CHAPTER II A FRIENDLY NOTE
"Well, what do you know about that?" Marshmallow ejaculated, as hewatched the red roadster vanish down the street. "I would have fixed hisold gas line if he hadn't been in such a rush. The big grouch! I hope itplugs up so badly he can't keep going!"
"I don't see what made him drive off in such a hurry," Doris returned."We just asked him if he knew any one by the name of Gates and he lookedat us so suspiciously--or rather, I should say guardedly. I wish I knewwhere Rumson was. I'm beginning to get interested."
"Let's look it up on the map," Marshmallow suggested. "There's one in thehouse."
They hurried up the walk toward the Mallow residence. It was a modernbrick English type structure, located on a shady side street of Chiltonin the suburbs of Plainfield, and was one of the most attractive housesin the city. The grounds were beautifully landscaped with silver-tippedevergreens, an abundance of rhododendrons and scarlet azaleas. Theinterior of the house was equally inviting, for Mrs. Mallow was noted asan excellent housekeeper.
Marshmallow found the road map in the desk and brought it out upon theporch. Doris spread it out between them and they pored over it.
"Here it is," Marshmallow declared after a little search. "It can't bemore than fifty miles away. You take the Center Ridge road. It's just asmall town. You'd have a heck of a summer there."
"It's out in the direction Dave lives," Doris remarked absently.
"Oh, sure, I forgot that!" Marshmallow drawled teasingly. "You'll have apeach of a time."
"And there's an aviation field near Rumson," Doris went on, scarcelynoticing what her companion had said.
"That means Dave can fly down to see you every day or so. No wonder girlsfall for fellows that are aviators!"
"Dave isn't a full-fledged one yet," Doris returned proudly, "but he'llsoon finish his flying course and then he expects to get a license."
"Transport or marriage?" Marshmallow grinned.
"Oh, go chase yourself!" Doris retorted slangily.
Marshmallow got up from the porch and lazily stretched himself.
"I think I will," he returned. "I can smell cookies baking in thekitchen, and I'll just ankle around and coerce Mother into parting with afew dozen."
After Marshmallow had gone inside, Doris continued to study the map forseveral minutes and then tossed it aside as she caught sight of her unclecoming up the walk. Eagerly, she ran to meet him.
"What have you in those packages?" she demanded.
"Oh, something nice for you."
As he smiled indulgently down upon her, Doris could not but think howvery fortunate she was to have such a generous and handsome uncle. ThoughWardell Force was of middle age, with hair fast turning gray, he walkedwith the step of a boy and his energy was equal to that of any dozenaverage men. His voice was low pitched, but of singular quality whichmade one instinctively turn to listen when he spoke.
For many years he had conducted a successful drug store, but had retiredfrom active business to follow his hobby of rescue mission work, welfareand charities. He was naturally a leader of men and in great demand tohead committees and speak at important gatherings. Doris was proud of hisability to move large crowds with his magnetic voice. However, shesometimes felt that he was so engrossed in helping others that heneglected himself. Frequently, she had known him to go without a new suitof clothes that he might give the money to some deserving poor family.
"Uncle Ward, you're always buying things for me," she told him as sheaccepted the packages. "I don't know why you're so good to me."
They sat down in the porch swing and Doris eagerly began to unwrap theparcels.
"Candy!" she exclaimed in delight. "And novelty jewelry, too. I can'tthank you enough!"
"Like the beads?" Uncle Ward asked. "I'm not much of a hand at pickingout trinkets for the ladies. Thought they might be a little tooconservative for a giddy red-head like you."
"Pooh!" Doris scoffed. "I'm not giddy and you're not conservative."
Her uncle laughed and rumpled her curls. "Dory," he began, the smilefading, "I'm afraid I shall have to leave you alone for a few days eachweek."
"Why?"
"I've been named chairman of a committee to raise funds for fresh aircamps and the campaign will be carried on all summer. That means I mustgo out of town frequently. We shall have to plan something nice for youto do during my absence."
"Kitty Norris wants me to go camping with her. May I?"
A shadow passed over Wardell Force's face.
"I have been intending to talk to you about the state of your financesfor some time," he said slowly, without answering her question.
Thoughtfully he stroked his hair, avoiding his niece's eyes. How he hatedto inform her that her funds were running low and that a camping trip wastherefore inadvisable! Somehow, girls seemed to need a great deal ofmoney.
"Don't look so worried, Uncle Ward," Doris said lightly, observing hispreoccupation, and shrewdly guessing the thoughts which were passingthrough his mind. "I have news for you."
Before she could tell him of the letter she had received from the MissesGates, there was an unexpected interruption. Jake, the hired man whomWardell Force had rescued from the slums many years before, came rushingup to the porch.
"There's a plane going over," he told Doris with a grin. "I'll bet twocents it's that boy friend of yours!"
For the first time, Doris became aware of the low hum of an airplanemotor, and with her uncle following at a more dignified pace, rushed outinto the yard.
