustrated. Colored Wrappers. +</p> +<p> +Every Volume Complete in Itself. +</p> +<p> +A delightful series for girls in which they +will follow Polly and Eleanor through many +interesting adventures and enjoyable trips. +</p> +<p> +Polly of Pebbly Pit +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +Tells about a Rocky Mountain ranch girl and her many +adventures. +</p> +<p> +Polly and Eleanor +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +Eleanor Maynard visits Polly at the Ranch and they +have lively times. +</p> +<p> +Polly in New York +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +Polly and Eleanor visit New York and have a number of +very interesting experiences. +</p> +<p> +Polly and Her Friends Abroad +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +The girls go abroad and spend most of their time with +other American travelers. +</p> +<p> +Polly’s Business Venture +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +Polly and Eleanor take up interior decorating. They attend +sales of antiques and incidentally fall in love. +</p> +<p> +Polly’s Southern Cruise +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +A hurricane and cloud-burst threatens to swamp the vessel +in which Polly and her friends take this trip. +</p> +<p> +Polly in South America +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +Polly and her friends land at many funny old towns and +have several exciting adventures not altogether pleasant. +</p> +<p> +GROSSET & DUNLAP, <span class='sc'>PUBLISHERS</span>, NEW YORK +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-weight:bold;'>CAROLYN WELLS BOOKS</span> +</p> +<p> +May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap’s list +</p> +<p> +<b>THE MARJORIE BOOKS</b> +</p> +<p> +Happy Books For Happy Girls +</p> +<p> +Marjorie is a happy little girl of twelve, up to mischief, but +full of goodness and sincerity. In her and her friends every +girl reader will see much cf her own love of fun, play and +adventure. +</p> +<p> +This series is the American Girl’s very own. Each book is +attractively bound in cloth, and wrapped in a charming colored +individual wrapper. +</p> +<p> + Marjorie’s Vacation<br /> + Marjorie’s New Friend<br /> + Marjorie’s Maytime<br /> + Marjorie’s Busy Day<br /> + Marjorie in Command<br /> + Marjorie at Seacote<br /> +</p> +<p> +<b>THE TWO LITTLE WOMEN SERIES</b> +</p> +<p> +Miss Carolyn Wells here introduces Dorinda Fayre—a pretty +blonde, sweet, serious, timid and a little slow, and Dorothy +Rose—a sparkling brunette, quick, elf-like, high tempered, full +of mischief and always getting into scrapes. +</p> +<p> + Two Little Women<br /> + Two Little Women on a Holiday<br /> + Two Little Women and Treasure House<br /> +</p> +<p> +<b>THE DICK AND DOLLY BOOKS</b> +</p> +<p> +Dick and Dolly are brother and sister, and their games, their +pranks, their joys and sorrows, are told in a manner which +makes the stories “really true” to young readers. +</p> +<p> + Dick and Dolly<br /> + Dick and Dolly’s Adventures<br /> +</p> +<p> +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-weight:bold;'>THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS</span> +</p> +<p> +For Little Men and Women +</p> +<p> +By LAURA LEE HOPE +</p> +<p> +Author of “The Bunny Brown Series,” Etc. +</p> +<p> +Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding. +</p> +<p> +Every Volume Complete in Itself. +</p> +<p> +These books for boys and girls between the ages of three +and ten stands among children and their parents of this +generation where the books of Louisa May Alcott stood in +former days. The haps and mishaps of this inimitable pair +of twins, their many adventures and experiences are a +source of keen delight to imaginative children everywhere. +</p> +<p> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE COUNTRY<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE SEASHORE<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SCHOOL<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT SNOW LODGE<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON A HOUSEBOAT<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT MEADOW BROOK<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT HOME<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN A GREAT CITY<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON BLUEBERRY ISLAND<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS ON THE DEEP BLUE SEA<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS IN THE GREAT WEST<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT CEDAR CAMP<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AT THE COUNTY FAIR<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS CAMPING OUT<br /> + THE BOBBSEY TWINS AND BABY MAY<br /> +</p> +<p> +GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-weight:bold;'>THE BUNNY BROWN SERIES</span> +</p> +<p> +By LAURA LEE HOPE +</p> +<p> +Author