CHAPTER XXI ADRIFT IN A STRANGE CITY
In spite of Dorothy's courage, and her efforts to keep each of hertroubles apart, that she might meet and cope with them singly, the timehad now come when she found herself sorely puzzled.
How would she be able to reach Rochester--to leave her cousins andproceed alone in her search for Tavia?
The morning of departure dawned bright and clear, conditions mostnecessary for a pleasant automobile trip, and when the Markin familywaved an affectionate adieu, the Fire Bird puffed away from in front ofthe hotel, Rose-Mary throwing innumerable kisses to Dorothy. Suddenly, asthey swung into the street, Dorothy turned to Ned and asked:
"Ned, could you let me go part of the way home, by train? I did not wantto mention it at the hotel as Mrs. Markin would be sure to worry, but Iwould so like to return by rail. You could just leave me at the depot andthen--you might stop for me at--did you say you were going throughRochester on your way back?"
Ned and Nat gazed at their cousin in surprise. What could she mean to askto leave them and go to North Birchland alone?
"I know you think it strange," she hastened to add, "but really you know,I am able to travel alone that short distance. You know I came fromGlenwood alone."
"Oh, yes, I know," replied Nat, "but this time mother put you in ourcharge and these are big cities around here."
"But if the auto makes you feel ill," put in Nat, "of course no one couldobject to you going by train."
"I would so much rather," declared Dorothy, taking advantage of Nat'sready excuse for her. "I have found that there is a train ateight-thirty. Then, if you pass through Rochester, you could meet methere. I can go to some young women's club and wait if I do not meet youexactly on time at the station."
This was a brave stroke, and Dorothy felt that she would not be equal tofurther argument should the boys offer much more opposition.
"You mean for us to leave you here at the Buffalo depot?" asked Ned in adazed sort of way.
"Yes, I have plenty of money with me, and I know perfectly well how totravel alone."
"But you may have to change cars, and suppose you were to be left alonein Rochester in case we had a breakdown and couldn't pick you up?"
"It wouldn't be any worse staying in Rochester than it would in someplace near where you happened to have the accident. I hope you don't haveany. But I have told you what I would do in case you didn't call for me.I'd stay at some girls' club. There are plenty of them in Rochester I'veread."
"Well," admitted Ned. "I suppose you ought to know what you want to do."
"There's the station," exclaimed Nat. "What time did you say the trainleft?"
"Eight-thirty," replied Dorothy. "We have plenty of time."
But when she realized that she was to be left alone, to go in a train tothat strange, big city, she felt as if she must cry out against thecircumstances that forced her to all this trouble. Why should she deceiveher two kind cousins, and desert them to take that risky journey alone?And she did believe her prospective trip dangerous in spite of herassertions to the contrary. It was very different to making the journeyto Glenwood when she had had Tavia with her.
Besides, going into the New England mountains was along a quiet way,while this trip--she dared not trust herself to think further. She mustdecide at once, and she must go--alone to look for Tavia.
"I'll get you a Pullman ticket," Ned said rather gloomily, as the autodashed up to the station, "but I do wish, Doro, that you would come onwith us. Of course, in the parlor car you will be quite safe, and canrest better than in the Fire Bird. I'll see the porter and have him lookafter you."
"Thank you, Ned," Dorothy managed to reply, and, but for his haste tomake arrangements for her comfort, the youth would have seen tears in hiscousin's eyes, and noticed that her hands trembled as Nat helped her outof the machine to the station platform.
"I think, after all, it will be better for you to go straight on to NorthBirchland," she said, trying to make her voice sound easy and natural,but conscious that her tones were rather unsteady. She was now puttinginto operation the second part of her plan. "It might be risky to attemptto pick me up in Rochester. I might miss you or you might miss me,whereas if we both follow out our route separately we will be sure to getto the Cedars in safety and without any delay."
"Well, since you have decided to desert us, and travel by train, leavingthe poor old Fire Bird to struggle along as best it can without a ladypassenger, perhaps it will be best," Nat agreed, in a dazed sort of way.He seemed for a time quite unlike Nat White--quite different from theyouth who was always ready to take up the weak end of an argument andcarry it to the strongest point of conclusion. Here he was letting hisfavorite cousin start away alone on a train to a strange big city, whenshe had been entrusted to his care.
"Here you are, Doro," called Ned, coming from the depot where he hadhurried as soon as the auto stopped. "Take this," and he thrust somebills into her hands, as well as her tickets. "And do, above everythingelse, be careful. I've seen the porter, and tipped him so he will lookafter you. Now, you'd better get in and we'll leave you, as we want tomake good time. Good-bye," and he stooped to kiss the pale-faced girl whowas now too overcome with emotion to trust her own voice.
Nat put his arm affectionately around her and he, too, gave her afarewell kiss. They walked with her to the waiting train, and then theporter, in his blue uniform, adorned with numerous brass buttons, helpedher aboard the car "Seneca."