"It _is_ Dave!" she cried in delight, as she observed a bright red staron either wing of a monoplane which was heading directly toward theMallow residence.
The plane rapidly approached, swinging so low that the observers on theground could plainly see the intrepid young flier in the cockpit.
"You don't suppose he can be having engine trouble?" Doris murmuredanxiously. "I never saw him fly at such a low altitude before! Oh, I wishhe wouldn't take such risks!"
Her alarm was greater than that of either Jake or her uncle, but then,their interest in David Chamberlin was more impersonal. Doris had knownthe young aviator for several years and was well aware that his likingfor her had steadily grown. However, since she was but sixteen and Daveonly a few years older, her uncle refused to consider the affair as aserious one.
Wardell Force had looked after Doris with the interest and kindness of afather, and, as Mrs. Mallow frequently remarked, he had done very wellfor a bachelor. He had sent her to Barry Manor, a good boarding school,and had given her training by the best vocal teachers in the city. Insome ways, Mr. Force had been overindulgent and he found it increasinglydifficult to acquaint his niece with the stern fact that the few thousanddollars she had inherited were fast dwindling away.
Doris and her uncle made their home with Mrs. Thomas Mallow, renting alovely upstairs suite, consisting of two bedrooms, bath and den. Mrs.Mallow, a plump and jolly widow noted for her ability as a cook, gavethem their meals and was nearly as fond of Doris as she was of her ownson. Doris was likewise a favorite of Jake, the hired man, though hisdevotion was expressed only by the way his eyes followed her whenever shewas near. Wardell Force had told her little of what he knew concerningthe man's past, and since he had come to work at the Mallow residence hehad been addressed only by the name of "Jake." Though Doris was much tootactful to question him outright, she often had provided opportunity forhim to tell the story of his life, but he had always seemed unwilling tooffer any information.
"Oh, I do wish Dave wouldn't try any stunts!" Doris exclaimed as shewatched the monoplane slowly circle above the Mallow residence. "Why,he's dropped something!"
As she spoke, she saw a piece of weighted paper fall from the plane. Itstruck the sidewalk a short distance away and before she could recoverfrom her surprise, Jake had rushed to pick it up.
"Here you are, Miss Doris," he said, handing it to her. "I 'spects it's alove note."
/> "If it is, it's certainly a new way to get one!" Doris laughed.
Trying not to show her excitement, she quickly scanned the message. Itread:
"Will stop in Saturday morning and take you to the big aviation meet inmy roadster. Dave."
The monoplane continued to circle at a low altitude and Doris, uponreading the note, promptly waved her handkerchief in token of assent. Shewatched until the plane had vanished toward the eastern horizon.
"Well, what was the meaning of all that pantomime?" Uncle Ward asked withan amused twinkle.
"Dave's going to stop for me Saturday and take me to the aviation meet inhis roadster. I'm thrilled to death! I was hoping he'd ask me, but I wasafraid he wouldn't!"
"So? Well, I'm glad he said roadster and not airplane," Wardell Forcegrunted. "I don't want you to go flying around with any student aviator."
"Dave is nearly through his course now, Uncle Ward, and he's consideredthe best of all those who are studying at the field."
"That's fine. And now that the excitement is over, we can get back tothat discussion we were having. Perhaps we had better step into the den."
Soberly, Doris followed her uncle into the house. She realized that thediscussion was to center about money, and hoped that nothing wouldinterfere with her plan to spend the summer with Kitty. Once they weresettled in the comfortable den, she showed him the letter she hadreceived from her chum.
"It shouldn't cost very much just to spend a few weeks at a camp," shedeclared. "I'm sure it isn't a very expensive one."
Wardell Force did not reply immediately, but sat looking at the rug. Atlast he said:
"I don't like to deny you anything, Doris, but I'm afraid you don'tunderstand just how matters stand. Your carfare to this camp would costconsiderable and of course you would need clothes."
"Just knickers and sport things."
"But they all cost money, Doris--a great deal more than you realize."
"I thought my inheritance would cover everything."
"Your money has been going very fast, my dear," her uncle told hergently. "Your schooling has cost a great deal, and only today I receiveda letter saying that the tuition was to be doubled. Your music, too, hasmade deep inroads into your little fortune."
"I had no idea it was as bad as that," Doris said soberly. "I suppose Icould give up boarding school and my music lessons--though I'd rather goto work than stop my singing."
"I can't let you give up your school or your music either, Dory. And Ifrankly admit, I hate to see you go into an office. You are much tooyoung. You should have your good times now."
"But if I haven't any money--"
"You still have some, Dory. I am only telling you this, that you willunderstand the situation and be as careful of expenses as you can."
"I will," Doris promised, "and I'll start by giving up that camping trip.I suppose, though, I won't get to see Kitty this summer--unless--"
She broke off and her face lighted up.
"I forgot the letter I received from the Misses Gates!" she finished."Perhaps they offer the solution to all my troubles!"