of the Popular “Bobbsey Twins” Books, Etc. +</p> +<p> +Durably Bound. Illustrated. Uniform Style of Binding. +</p> +<p> +Every Volume Complete in Itself. +</p> +<p> +These stories by the author of the “Bobbsey Twins” +Books are eagerly welcomed by the little folks from about +five to ten years of age. Their eyes fairly dance with delight +at the lively doings of inquisitive little Bunny Brown +and his cunning, trustful sister Sue. +</p> +<p> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON GRANDPA’S FARM<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE PLAYING CIRCUS<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CAMP REST-A-WHILE<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT AUNT LU’S CITY HOME<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE BIG WOODS<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE ON AN AUTO TOUR<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR SHETLAND PONY<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE GIVING A SHOW<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT CHRISTMAS TREE COVE<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE IN THE SUNNY SOUTH<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE KEEPING STORE<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AND THEIR TRICK DOG<br /> + BUNNY BROWN AND HIS SISTER SUE AT A SUGAR CAMP<br /> +</p> +<p> +<span class='sc'>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span> +</p> +<p> + <br /> + <br /> + <br /> +</p> +<p> +<span style='font-weight:bold;'>THE MAKE-BELIEVE STORIES</span> +</p> +<p> +(Trademark Registered.) +</p> +<p> +By LAURA LEE HOPE +</p> +<p> +Author of THE BOBBSEY TWINS BOOKS, ETC. +</p> +<p> +Colored Wrappers and Illustrations by HARRY L. SMITH +</p> +<p> +In this fascinating line of books Miss Hope has the +various toys come to life “when nobody is looking” and +she puts them through a series of adventures as interesting +as can possibly be imagined. +</p> +<p> +THE STORY OF A SAWDUST DOLL +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +How the toys held a party at the Toy Counter; how the Sawdust Doll was +taken to the home of a nice little girl, and what happened to her there. +</p> +<p> +THE STORY OF A WHITE ROCKING HORSE +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +He was a bold charger and a man purchased him for his son’s birthday. Once +the Horse had to go to the Toy Hospital, and my! what sights he saw there. +</p> +<p> +THE STORY OF A LAMB ON WHEELS +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +She was a dainty creature and a sailor bought her and took her to a little girl +relative and she had a great time. +</p> +<p> +THE STORY OF A BOLD TIN SOLDIER +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +He was Captain of the Company and marched up and down in the store at +night. Then he went to live with a little boy and had the time of his life. +</p> +<p> +THE STORY OF A CANDY RABBIT +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +He was continually in danger of losing his life by being eaten up. But he +had plenty of fun, and often saw his many friends from the Toy Counter. +</p> +<p> +THE STORY OF A MONKEY ON A STICK +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +He was mighty lively and could do many tricks. The boy who owned him +gave a show, and many of the Monkey’s friends were among the actors. +</p> +<p> +THE STORY OF A CALICO CLOWN +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +He was a truly comical chap and all the other toys loved him greatly. +</p> +<p> +THE STORY OF A NODDING DONKEY +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +He made happy the life of a little lame boy and did lots of other good deeds. +</p> +<p> +THE STORY OF A CHINA CAT +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +The China Cat had many adventures, but enjoyed herself most of the time. +</p> +<p> +THE STORY OF A PLUSH BEAR +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +This fellow came from the North Pole, stopped for a while at the toy store, +and was then taken to the seashore by his little master. +</p> +<p> +THE STORY OF A STUFFED ELEPHANT +</p> +<p style='margin-left: 2em;margin-right: 2em;'> +He was a wise looking animal and had a great variety of adventures. +</p> +<p> +<span class='sc'>Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York</span> +</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Polly and Her Friends Abroad, by +Lillian Elizabeth Roy + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POLLY AND HER FRIENDS ABROAD *** + +***** This file should be named 37429-h.htm or 37429-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/4/2/37429/ + +Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was +produced from images made available by the HathiTrust +Digital Library.) + + +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. 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